How was it a tragedy for the South? Chapter 16: Chapter Seven: I would compare it to the conflict between Israel and the Arab countries over the past 50 years. General McClellan replaced McDowell as commander of the Army of the Potomac. Identify two or three factors which pressed the Union army into action before it was ready. The Emancipation Proclamation was a way that Lincoln could free the slaves. Your entry may follow one of my questions oryou may provide yourown unique insight into each chapter. Chapter 18 discusses John Wilkes Booth and his assassination of President Lincoln, and the negotiations between Generals Sherman and Johnston. Some of these items ship sooner than the others. Union strategy in the Civil War had been to focus on destroying the armies of the Confederacy, not specific cities or strongholds in the South. Sherman, negotiating with Johnston, accidentally allowed the Confederates much more than they were originally suppose to have. Both countries refused. Ones first thought would be that the loss of trade to the South would put them in a terrible position, but other areas came and grew that did much better than make up for the Souths demand. 2. There were many Federals who wanted to see Conferderates hanged and many Conferderates who wanted to kill Federals; however Grant and Lees actions towards one another, representing each side, showed a sense of uniting the two regions. Cavalry provided the South with a fast-paced war, moving from place to place much faster than the infantry could. Lincoln obliged and stuck to a one-war-at-a-time policy. In chapter 8, things for the Union army look promising. Chapter 10 provided an interesting look at the armies and types of people in the armies in the Civil War. Was it an advantage or disadvantage? Catton is blunt about the shortcomings of political leaders and generals alike, yet cautious to abuse 100 years of hindsight (The Civil War was originally published in 1960). The assaulting column fell back on Federal lines and Gettysburg was over. In the West, both sides made very innovative moves. After Burnsides loss at Fredericksburg, Joe Hooker took his place as the leader of the Army of the Potomac. Minted between 1859 and 1864, the Civil War era penny is historic. Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2014. Chapter 6 Two of the victories were major southern ports. The soldiers lacked extra clothes and boots and their animals were also lacking materials to keep them upright. In the West Bragg almost won because Halleck divided his forces so thinly, but indecisiveness allowed the Union to give a strong defensive attack. I heard about it in reviews for other books and that piqued my interest. Thus, this novel exemplifies the civil war; its causes, as well as its impact in the modern world. Ch. What factors contributed to Lees defeat at Gettysburg? 4. 2. I have outlined the major points with my questions. How did Napoleon III take advantage of the Civil War to violate the Monroe Doctrine? # 3. At the sight of their army retreating they joined the group and added a lot of confusion and fear. 4. The second way was cutting a channel from the Mississippi to Lake Providence to deepen the streams that ran from it but they could not get enough shallow-draft steamers. The Emancipation Proclamation issued by Lincoln stated that slaves in or apart of a state in rebellion would be forever free. FREE Standard shipping. What arguments were there for and against this great risk? Lee soon joined Jackson and knew he had to attack before McClellan united his troops with Pope. He was attempting to engage Forrest at Nashville. The North however, saw slavery as sinful. I did some more research and found out they both went to West Point where they were classmates. Because of the canal at Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, the North could get an unlimited supply of iron ore from the Lake Superior ranges. The Union had won the war, Ch 18 Lincoln and Stanton were uneasy about this plan because it left Washington vulnerable to a sudden Confederate thrust so they ordered McClellan to leave enough troops to ensure Washingtons safety. Please try again. he comes up with some little known facts that literally no other author, (that i've read), ever has. Now that most of you are engaged, I would like to make a suggestion. 3. Mr. Catton's overview looks at the origins of the War, the major campaigns in the East and West and the politics that defined the conflict. The book said McClellan was great organizer and had time that McDowell was never allowed. Oliver Jensen, who succeeded him as editor of American Heritage magazine, wrote: "There is a near-magic power of imagination in Catton's work that seemed to project him physically into the battlefields, along the dusty roads and to the campfires of another age. Either way Lee knew a move had to be made. The pages turn themselves. Bruce Catton was the go to Civil War author prior to Shelby Foote. Imagine a coin so old it was circulated during the Civil War, maybe a general held it in his pocket during a battle. The Federal Government sent Phil Sheridan and 50,000 veterans to the Mexican border as a warning. As you complete each chapter, you will add at least one entry to this site. How the south grew even without slave, and how, in a weird way, the war united our country. 1861) (No. The armies in Europe were just much more trained, organized, and actually looked and fought like real armies, as to where the Union and Confederate armies were just common men going out and fighting a war. 1. The decisions they made helped to expedite the healing process for the two regions of the country who had to come back together to form one Union. Overall good condition. With so much material to consume I wanted to find a relatively short primer on the war. It was a war that that tore both. Harriet Beecher Stowes Uncle Toms Cabin had just sold 300,000 copies in its first year. The typical soldier of the Civil War did not immediately and unquestionably obey what his officer told him to do unlike his European counterpart which did that. I just finished a book on John Wilkes Booth. What role did they play in the Confederate victory? Product details Publisher : Mariner Books; Reprint edition (December 14, 2004) Language : English Paperback : 400 pages ISBN-10 : 0618001875 The Wilmot Proviso, the Fugitive Slave Act, and Uncle Toms Cabin all stirred up different opinions on slavery, most of which were negative opinions by the North. What would have been the probable result if Lincoln had lost the election? 8 As Grant was attacking Jackson, Mississippi in order to position his army on the eastern side of Vicksburg, the Confederate General Pemberton received conflicting orders from General Joe Johnston and President Jefferson Davis. This would prove to have no effect because the Army of the Potomac followed Lees army instead of trying to capture Richmond. How did Bragg use topographic features to trap the Union army? Charles Bruce Catton (October 9, 1899 August 28, 1978) was an American historian and journalist, best known for his books on the American Civil War. 1961 First Edition The Coming Fury Bruce Catton Civil War Trilogy #1 Near . He decided to move North of Atlanta and attack Shermans communications. Helpful high-level overview of the Civil War. This helped the north win the war. What were the military consequences? Bragg tried to captiltalize on Hallecks mistake. In your opinion, which was the most significant victory and why? In the end, a battle that saw over 20,000 casualties could be considered meaningless for the strategy and outcome of the war. Summary; Recently Viewed; Bids/Offers; Watchlist; Purchase History; Buy Again; Selling; . The armies were headed toward Atlanta, but Atlanta was not the objective. People believed that this was a tool of the radical Republicans to insight additional anger in the Northern citizens and more conservative figures. January 6. Ch. Chapter 6 in detail discusses the second battle of Bull Run. Who/What posed the greatest threat on Shermans Army of the Tennessee once he captured Atlanta? These battles made citizens and troops alike see that the war could and would be won. Why didnt the Confederates follow up their victory with an attack on Washington? Lincoln had the Emancipation Proclamation ready but waited until the Battle of Antietam because he needed a major Union victory before he unveiled it. Chapter 15: The Civil War was mainly fought in the Confederate territory and campaigns such as Shermans scarred the land. Ch. In the long line of Civil War historians, Catton is arguably the most prolific and popular of all, with Shelby Foote his only conceivable rival. Both armies had issues and mistakes during the battle, but the Confederates found that it was easier to fight defensively than offensively in the case of untrained troops. Chapter 10 discusses the differences between European armies and the Union and Confederate armies. Instead, he trusted *George Thomas* to defend Nashville and began his March thorugh Georgia. Ultimately, Thomas practically destroyed Hoods Army of Tennessee, although it would be pieced together from other units and make a weak challenge of Sherman once he had turned North from Savannah and reached the Carolinas. This book is the first book written in a trilogy called: The Army of the Potomac. BP. Generals Lee and Jackson soundly defeated Pope in the second battle of Bull Run. This is where the war ended. Chapter Eight: Bruce Catton makes it very clear that the majority of training time was spent in formations. Lee and Jackson soundly defeated Hookers army that was originally about twice as big as the confederate army. Ch 3 No one was to be punished and the weapons used by the Confederacy would remain in the South. Ch. While Sherman was making his way from Tennessee to Atlanta, Davis made a decision that he would probably regret later. An excellent source of education, Reviewed in Japan on September 8, 2022. Chapter 5: One of the Union victories was Sherman capturing Atlanta. Why was this controversial? Usually guys like to read about the Civil War. But I also think that McClellans thorough organization possibly deterred him in fast-paced battles; this is why some of his campaigns began to fail. Buell caught him and had a standoff battle. Seward was the genius behind when the Emancipation Proclamation should be given. In the late 18th century, most people were beginning to see that slavery was not as effective as it once was, and many were willing to do away with it. Combining their armies Beauregard and Johnston had 50,000 men facing 70,000 men if everything ran exactly as it was suppose to for Halleck. Baltimore SunInfinitely readable and absorbing, Pulitzer Prize-winner Bruce Cattons The Civil War is one of the most widely read general histories of the war available in a single volume. What was the geographical signficance of these battles? Though the Federals forced the Confederates to retreat there was nothing really to show for this victory in the end. When he was defeated by Lee at the battle of Fredericksburg, he was removed from his position. Never was a victorious army guided by such incompetent leaders. Grain and meat were in demand as well as leather. The immediate danger of Northern defeat was gone, and the Souths prosperity in the war had begun to decline. Chapter Thirteen: The north was still under the leadership of Winfield Scott, but both had rising stars such as McClellan, McDowell, Lee, Grant, and Johnston. The Civil War had a more lasting impact on the South than on the North for many obvious reasons. Chapter 17: 1. Would rather read history than fiction. They did not have a substantial number of steam boats yet. Since there were only two other ironclad ships in the world at the time (owned by the French and the British), the Merrimac seemed indestructible in comparison to Union ships. The Republicans (Lincoln) would continue the war, while the Democrats would end the war and allow the South to secede or try to stop it with diplomacy. The Trust also promotes educational programs and heritage tourism initiatives to inform the public of the war's history and the fundamental conflicts that sparked it. A superbly written text from a master historian. The 1860's was a time of deceit and corruption. According to Catton, what role did slavery play as a cause of the Civil War? Chapter 13: Grant put Sheridan in charge, told him what he was supposed to do, then returned to Petersburg to await the results. The Union army broke the rebels streched lines and forced the Confederates to evacuate Petersburg. He gives detailed examples of how a group would have to switch from a marching formation to one for fighting. Visit American Coin Treasures Storefront on Amazon for a variety of stamps and coin gifts and collections. Why were the British built commerce raiders such as the CSS Alabama and CSS Shenandoah not as signficant to the outcome of the war as the blockade runners? For your convenience, I will complete my initial entries for each chapter by December 22. Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2016. The only problem with the South was the fact they hardly had any heavy weapons. Chapter 3 discusses how unprepared the two sides of the Civil War were. I agree that Stephen Douglas was an exceptional politician. However rosecran bluffed an attack again and Bragg then decided to retreat away from New Orleans. Ch. 2. In a last desperate attempt to save the Confederacy, what proposition did southern politicians make to France and Great Britain in 1865? In Jacksons administration, we have states telling the national government they will not obey laws they do not see as constitutional. In Terrible Swift Sword, Bruce Catton tells the story of the Civil War as never beforeof two turning points which changed the scope and meaning of the war. Those battles showed to the British that the Confederacy did not have the makings of a self sufficient nation because of two things: 1 the Confederacy could not handle major battles effectively and 2 the Confederacy was divided and a house divided cannot stand (Lincoln). The hull was cut down and slanting sides were built onto the top of the ship with room for ten guns. The other victory was of the Shenandoah Valley. Just how far have we actually evolved in the hundred-and-fifty-plus years since the ending of the Civil War? How was it a bitter victory for the South? Cannons couldnt do much damage to the iron exterior. Had people just not worried bout the South nothing would of ever happened. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. There was increased immigration from Europe that would have helped farming even without the new innovations. Grant tried to solve this problem in all four possible ways. There were power struggles sometimes, but the power of Lincolns Cabinet strengthened the administration. 4. After the loss at the Battle of Antietam, the British backed off a little. The Civil War by Bruce Catton [Unknown] on Amazon.com. He moved toward Atlanta, but his goal was Joe Johnston. Bruce Catton: The Army of the Potomac Trilogy Mr. Lincoln's Army | Glory Road | A Stillness at Appomattox Edited by Gary Gallagher Overview add to cart 35.00 List Price: $45.00 (Save: 22%) Free shipping Or buy from our partners Amazon Barnes and Noble Shop Indie Phone orders: 1-800-964-5778 Request product #203754 Covering events from the prelude of the conflict to the death of Lincoln, Catton blends a gripping narrative with deep, yet unassuming, scholarship to bring the war alive on the page in an almost novelistic way. Bragg retreated to eastern TN. The movements had to become second nature. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in Civil War history. 3. Grant took 15,000 men and a squadron of new ironclad gunboats commanders by Flag Officer Andrew Foote. This is a book on how an army overcomes the trials and tribulations of a very difficult time in our history. Wherever your sympathies lie with respect to the war, you will get real enjoyment from Catton's brilliant writing. Shelby Foote writes with an irony reflecting the human forbles, the immense dark comedic tragedy that was the Civil War. How was the cavalry primarily used in overall strategy? The union and the confederacy were both side by side, and thus no real need for naval war. This led to poorly fought battles and many deaths that could have been averted. The Union soldiers needed shoes and other clothes. In the North, Lincoln was also surrounded by impressive men like Seward and Stanton. Had the Yankees keept their noses in their on business the war would not have happened. It was a good thought for ahead, but it left Hood and his army behind to destroy whatever they needed or wanted to without defense. The fifth column did not have a very big outcome on the war. Chapter 15: Have a great break and Merry Christmas!!! mr.catton's writing style is distinctly in the way of a novelist, which makes all of his books, a better, more understandable read than most contemporary authors, writing about the same subject matter. Great narratives explaining the mindset of the Union generals. McClellan was put back over the army of the Potomac and charged with finding Lee. Chapter 11 examines the economic preparation of the North and South for the support of the war. As a result, you will need to read a minimum of three chapters in a seven day week and make at least three entries on the blog. In The Jewish Confederates, Robert N. Rosen introduces readers to the community of Southern Jews of the 1860s, revealing the remarkable breadth of Southern Jewry's participation in the war and their commitment to the Confederacy. Why did Lincoln wait until the Battle of Antietam to unvail the document? The Radical Republicans used Lincolns funeral for their advantage. But Vicksburg- which was, in my opinion, the most significant battle- cut the Confederacy in half and gave the Union the Mississippi Valley- a wound that would eventually prove fatal. Patterson was keeping pressure on Johnston to make sure that his troops could not escape to help Beauregard. A week after Henry, they attacked. Where I do feel the author falls a little short is getting to the point. 3. If in your opinion, someone has already effectively discussed a major point accurately and in detail, move on to another topic within the chapter so that all are discussed. How did General Braxton Bragg capitalize on this? What two commanders faced off in the Battle of Fort Sumter? Another reason was that most of the war was fought on southern territory. I love this because it allows us to see the human insecurities in Grant. Ch. America is said to be a nation of poker players understood all about the business of calling bluffs. Because the South had been threatening seceding for years, the North did not take it very seriously. 4. Of course, the author of that book makes the point that his would have been a suicide mission, but he also makes the point that there were many factors influencing Booth. Where did the Army of the Cumberland finally challenge Bragg? Details; Description; Reviews; Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation was also effective. The South valued Fort Sumter, because of its location near a very important harbor. It was published by Random House Value Publishing and has a total of 341 pages in the book. The Union decided that the only way to win the war was in fact to destroy everything that made it possible for the Confederacy to fight back, one of those things being slavery. 5. This chapter explains what happened after the war. Alas. GOR001316723. One of Lincolns strategies in dealing with the border states was a delicate one. Chapter 9 addresses the three climactic battles of the Civil War at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and Vicksburg. McClellan planned to go down to FT. Monroe by steamboat then advance up the Virginia Peninsula and attack Richmond from behind. Sherman was given command of the West. What had to be the objective Union army in fighting an unlimited war? (I had to look up the definition for scuttle, and it means to deliberately sink a ship in case anyone else was wondering). This is a highly readable narrative history of the Civil War. John Wilkes, aboard the U.S.S San Jacinto, heard about their journey, and he took them from the Trent. Describe the conflict between proslavery and abolitionist factions in Kansas in the 1850s. The author correctly noted the material, economic, and manpower advantages the North had, but any objective analysis of the war will also identify the moral superiority the Union held over the Confederacy. 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