It is actually well researched and in spite of the premise, one that will be severely attacked later in this thread, makes for an interesting read.
Hate to bother you, but I think this would be in your wheelhouse, albeit on the Union side, IIRC. Any suggestions would be greatly apprecaited
Shelby Foote’s multi volume history of the civil war.
A good starting point (albeit from only one viewpoint) might be Ulysses Grant’s Memoirs.
Especially if you like economy of style.
"April 1865: The Month That Saved America" Jay Winik. Just an interesting read.
The Killer Angels.
It is actually well researched and in spite of the premise, one that will be severely attacked later in this thread, makes for an interesting read.
I’ve read Shelby Foote’s three volume history, and James McPherson’s “Battle Cry of Freedom.” I’ve also read numerous other books associated with the War of Northern Aggression.
One of my favorite historical authors is Robert Leckie. His Civil War history is titled: “None But the Brave - The Saga of the Civil War.”
Leckie has written other histories, such as “George Washington’s War,” Delivered From Evil - The Saga of World War II,” and “The Wars of America.” His writing style is easy to read, and enjoyable. He also authored a book on the battle of Guadalcanal which I haven’t read. Mr. Leckie was a Marine who fought on Guadalcanal.
Stanly Horn’s classic Army of Tennessee is a good read, especially since it covers the Confederacy’s second largest field army, which has been completely overshadowed by Lee’s Army of North Virginia in the literautre.
The uneducated Forrest has been acknowledged by many as ranking at the top of history's great cavalry leaders.
James McPherson wrote a fascinating study of why men chose to fight, what motivated them on the battle field, and other factors such as that. It was based on looking at the letters of hundreds of soldiers from both sides and all economic and social categories so he was able to give you a picture of what different types of soldiers were like and what made them more likely to be motivated and more likely to cower, etc. Awesome book and quick read. For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War .
For those interested in this overlooked aspect of the Civil War, I would recommend Blood & Treasure: Confederate Empire in the Southwest by Donald S. Frazier(Texas A & M University Press, 1997), which is is a good account of the campaign in New Mexico. Fictional accounts, which I haven't read but have received critical acclaim include Glorita Pass, Galveston, and Guns of Valverde by P. G. Nagle.
Confederate Courage on Other Fields by Mark Crawford
read later
Gallagher has an interesting take on the films that gave most of us our ideas about the war. If you want to learn more about the war itself, you might check out his Teaching Company course on the American Civil War, which is available on tape, CD, or DVD at many public libraries.
I learned a lot about the origins of the war from Charles B. Dew's Apostles of Disunion: Southern Secession Commissioners and the Causes of the Civil War and Eric H. Walter's The Fire-Eaters.
Thomas Krannawitter, who may actually have posted here, has a book coming out in August, Vindicating Lincoln: Defending the Ideals of Our Greatest President. It may also be worth a look.
I read this one a couple of months ago. Thomas, now deceased, was from my home town and went to school with my older sister and brother-in-law. A very readable book with some interesting things not likely found anywhere else.
Dark and Bloody Ground: The Battle of Mansfield and the Forgotten Civil War in Louisiana by Thomas Ayres. Taylor Trade Publishing
http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/bookrev/ayres.html