The Civil War Chronicle [Hardcover]

J. Matthew Gallman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 6, 2003

In this moving day-by-day chronicle, we hear the real voices of the soldiers, nurses, farmers, laborers, slaves, and freed people who lived through America's most tragic conflict. This much-needed collection of the letters, diaries, speeches, telegrams, newspaper accounts, and official battlefield reports penned by those people presents an astonishing array of perspectives and conflicting accounts of this very personal war. Hundreds of period black and white images enhance the firstperson accounts and help recapture the texture of life at all levels and on both sides of the Civil War.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th president of the United States, winning less than the majority of the popular vote but 59 percent of the Electoral College. In the North, the Republican candidate's victory was widely, though not unanimously, hailed, while in the South it was roundly condemned. Horace Greeley, in an editorial reproduced in this excellent collection of primary documents, called Lincoln's record "an invincible attestation of the superiority of Free Society," whereas an Atlanta newspaper promised a Pennsylvania Avenue "paved ten fathoms deep with mangled bodies."

Drawing on journalistic accounts, memoirs, battle dispatches, and letters from actors large and small in the harrowing conflict, Gettysburg College historian Matthew Gallman gathers an indispensable day-by-day record of the Civil War, enlisting seven fellow historians (two of whom teach at West Point) to provide commentary that gives the documents needed context. In his introduction to the volume, the noted Reconstruction scholar Eric Foner notes that the war made a nation-state of what had been a far-flung congeries of states. It ushered in the first national currency, the first federal income tax, and a national banking system, among other innovations. As it was unfolding, however, the war lent itself to being seen with smaller-scale immediacy--and that urgency, with all its attendant chaos, shines through on every page. A welcome and useful addition to the libraries of scholars, Civil War buffs, and students. --Gregory McNamee --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"This unique chronological documentary of the Civil War is an immensely valuable addition to the literature on that much-studied subject. The Civil War Chronicle can be read as a vivid narrative of the war, consulted as a reference work, and used as the basis for additional research on any subject connected with the war. The documents are
well selected, and the introduction to each of them succinctly combines context and interpretation."
-- James M. McPherson, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Battle Cry of Freedom

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: Gramercy (May 6, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517221810
• ISBN-13: 978-0517221815
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.1 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,947,630 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine new entry in the Civil War library, November 30, 2000

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[e-mail] - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Civil War Chronicle: The Only Day-by-Day Portrait of America's Tragic Conflict as Told by Soldiers, Journalists, Politicians, Farmers, Nurses, Slaves, and Other Eyewitnesses (Hardcover)

It's been called the first modern war. Mechanized infantry movements, electronic communication, rifled barrels, ironclad battleships, and submarine warfare were all introduced to the world in the American Civil War. But it was also the first war to be covered in detail by modern media. A rich photographic, journalistic, and personally documented legacy has been left behind by the participants and observers. With The Civil War Chronicle, a detailed historical effort has been made to offer these primary sources to the public in a chronological fashion.

The benefits of offering data this way, along with appropriate commentary, is immediately evident to the Civil War buff. But even those with a passing interest in the drama will find plenty to feast on. Within the book's pages lies a wealth of photos, newspaper stories, letters, and diary entries. The famous and the not so famous alike have gripping, first hand stories which speak across the years to future generations. Many were aware of the historical significance of their times, and took great pains to record events for posterity. Other sources, more partisan in nature, took biased pains in illustrating their case to the detriment of the opposing side.

What I particularly enjoyed was the ease of reading the book proffered. It is very well laid out, with a two column approach that allows neat separation of articles, ideas, and dates. The illustrations chosen are well placed, and everything is broken up into easy to read chunks. In the interest of space and reader attention, the editor chose to cut out certain portions of several articles. I can understand the need for this, but I was left wondering about the omitted parts at times. Such is inevitable for the casual reader; I suppose to get it all I would have to devote the years of research that went into this book.

The Chronicle stretches from November, 1860, when Lincoln won his first election despite the fact he did not win the popular vote (something which is ironically resonant today) to May, 1865 when the New York Times declared, "Peace at last." All told, this is a wonderful book, and J. Matthew Gallman will be greatly appreciated for offering this fine new entry in the line of Civil War literary efforts.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Next best thing to a civil war museum, January 6, 2001

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"puppypokey" (Northcountry) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Civil War Chronicle: The Only Day-by-Day Portrait of America's Tragic Conflict as Told by Soldiers, Journalists, Politicians, Farmers, Nurses, Slaves, and Other Eyewitnesses (Hardcover)

I originally thought this book would be the Civil War equivalent to Stephen Ambrose's Citizen Soldier. The topic is the same (the "common person"'s experiences in the war) but it is a compleatly different format.

This book is a portable archive from the civil war. Instead of being a narrative description of the civil war as seen by "common folk" it allows these charaters to speak for themselves through letters, diaries, and a variety of correspondance. Lots of photos.

I live too far away to visit a Civil war museum - this is the next best thing. You can draw your own inferences and interpretations from the letters and orders. Some are eye openning and show how times have changed; others show how similar these folks were to the 21st century folk.

Book is well worth owning!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a book, per se....., February 4, 2001

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Rheumor (New Orelans) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Civil War Chronicle: The Only Day-by-Day Portrait of America's Tragic Conflict as Told by Soldiers, Journalists, Politicians, Farmers, Nurses, Slaves, and Other Eyewitnesses (Hardcover)

but a collection of letters, notations, reports and the like from Civil War participants. As a chronicle, it is set up day by day, from 1861-1865, and offers one written piece per day from each side. No doubt it is in places very interesting, but it is not something I wanted to sit down and read through, nor is it something that would give the reader a cohesive sense of what was transpiring in the war on any given day. It is for me, rather, something to read when time is short.