The Civil War For Dummies^®

by Keith D. Dickson

• ISBN13: 9780764552441
• ISBN10: 0764552449
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-03-01
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

The Civil War was America's trial by fire; its battles forged the nation we know today. We're still fascinated with it the national reckoning with slavery, the legendary generals and leaders, the epic and bloody clashes of armies, the impact on the daily lives of ordinary people. We visit its battlefields mostly idyllic patches of countryside near small towns and creeks where more Americans died in combat than in all other wars combined, except for World War Two. And we tell its stories of last charges, brother fighting brother, imprisonment and emancipation, and tragedy and rebirth. It is our country's epic; the story of how we became who we are, and what price we paid.The Civil War For Dummies is your complete introduction to this seminal conflict. Eschewing tedious historical pondering and military micro-analysis, this fun and information-rich guide gives an accurate overview of the event, from the war's causes through the fighting to the aftermath. Inside you'll discover: 1850-1860: what led to war First Bull Run: illusions lost Antietam: the bloodiest day The Emancipation Proclamation Heroes and goats of each major battle Jackson's Valley Campaign Sherman's March to the Sea Surrender at Appomattox And much more Full of sidebars and illustrations, The Civil War For Dummies brings history to life with personalities, factoids, battle reports, strategic maps, and "what ifs." In addition to the military and political history, you'll also find out about: The African American experience in the war Women and the Civil War Native Americans and the war The life of the common soldier Banking and finance systems and the war "Firsts" that make the Civil War history's first modern war Civil War food Civil War tourism: the best battlefields to visit, and how to get the most out of your trip Written in an accessible style so you can start reading at any point in the story, The Civil War For Dummies makes a great cornerstone for learning about this violent and compelling chapter of American history.

Author Biography

Keith D. Dickson is an associate professor of Military Studies at the Joint Forces Staff College, National Defense University. He earned his Ph.D. in American history at the University of Virginia and is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Special Forces (Green Berets).

Table of Contents

Introduction: The First Modern War	1	(9)
Part I: The War and Its Causes	9	(40)
How Did the War Happen?	11	(8)
The Five Steps to War: 1850-1860	19	(20)
Secession and War: 1860-1861	39	(10)
Part II: Making War	49	(36)
Civil War Armies: Structure and Organization	51	(16)
Union and Confederate Strategy	67	(8)
Organizing and Training the Armies	75	(4)
Weapons of the Civil War	79	(6)
Part III: Opening Moves, 1861-1862	85	(102)
Starting the War: Bull Run (First Manassas), July 1861	87	(10)
The Road to Shiloh, April 1862	97	(14)
Setbacks for the South, March-July 1862	111	(12)
Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign, March-June 1862	123	(10)
The Seven Days of Robert E. Lee, June-July 1862	133	(10)
Second Bull Run (Manassas), August 1862	143	(8)
The Bloodiest Day: Antietam (Sharpsburg), September 1862	151	(14)
Bragg Fails at Perryville	165	(8)
War So Terrible: Fredericksburg and Murfreesboro, December 1862	173	(14)
Part IV: War to the Hilt, 1863-1865	187	(102)
The Battle of Chancellorsville, May 1863	189	(10)
The Battle of Gettysburg and Vicksburg, July 1863	199	(22)
The Battle of Chickamauga and Chattanooga, August-November 1863	221	(16)
Lee and Grant: The Virginia Campaign, May-June 1864	237	(18)
The Atlanta Campaign and a Guarantee of Union Victory, May-December 1864	255	(14)
The Destruction of Hood's Army in Tennessee, October 1864-January 1865	269	(6)
A Matter of Time: Petersburg and Appomattox, January-April 1865	275	(14)
Part V: Behind the Lines	289	(42)
The Confederacy at War: Creating a Nation and Vying for Recognition	291	(20)
The Union at War: Creating a New Banking System and a Strong Economy	311	(8)
The Life of the Common Soldier, Women, and Other Participants	319	(12)
Part VI: The Civil War Tourist	331	(12)
Getting Ready to Travel	333	(4)
Visiting a Civil War Battlefield	337	(6)
Part VII: The Part of Tens	343	(26)
The Ten Worst Generals of the Civil War	345	(10)
The Ten Biggest ``Firsts'' of the Civil War	355	(6)
The Ten Biggest ``What Ifs'' of the Civil War	361	(4)
The Ten Best Battlefields of the Civil War	365	(4)
Index	369