Customer Reviews

Civil War Almanac

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Although this is a very readable book which gives many details about the Civil War, it often takes a simplistic approach which leads to several misleading and often outright erroneous statements of "facts." For example it states on page 91 that there were 50,000 deaths at Gettysburg when the actual number was in the 10,000 to 20,000 range. Also Stonewall Jackson did not die on the battlefield at Chancellorsville, as stated on page 35, but at Guiney Station some 7 days after the battle. Page 99 also gives an erroneous description of how the US constitution may be amended. Page 17 states that "during the time of the Civil War blue jeans were a popular fashion" even though they were not created by Levi Strauss until 1873 when they were begun to be used for workingmen. The same page states that "theatres introduced modern conveniences like air-conditioning" during Civil War times when air-conditioning wasn't invented until 1902 by Willis Carrier If one does buy this book beware of the inaccuracies that it contains.

This Civil War Alamanac is definitely one of the most accessible and intriguing books ever written on the war.

Interesting reading for adults but fun for kids, it covers all the essentials about the US Civil War -- life before the war, the events leading up to it, all the major battles, Civil War leaders, life on the home front, etc. etc.

More than that, though, this book has hundreds of amazing, little-known facts and anecdotes about the war: women who disguised themselves as men to join the fight, aerial combat, one-of-a-kind inventions, children who fought, and much, much more.

A slim volume that reads quickly but feels like a much longer, very in-depth book! With pictures and illustrations throughout.