Blue and Gray in Black and White is an exploration of the individual and collective efforts of newspaper journalists during the Civil War. As eyewitnesses to one of the most memorable conflicts in history, they left a record that us sometimes brilliant but, at other times, marred by shoddy journalism, sensationalism, and self-serving reporting. They were, however, the American public's primary source of information about the battles that were tearing the nation apart. This book focuses on the personalities, politics, and rivalries of editors; the efforts of newspapers to influence military appointments, strategy, and tactics; advances in printing technology; formal and informal censorship, the suppression of dissident newspapers, and, most of all, the war correspondents themselves.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
Harris, a retired U.S. Navy captain and veteran freelance writer, takes his cue from a quote in the November 11, 1861 New York TimesA"it is opinion, not force, which determines great struggles"Aand presents a concise and well-written overview of the significant influence of the popular press during the Civil War. With the rapid rise of technological developments in communication and transportation, reports of battles from the 350 Northern and 150 Southern war correspondents "could be flashed around the nation while the guns were still firing." Harris analyzes the political philosophies of major newspapers, the often outrageous partisanship of the press and newspaper owners, suppression and censorship, and the quality of reporting, which was much livelier than official military reports and often surprisingly reliable. Harris's monograph is not as thoroughly researched as J. Cutler Andrews's dated and more scholarly volumes on the Civil War press, but it brings the role of the press in the war to vivid life. Recommended for general readers.ACharles C. Hay, Eastern Kentucky Univ. Archives, Richmond
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"A lively account of Civil War reporting." -- Boston Globe
"Concise and well-written . . .it brings the role of the press in the war to vivid life." -- Library Journal
“Much has changed in the relationship between the media and the military ... much remains stubbornly the same.” -- Proceedings
“Provides a solid look at the behavior and importance of journalists during the Civil War.”—History: Reviews of New Books -- History: Reviews of New Books
"Concise and well-written . . .it brings the role of the press in the war to vivid life." -- Library Journal
“Much has changed in the relationship between the media and the military ... much remains stubbornly the same.” -- Proceedings
“Provides a solid look at the behavior and importance of journalists during the Civil War.”—History: Reviews of New Books -- History: Reviews of New Books
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Stories, Hack Writing from the front!,
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This review is from: Blue & Gray in Black & White: Newspapers in the Civil War (Hardcover)
From the Washington Times (October 2, 1999) "Mr. Harris' book is a compelling account of how the Civil War led to the emergence of the press as a power on the national scene. It gives fresh insight into how a cast of visionaries and tough reporters -- along with some rogues and crackpots -- used that power to shape the way the nation viewed the war the and for all time . . . .This book is the first full treatment of the subject of press coverage of the Civil War since a pair of books by J. Cutler Andrews nearly two generations ago . . . Readers may be distracted by some of the author's digressions . . . [but] the value of "Blue and Gray in Black and White" outweighs any quibbles. . . . Journalism is viewed as the disposable first draft of history. What Mr. Harris' book makes clear is that taken as a whole, the work of combat correspondents created a record of the war that has formed our perceptions and fueled our imaginations ever since." --
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
How the Civil War helped make newspapers what they are today,
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This review is from: Blue & Gray in Black & White: Newspapers in the Civil War (Hardcover)
From the Kansas City Star Magazine, (October 10, 1999) "The love-hate relationship between the newspapers and the men who fought in the Civil War is just one of the subjects of Brayton Harris' Blue & Gray in Black & White: Newspapers in the Civil War . . . [In an interview, Harris said] "Before the Civil War, the newspapers in the United States were primarily opinion sheets for their editors. By the end of the war, they had actually become newspapers in the way we know them today. . . .One thing that came through is that nothing really has changed except technology . . . the media works the same way today that they did in 1860. Reporters do the same dumb, or brilliant things. Publishers sometimes put profits above ethics then and they do now.'"
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Glad to See The Media Hasn't Changed!,
This review is from: Blue & Gray in Black & White: Newspapers in the Civil War (Hardcover)
I enjoy books about the Civil War. This was a great way to learn about the war from the people who were watching it. Nowdays, we have wars such as the Gulf War on television. Here were the folks who HAD to be your eyes and ears. This would be a great book to have high school classes read as a comparison to seeing a film about Vietnam or Desert Storm, just to see the contrasts. History classes in American History and Journalism would also benefit. For the general public, unless you are interested in these topics, it is a lot of detail to absorb.
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