Category Archives: Book Reviews

Book Reviews, Civil War

Book Review: Our Man In Charleston

One of the things I have always been fascinated about in regards to the American Civil War was the role that Great Britain played during the conflict. I will say in all honesty that in looking into that role my thoughts of views have been changed. This book takes that understanding to a new level.

At the center of the account is Robert Bunch who served as the British consul in Charleston staring several years before the war. He was staunchly anti-slavery but found that in order to actual do his job he had to put up a front to the people of the South and hide behind a false sense that he was not only a supporter of slavery, but one that was sympathetic to the southern cause.

As America spiraled towards war Bunch maintained that facade, all the while sending letters back home that provided insight into the South and its culture. Information that would go a long way towards keeping Britain from taking a more active role in the war. Eventually he was so successful in ingratiating himself into the Southern cause that he was targeted by the Union authorities and was pursued as a spy.

Dickey tells Bunch’s story in way very reminiscent of a spy novel, which makes it intriguing and even tense at times. He provides a different view of many well-known historical events ranging from the 1860 Democratic Convention that split the country and later the nation, to the first shots fired on Ft. Sumter. Bunch was there and we see these events through the eyes of man who sees the world-changing before his eyes, but is alone in a sea of chaos where even the slightest crack in his facade could mean death.

A very good and well told story. Very recommended even if you are not a Civil War person but like a good spy tryst.  You may not know who Robert Bunch is at the start, but by the end you will have admiration for the man.

As always books I review are available through Amazon by clicking on the image of the book cover above!

American Revolution, Book Reviews

Book Review: A Narrative of a Revolutionary Soldier

If you have read almost any book on the American Revolution or seen any documentary the odds are you will have run into quotes by Joseph Plumb Martin. Martin fought in the Revolution from 1776 through 1783, pretty much the entire time and was involved with almost every major event in the Norther Colonies during that time. His memories, of which this book above is one of the many editions, was first published in 1830 and has served as a touchstone for scholars ever since.

Through Martin’s eyes we see the history of the American Revolution literally from the trenches. We experience the horrid conditions and depredations, the fear  and joy, the hunger and cold. Through his eyes we are taken to the camp and battlefield of the struggle for independence. With a no-nonsense view of the war, and the aftermath you feel the emotions served up with a little side of humor as he makes little asides to his audience.

Like many memoirs though there are some bad along with the good.  Martin wrote his memories later in life and because most of the stories he tells are based on his own recollections, rather than something like a journal that was kept at the time, there are some cases of exaggeration and missing details, and incorrect ones. That happens in cases like this and  for the most part can be corrected with cross referencing. None of that takes away from the narrative though.

All said this is a good book to have, a decent read and great reference. Also it can usually be found for a very decent price (especially if you click on the book cover above). Joseph Plumb Martin is not as well-known as Washington, Jefferson,  and Adams, but without men like him you probably would not know a lot about those other guys. His story is the bedrock of the foundation of this country and sometimes these stories are the one that should be focused on.

Book Reviews, Civil War

Book Review: A World on Fire: Britain’s Crucial Role in the American Civil War

It is not often that I start a review off with a warning, but as good as this book is I feel that this time I need to. Clocking in at just over 1,000 pages tackling this book is going to be a huge project. It is full of fantastic and sometimes dense information that can sometimes seem a little overwhelming. Even as a historian and someone used to tomes such as this I had to walk away from it for periods of time to let it all sink in. Does that make it a bad book? No, not all, but it does make it a commitment. One that I recommend.

If you stick with you will come away with a good understanding about the role that Great Britain played during the Civil War and how its actions and reactions shaped policy for both sides. From the very real possibility that the United States could be facing a war with Britain while fighting the Confederacy to the crisis of conscience in regards to slavery the permeated the halls of Parliament, this book covers a lot of ground. It does it well, I have no quibbles about the style or substance. There is just a lot of it!

When it came out in 2011 it won a number of awards and ended up on a number of “best of” lists, and all well deserved. Click the cover to see more about it.

Though I recommend it, I only do so to those willing to take the journey with it. Certainly not a jumping on point, but if you want a different perspective of the Civil War, this is a god book for you.

Book Reviews

Book Review: For the Common Defense: A Military History of the United States of America

 

For The Common Defense by Millet and Maslowski tells the story of American History focusing on the military struggles of the country from the early days of the original colonies to modern times. It is a long book, clocking in at over 700 pages but it tells the story well and from a number of perspectives.

It is described by some as a non-political telling of the constant struggle that the military has had in not only defending but expanding the country over the centuries.  Its strength is in the narrative which with a subject like this could easily fall into a passionate recital of facts and figures, this book does not do that. In fact one of the biggest strengths is that it shows how regardless of the time or political climate the challenges of the military have pretty much been the same even and that even as technology and borders changed the military continually rises to the challenge as best it can.

This book would be classified as a good baseline and most useful as a general overview. Considering the scope of the subject it does not dwell deep into any one particular war or era. That is not a knock just something to keep in mind. All in all a very good book that covers its subject well and is a great addition to any library.

Book Reviews, Frontier

Book Review: History of the Second Seminole War, 1835-1842

A small band of native people holding off a force with superior numbers and technology. Fighting  in a dense jungle and swamp environment for what seems like forever. Sounds familiar? Well, that is one of the lessons taken from this book. John K. Mahon lays out the events of the Second Seminole War in a way that really lays out what was at stake.

Now to be honest, most people were never taught about the Seminole War, let alone the Second Seminole War and that is a shame as it sets the stage for the major conflicts that the US would be involved in for the next 100 plus years. This one dragged on for over seven years and was by no means a guaranteed US victory.

In his book Mahon breaks down the combatants of both sides trying to show what they were fighting for, but at the same time he engages in a level of military history that truly brings the war into a very keen focus. Mahon does not shy away from the atrocities that were committed by both sides or even the politics that exacerbated the conflict.

It would be cliché to say that this book brings to light a little known aspect of American history, but it is true nevertheless. Conflict between the Americans and the Natives was nothing new, but this conflict would become a template in the future. This book is well worth the read and could open up an entire new world to the reader.

Book Reviews, Civil War, Frontier, Mexican-American War

Book Review: Frontiersmen in Blue

Robert Utley is by far one of the most accomplished experts in his field and that shows in the composition of this book. Dealing with the years between the Mexican War and the Civil War, Utley provides several different views of the period and the task in front of the men in blue.

From the end of the Mexican War, the role of the US Army was focused on expansion of existing trading routs and helping to create settlements that would soon be feeding the great westward migration. At the same time they had to secure much of the vast new mineral wealth that was gained from the war. The men that undertook this task were a special breed and were not always fitted to the role.’

Of course at the center of the story is the many Indian tribes that already lived out on the plains. These people lived a different sort of life, one that was so different from the Americans that the two sides were never going to be able to coexist. Utley spends a lot of time on these conflicts, societal and military that lead to atrocities on both sides of the equation. Once the two groups came into conflict and the Eastern politicians got involved, things became even more messy.

The final sections of the book deal with the coming Civil War and how this small frontier force of regulars would take in and integrate the huge number of “volunteers” that would swell its ranks.

The most interesting aspect of this book is that it sets the stage for the plains wars of the post Civil War era which most people are much more familiar with. In the end it is a good read and is highly recommended.

 

Book Reviews, Civil War

Book Review: After Lincoln

 

In the book After Lincoln: How the North Won the Civil War and Lost the Peace, the author A. J. Langguth brings forward two truths about the Civil War that not a lot of people will be willing to face.

First is that the war did not end after the fighting was over. The only thing that changed was the conflict moved away from armies and into the arms of the politicians. In a very good and easily read way Langguth takes you behind the scenes of Reconstruction in a way that makes you realize how much Lincoln was missed on this process and that without his vision, lesser men were allowed to shape the future. Regardless of what you know about the Civil War or Reconstruction, this is book will have you shaking your head at the realization that even good men like Grant were completely overwhelmed with the prospect of reuniting the country while not losing surrendering the gains that were made.

The second truth that comes out of this book is that in many, many ways Reconstruction is still going on. The process never truly ended and the descendants of the  different sides still find themselves searching for meaning. In many ways the Civil Rights movement saw its origins in the years after the Civil War, but Reconstruction set the movement back almost a hundred years.

A good book, but two issues keep it from being great. The author has organized the book with each chapter focusing on a certain personality. Which is fine with the exception that the chapter often meanders away from that personality so it is easy to lose your place. It would have been much better presented in a chronological format, but the timeline shucks and jives. The second issue is that near the end when it does a good job of tying the events to the modern struggle for equality, it makes the case, but the book ends before truly delving deep. If ever a book could have used fifty more pages, this is one.

All said though, well done. If you are curious about the period of Reconstruction, this is an excellent book.

 

American Revolution, Book Reviews

Book Review: Washington’s Spies: The Story of America’s First Spy Ring

 

I come to this book with a confession. After seeing the first several episodes of the AMC series TURN, I wanted to know everything I could about the characters. So I came to this book to find out more. What I found was a bit surprising, but in the end I guess the show did its job by getting to find this book.

Now, to the book. Rose tells a gripping tale of intrigue as Washington attempts to build an intelligence service that will give him an edge against the British.  Reading the tale it is surprising that what he built was not only effective but vital in winning the revolution.

While it would be easy to try to read this as a spy novel, it is not. It is the story of real and flawed men that have to make decisions that literally could mean life or death. Abraham Woodhull, who is the main character in the show and one of the focuses in this book, is not an irreproachable patriot that will do anything for the cause.  He is man who argues with Washington over wages, and expenses and actual quits his post several times.

Even so, the way that Rose presents this man you feel for him. The pressure he is under is real and palpable, and because of that you tend to want to forgive him and by the end tend to admire him somewhat. It is to the author’s credit that he can capture the insecurity and uncertainty of the time, while at the same time humanize those that may tend to have history do otherwise to them.

Read the book for the truth, watch the show for the drama.

Book Reviews, Civil War

Book Review: The Training Ground: Grant, Lee, Sherman, and Davis in the Mexican War, 1846-1848

 

The Mexican War is one of those often overlooked conflicts in American history, almost always overshadowed by the Civil War almost twenty years later. It is however a very important piece of history that should not be overlooked by those studying our past.

See in this conflict you get introduced to many of the major players from the next war. Grant, Lee, Sherman, Davis, Jackson, Longstreet are just a few. They are all here, though younger and perhaps a little less world-weary. It is through their eyes that the author brings the war to life.

Where many historians tend to approach the Mexican War from the top down, delving into the politics and manipulations that brought it about. Dugard instead deals with the officers and specifically those that were schooled at West Point and who shared that bond.

It is through their eyes that the war unfolds. A lust for action, and a desire to seek glory and fame, tempered only by the need to see their homes and loved ones again. The story told is not the war, but how it effected those that fought. Through out the interactions of the men you can’t help but feel a sense of foreboding as you know what the future holds for many of those that survive, and how the lessons they learned in Mexico would be applied in their only country.

Dugard tells the story well and includes many bits from the journals letters and reminiscences of the men involved. At times the writing feels a bit rushed and it seems as if there were bits glossed over. Which takes nothing away from the book, but leaves you wanting more if you are looking for the op down. If you want to get to know the men, then this is a great place to start.

 

Book Reviews, Pre-Revolution

Book Review: The Thirteen Colonies

The Thirteen Colonies

 

The Thirteen Colonies

The colonies that would go on to become the United States of America were different and diverse societies among themselves. The idea that these separate entities would one day come together to form a nation is quite simply a miracle. In this book, The Thirteen Colonies, the origin and founding of these colonies is brought to splendid life by the author.
Starting with the discovery of the New World and the initial struggles that put all the major players on the field, each region and colony gets a its own treatment as we learn about the people who risked everything to create this new world. From their early struggles against nature and natives, to their simmering disagreements and differences among themselves, the story of the societies that made up these colonies is brought to life.
Special consideration should be given for the way that it deals with the French & Indian War (Seven Years War). This is topic that has spawned thousands of books on its own. The coverage of it here in this book is done well enough to serve as a primary for further study, it does not bog you down in the nitty-gritty, but does well enough to provide for the entire experience and the contribution of the colonies during this major world war. This portion alone is worth it.
One word of warning in regards to this book though. It is dry and written much more as an academic exercise than as any sort of adventure or novelization. Because of that many people not already engaged with the subject may find it boring and perhaps even a little hard to get though. Stick with it. Definitely worth the purchase.