 |
| Author | Post |
|---|
drew@cwba
Member
| Joined: | Thu Mar 13th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 5 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: |  |
|
Posted: Tue Jul 21st, 2009 05:00 pm |
|
Great list with commentary Perry!
Here's mine:
1. Shiloh Bloody April by Wiley Sword (Morningside, 2001 revised edition).
Like all book length narrative histories of Shiloh, Sword's account of the second day of fighting is meager in comparison to the first [perhaps Cozzens will be the first to remedy this], but his book remains my favorite, still the best tactical treatment of the fighting around.
2. Shiloh: The Battle that Changed the Civil War by Larry J. Daniel (Simon & Schuster, 1997).
While I prefer Sword's account of the April 6 fighting, I would consider Daniel's book the best overall treatment of the campaign and battle.
3. Shiloh and the Western Campaign of 1862 by O. Edward Cunningham, ed. by Gary D. Joiner and Timothy B. Smith (Savas Beatie, 2007).
Since its publication, much has been made of Cunningham's writing style and the judicious manner in which each aspect of the battle is examined (i.e. no section's importance is 'hyped' to the detriment of another), but I still stubbornly cling to Sword and Daniel.
4. The Battle of Shiloh and the Organizations Engaged by D.W. Reed (Univ. of Tennessee Press, 2008).
Deeply influential in the battle's historical presentation, both in print and battlefield park interpretation, Reed cannot be overlooked. His book is a still-useful classic, and the large color maps [existing as pull outs in the earlier editions, but on CD in the latest] are an added resource.
5. Seeing the Elephant: Raw Recruits and the Battle of Shiloh by Joseph Allan Frank and George A. Reaves (Greenwood, 1989).
Draws upon a large volume and variety of primary source materials (from both sides) to provide readers with a personalized view of the battle, and within an analytical-statistical framework.
6. The Timberclads in the Civil War by Myron J. Smith (McFarland, 2008).
Smith's study isn't a 'Shiloh book' by the strictest definition, but its coverage of the naval aspects of the Shiloh campaign and battle is presented in unmatched detail.
7. Shiloh: A Battlefield Guide by Mark Grimsley and Steven Woodworth (Bison, 2006).
The best of the Shiloh guidebooks, from the best current series (This Hallowed Ground) of guidebooks.
Another mention: I can't in good conscience include a book that I haven't seen or read on my list, but, thanks to the SDG, I've heard such good things about Shiloh, Shells, and Artillery Units by George F. Witham (Riverside Press, 1980) that I wanted to at least mention it. Plus, I can't resist a good artillery book of any kind. Hopefully, it will be reprinted someday (which, of course, will happen the day after I add an overpriced used copy to my library).Last edited on Tue Jul 21st, 2009 05:07 pm by drew@cwba
____________________
Drew W.
Civil War Books and Authors
http://cwba.blogspot.com
|
Bjorn
Member
| Joined: | Tue Mar 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 22 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: |   |
|
Posted: Tue Jul 21st, 2009 05:06 pm |
|
Like others here, I will interpret Brett’s challenge to list my seven favorite books on Shiloh freely. Actually, in my case, very freely. My apologies. Here are what I think are the seven most influential things that tell the story of the battle of Shiloh, in no particular order.
- Albert Dillahunty. Shiloh National Military Park, Tennessee. National Park Service Historical Handbook Series No. 10. Washington, D.C.: 1955. 47p. Dilluhunty’s short pamphlet is probably the most widely read work on Shiloh, having been purchased by visitors to the Shiloh National Military Park since 1955. It is still available today, and is often called “the scout book” because of its popularity among visiting Boy Scout troops. It is especially intriguing in it’s second half as it interprets the most-visited sites on the park, and documents many of the non-historical texts, such as Will S. Hays’ song “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh,” that were most influential in establishing the popular narrative of the battle. Dillihunty contributes a twenty-two stanza poem, “Four Voices From Shiloh,” which helps to illustrate the crucial role of those non-historical texts in popular understanding of the battle.
- Ira B. Likes (Director). Shiloh: Portrait of a Battle. Orientation film, Shiloh National Military Park, 1955. One need not work at Shiloh National Military Park to appreciate the influence of this self-produced orientation film on the popular understanding of Shiloh. But those who have served as rangers at the park know how entrenched the narrative embedded in this short movie is in the imagination of the public. Few people read about the battle before they visit the park. Many people first learn of the battle as children visiting the park with family. The first interpretation they get is the orientation film, and that story sticks. However, after fifty years the history in the film is several generations out of date. The minimal production value is charming, and the story is compelling. Writing Shiloh: Portrait of a Battle off as a “bad film” ignores the power of its storytelling, and its control over popular understanding of the battle.
- U. S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant. New York: Charles L. Webster & Co., 1892. 2 volumes. Grant’s memoirs actually represent a genre of books that form an important core of Shiloh historiography. As much as recent generations have made enormous progress in understanding the battle from the soldiers’ point of view, the major topics of controversy – Surprise, Hornets Nest, Lew Wallace, “Buell Saves Grant,” and Pursuit among others – still have their roots in the debates carried on between the leaders of the armies through their post war writings. Grant’s memoirs are probably the most influential of the series of personal recollections that include Sherman’s memoirs, Alfred Roman’s “approved” biography of Beauregard, and William Preston Johnston’s biography of A. S. Johnston (not an autobiography, of course, but the still the closest we will ever come to understanding the motivations and decisions of the Confederate commander). It was Grant who wrote in his Century Magazine essay that Shiloh was “the most persistently misunderstood battle” of the war, a phrase that is practically the motto of students of the battle.
- Manning Force. Fort Henry to Corinth (Campaigns of the Civil War). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1882. 204p. Force’s history is one of many early sources on the battle, but is important as the first work to have access to the Official Records. This book represents a major shift from memoirs and argumentative articles toward more objective history. As a capable historian and veteran of the battle Force set the stage for David W. Reed.
- Timothy B. Smith. This Great Battlefield at Shiloh: History, Memory, and the Establishment of a Civil War National Military Park. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 2004. Shiloh National Military Park is its self a most important source on the battle. Smith’s influential study tells the important story of how the park came to be, but also explores the crucial role of the park and its historians to Shiloh history and popular memory.
- Shelby Foote. Shiloh. New York: The Dial Press, 1952. Foote’s novel serves a similar purpose for Shiloh as Michael Shaara’s The Killer Angels serves for the battle of Gettysburg. While not pretending to be non-fiction, this historical novel nevertheless captures the feel of the battle, and a sense of the psychology of the people involved. Many people come to Shiloh National Military Park without having read any history of the battle, but they have Foote, or they have read Will Henry’s Journey to Shiloh, or they have seen the film version of Journey….
- Shiloh National Military Park. The old saying that one must walk the battlefield in order to understand the battle is true of Shiloh. As Timothy Smith points out, only the original five national military parks have the benefit of being founded and interpreted by the men who fought the battles. Few people, however, understand the rich variety of ways walking this battlefield affects understanding of the battle. If a battlefield is an historic resource, then Shiloh is both a primary and a secondary resource. Geography dictated the evolution of the battle, and the geography must be included as primary evidence in any serious study. The interpretation added to the landscape by park historians, most notably David W. Reed, crosses the line between first-hand testimony and second-hand analysis. The location of the tablets and monuments is largely due to on-the-ground examinations by visiting veterans, cooperating with Reed. The information on the tablets is almost entirely from Reed, combining his personal experiences and observations with written primary sources, principally the Official Records. Later generations of park historians have added wayside exhibits, and created tours that support a certain version of the story. That story will change with the generations, and as the layout of the tour routes change. The battlefield park is the most important source on the battle.
|
idaho native
Member
| Joined: | Fri Jul 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | Boise, Idaho USA |
| Posts: | 811 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Tue Jul 21st, 2009 05:15 pm |
|
Bjorn: Rats! I forgot to mention Manning Force's book (from Henry to Corinth) which I think is a good first hand account which I have cited on various occasions. Sharon
It does not count as a book but the Topographical Map of Shiloh National Military Park is another great tool that one should not visit the battlefield without.Last edited on Tue Jul 21st, 2009 05:18 pm by idaho native
____________________
"In our youth our hearts were touched with fire." - Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.
|
Bjorn
Member
| Joined: | Tue Mar 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 22 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Tue Jul 21st, 2009 05:58 pm |
|
Sharon,
Force's book is fascinating to me because it pre-dates the evolution of many of the topics that we think are important or controversial. If you were to imagine what we would think is important about the battle had someone other than David W. Reed been the first Secretary and Historian, Force would make a good alternative. There would not be a huge difference, but there would be a difference.
Force was the first book-length history of the battle I read when the topic of Shiloh caught my attention. I still remember thinking right after reading it that the re-alignment of S.A.M. Wood's Brigade to exploit the gap between Prentiss and Sherman was the most important event of the battle. It took me a little time and further reading of authors like Wiley Sword and James McDonough to realize that "the gap" was pretty far down on other peoples' lists after Hornets Nest or Ruggles Battery stories.
It's funny to me that after all these years of study I would think something very close to my very first impression when reading Force.
Bjorn
|
rrrwright
Member
| Joined: | Wed Jan 7th, 2009 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 97 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Wed Jul 22nd, 2009 05:01 am |
|
Hi Perry Wrap 10, long time, no see. This is a GREAT topic. Did you ever find your Confederates In The Attic? (If not I bet they are getting mighty hungry). As much as I quoted it earlier to you it is not on my list.
Here is what I have. I hope I am posting my list in the right place.
I want to approach this book thing from a slightly different direction. Let's say someone knows nothing of Shiloh and you wanted to grab their interest... How would you best go about encouraging them to want to know more?
I am thinking of how people develop an interest in a specific sports team. Usually they don't pick a favorite team out of the blue, unless something special happens that captures their attention, or maybe if it is a hometown team in a place they just relocated. I think mostly it happens that people choose a favorite team because they come to know a certain player or a few players on the team as people and then they take a personal interest in the careers of their favorites, learn more, and begin to know the whole team and follow them more closely.
That said, I think maybe the best way to cultivate an interest in Shiloh in someone who had not been especially interested before, is to first introduce them to a few players that they can identify with. From there they might develop a natural curiosity to explore further. With that in mind, here is my Shiloh book list for someone who knows very little about Shiloh:
1 - First I would suggest "Soldier Life - Many Must Fall" by BF Thomas and Peter Wilson. This is the diary and a collection of wartime letters that focuses on a squad of messmates of Iowa soldiers who fought at Donelson and Shiloh and beyond. Their personal observations of the Shiloh battle itself is only what they saw from the ground in front of them, so battle details are very very limited. However it also gives new details about the fates of the Hornets' Nest POWs which cannot be found in any of the well known Shiloh books, so it is also completely fresh to more jaded readers well familiar already with the battle itself. To completely new readers it might open the door for them to take a personal interest in these ordinary soldiers and then to hopefully begin to seek out other books to help them learn more about the bigger picture and the battle these men fought in and where they willingly and bravely sacrificed so much. Once a reader takes personal interest in these real men who they can identify with and care about personally, I think they might seek out more information.
2 - I would then recommend the FF Kiner book "One Year's Soldiering" mentioned by another forum member recently, for the same reasons the other forum member gave. Printed in 1863, this is possibly the very earliest first-hand published book account of a Shiloh POW. For that reason alone, it is uniquely important and well worth the read. It also builds upon the story of the book above. It is an emotional piece of wartime advocacy, not impartial journalism, clearly pushing his audience to recommit to the War effort but you truly get the flavor of the mindset of the soldiers who fought at Shiloh, within months of the battle, and I think it is very important for that reason alone. Other first hand accounts appear years, even decades, later but this was written while the War continued and its outcome still in doubt.
3 - My next choice would be "Nothing But Victory" by Stephen Woodworth. This will give someone new to Shiloh a wonderful overview of Shiloh in a larger context without having to read a full account of the entire War. His writing is just brilliant, each page with some little gem or surprise. I think it one of the finest books on the War. So many little details taken from first hand accounts make it more intimate, more readable, than most wider histories of the War or the western theater. If the first two books lured the reader into wanting more, this will set the hook.
4 - Next, on to a book about the battle itself. I think it has to begin with "Shiloh : Bloody April" by Wiley Sword. Others here have already written about this one and I think I need not add to their comments other than to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It definitely made me want to seek out more, and in fact led me to all the books on this list. It is a hard to find book but an absolute must.
5 - My next choice would be "In Hell Before Night" by James McDonough. It gives a different view point of the battle and intrigued my interest by making the case that the Hornets' Nest wasn't so much a matter of Northern bravery but Southern folly. He makes the case that Bragg and Beauregard made the Nest a thing of vital importance because they had become so focused on it's reduction and wasted precious time and resources on it, thus changing the course of the battle. I liked the brilliant 180 degree switch of viewpoint. I found it very interesting. Larry Daniel's excellent "Shiloh" also tells the battle from a mostly Southern viewpoint, gives different details, and draws some different conclusions, and puts everything in a overall political context of the War, and belongs on this list as an important companion to McDonough's.
6 - Next I would choose "Shiloh and the Western Campaign" by Edward Cunningham, for the same reasons many others here have stated: it focuses more on other areas of the battlefield that have been more or less in the shadow (at least in the public perception) of the Hornets' Nest. It is an important and timely book and it most certainly should be a "must have" on anyone's list of Shiloh books. I love the alternative views, opinions and thinking, and especially love the needed informative attention given to other areas of the battle. However, I do have reservations about the book only because of the very real and serious flaws I find in other writings by one of Cunningham's editors. This well informed editor, in other writings, in my opinion, in order to build a case for a certain pre-determined pet theory, is so committed to that theory that he frequently and deliberately leaves out many important facts that tend to not support his favorite theory, thus deliberately slanting history, while at the same time accusing previous historians of doing the same sort of thing. Be that as it may Cunningham's book is excellent.
7 - Finally, I would go full circle and next recommend any student of Shiloh to read David Reed's "Campaigns and Battles of the Twelfth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry". Reed also wrote a history of the battle of Shiloh, which could be considered as the companion volume to his history of the regiment. I like this lesser quoted work however because he shows how his views of the importance of the Hornets' Nest came not from Northern sources like Prentiss but from the Southern officers of Shiloh themselves, and from the son of Confederate General Albert S Johnston, who died at Shiloh. Reed tells how he and his men had been labelled cowards by much of the Northern press and public and shows how differently they were viewed by the soldiers of the South. The "new theories" of Shiloh always spin around the idea that the Nest was only some invented Northern myth spun decades after the War. The truth is the Nest was a very serious issue raised immediately by the Southern troops who were needlessly sacrificed in piecemeal charges, many personally ordered by Bragg. These Southern men, angry at the waste of Southern lives, were the first to praise the Northern forces who had held them at bay, and the first to criticize those Confederate officers who urged them to make costly frontal assaults against the Nest. If the Nest was a "myth", it was a Southern one first and foremost, and they themselves schooled their Northern counterparts. When studying the battle and it's repercussions, going back again to original sources is always a good thing in my opinion.
I would encourage folks who read my list above to go back and read again Wrap 10's deeper descriptions of the same books in his list. He has them pretty much nailed and his reasons line up with my own opinions in many many ways. The more viewpoints of the battle the better the understanding I think. I am not listing these as those whose viewpoints I agree or disagree with more, I am listing these as a step by step way for a novice to Shiloh to first become interested in the battle and then to become more and more immersed in it, to learn more and more about it until they are exposed to the different viewpoints and even to some of the controverial issues.
.
Last edited on Wed Jul 22nd, 2009 05:48 am by rrrwright
|
Wrap10
Administrator
|
Posted: Thu Jul 23rd, 2009 01:51 am |
|
Wow, it's hard to know where to start. Some really great posts. Some well-known titles combined with some that aren't so well known, but I'll bet will be added to some reading lists. Including mine.
Bjorn, you might have to get the nod for the most original approach. It is a great way to approach the subject, since it helps us gauge how our collective understanding of Shiloh has been shaped over the years.
I'm probably a pretty typical example from the top two items on your list. I have an early 60's addition of Albert Dillahunty's book on Shiloh that I've had since I was a lot younger with a lot more hair. (And when it was actually red instead of gray!) Plus that film, which I always had to make a point of seeing almost every time I visited the park. Those two alone went a long way toward shaping my understanding of the battle when I was a teenager. It wasn't until I picked up Sword's book that that really began to change.
In any case, some great lists, everyone. I appreciate your taking the time to post them, and I know Brett does as well. Thanks. And for those of you who haven't posted your own yet, there's still time. 
Perry
____________________
"And all is hushed at Shiloh." - Herman Melville
|
mona
Member
|
Posted: Tue Jul 28th, 2009 10:51 pm |
|
My book list -
1--Shiloh National Miltary Park(NPS)-Dillahunty--this was my very first book and yes is raggedly and red.
2-Shiloh--Shelby Foote--my second book-both this one and #1 and the movie I rec.to people when they plan a visit so they wont be so overhelmed and have a very basic understanding then we grow from there.
3-Cunningham and Smith--Shiloh and the Western Campaign
4-Manning and Force--From Fort Henry to Corinth
5-The Official records-War of the RebellionVol10/#10-11
6-All the diaries and personal letters and regimental Hx --as these guys were there.
7-But the best textbook is the grounds itself you can read it on paper but it all comes together when you walk the grounds.
Mona
Last edited on Tue Jul 28th, 2009 10:56 pm by mona
|
54th OVI
Member
| Joined: | Tue Mar 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 92 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Wed Jul 29th, 2009 10:43 pm |
|
At the top of my Shiloh list would be a trio of Tim Smith books:
1) Shiloh & the Western Campaign of 1862, edited by Tim & Gary Joiner
32 maps! Very appreciative that Smith, Joiner & Savas-Beatie chose to publish Cunningham's dissertation.
2) This Great Battlefield of Shiloh
3) The Untold Story of Shiloh: The Battle & the Battlefield
Then 3 which seem to be on everyone's list:
4) Shiloh: The Battle that Changed the Civil War -- by Larry Daniel
5) Shiloh: Bloody April -- by Wiley Sword
I do not, however, like the way that Sword compares Shiloh to Pearl Harbor. Doesn't work for me.
6) Shiloh -- In Hell Before Night -- by McDonough
Maybe the most readable of them all but lacking in the bibliography department, IMHO.
And then one I do not own:
7) Battle of Shiloh & the Organizations Engaged -- by D. W. Reed
Last edited on Thu Jul 30th, 2009 03:43 am by 54th OVI
____________________
"A politician of influence in New Orleans, Gladden was also a man of some humor who had once joked that all it took to make a Zouave was an Irishman & 2 yards of red flannel."
|
idaho native
Member
| Joined: | Fri Jul 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | Boise, Idaho USA |
| Posts: | 811 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Thu Jul 30th, 2009 02:30 am |
|
54th OVI wrote:
7) Battl of Shiloh & the Organizations Engaged -- by D. W. Reed
Reed's book is on the internet, just do a search for it and download the file as a PDF or you can also read it online.
____________________
"In our youth our hearts were touched with fire." - Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.
|
54th OVI
Member
| Joined: | Tue Mar 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 92 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Thu Jul 30th, 2009 03:44 am |
|
idaho native wrote:
Reed's book is on the internet, just do a search for it and download the file as a PDF or you can also read it online.
Idaho Native,
Thank you very much!
54th OVI
____________________
"A politician of influence in New Orleans, Gladden was also a man of some humor who had once joked that all it took to make a Zouave was an Irishman & 2 yards of red flannel."
|
bschulte
Member
| Joined: | Mon Jun 15th, 2009 |
| Location: | Illinois USA |
| Posts: | 12 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Thu Jul 30th, 2009 07:41 pm |
|
All, some GREAT picks and a GREAT turnout as well. So far I count 11 Top 7 (5) lists in this thread, and fellow blogger Nick Kurtz also posted his on his blog:
http://shilohnick.blogspot.com/2009/07/top-shiloh-books.html
I hope to have my own list tonight or tomorrow morning (I have to get the order right and type up a little summary of why I chose what I did where) both here and at TOCWOC - A Civil War blog.
I just wanted to take this opportunity to remind everyone that the cutoff date (for the combined list appearing at TOCWOC anyway) is 11:59 pm Central U.S. time on July 31, 2009. At that point, I will count up the votes and post the combined Top 7 Shiloh books list in this thread and on a permanent Top 7 Shiloh books page at TOCWOC which should go live over the weekend.
One other reminder is that I plan to post each Top 7 Shiloh books list individually i its own blog entry at TOCWOC over the first portion of August. If for any reason you do not want me to post your list, please let me know via Private Message and I will respect your wishes.
Thanks to all who have participated. This has been a fun experience and I have some new books in my Amazon wish list as a result!
Last edited on Thu Jul 30th, 2009 08:46 pm by bschulte
____________________
Brett S.
TOCWOC - A Civil War Blog
|
bschulte
Member
| Joined: | Mon Jun 15th, 2009 |
| Location: | Illinois USA |
| Posts: | 12 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Fri Jul 31st, 2009 04:08 am |
|
Okay, here is my own take on the Top 7 Shiloh books. I think all of these have appeared on others' lists. I forced myself not to read anyone's list until I had finished my own, so similarities to other lists are purely coincidental.- Shiloh: The Battle That Changed the Civil War by Larry J. Daniel
Of the three general “campaign and battle studies” I list in my top 7, I think Daniel’s is the best overall. I also found it to be the best read of the three, though what I consider a good interesting read may vary wildly from may others considering my interest in wargaming! - The Battle of Shiloh and the Organizations Engaged by D.W. Reed
Reed, a Shiloh veteran and the first historian of the Shiloh National Military Park, was obsessed with the battle. This book, despite placing too much importance on the Hornet’s Nest at the expense of the other fighting on April 6, is the foundation for further research. My recent review of the book was very favorable. - Shiloh and the Western Campaign of 1862 by O. Edward Cunningham
This classic study of the campaign, not well known among the general public for decades but touted by those with an intense interest in Shiloh, has been beautifully restored by Tim Smith and Gary Joiner and published by Savas Beatie. As with any Savas Beatie book, you know the maps will be plentiful, and they are! - Shiloh: Bloody April by Wiley Sword
I read Sword’s book a long, long time ago just as I was getting into detailed campaign studies, and it didn’t grab me as much as Daniel’s book did, which I read around the same time. It’s not a bad book by any means. I included it in my Top 7 Shiloh books after all! - This Great Battlefield of Shiloh: History, Memory, and the Establishment of a Civil War National Military Park by Timothy B. Smith
Civil War Historiography or “memory” is all the rage right now. I have to admit I find studies which look at not the history of the battle itself but instead how the battle’s interpretation has changed over time to be fascinating. - Seeing the Elephant: Raw Recruits at the Battle of Shiloh by Joseph Allan Frank and George A. Reaves
Seeing the Elephant is not a Shiloh battle study, but instead uses soldier letters and diaries to explore how men seeing battle for the first time (and at Shiloh of all places, what an introduction!) felt and acted in that situation. - U.S. Army War College Guide to the Battle of Shiloh edited by Jay Luvaas, Stephen Bowman, and Leonard Fullenkamp
The U.S. Army War College Guide series format is probably very familiar to many of you, with Official Records excerpts from leaders on both sides accompanied by maps in a “Staff Ride” format. This is a great book to take along the next time (you HAVE been there, right?) you visit the Shiloh Battlefield.
Last edited on Fri Jul 31st, 2009 02:55 pm by bschulte
____________________
Brett S.
TOCWOC - A Civil War Blog
|
civilwarhistory
Member
|
Posted: Sat Aug 1st, 2009 02:00 am |
|
My list would contain the following books, most of which are not limited to just the battle:
1. Shiloh: A Battlefield Guide by Mark Grimsley and Steven Woodworth. This book is a detailed, stop-by-stop, guide for visitors to the park. It provides a wonderful background to the events leading up to the battle, and then provides the reader with the occurrences of the battle at each park stop. Essential reading for anyone visiting the park.
2. Nothing But Victory: The Army of the Tennessee, 1861-1865 by Steven Woodworth. Dr. Woodworth has provided a remarkable history of the army commanded by Grant that fought at Shiloh. If you are looking for a background of the primary Union army in the West, then this book is a must read.
3. The Story of a Common Soldier by Leander Stillwell. What list on Shiloh would be complete without a memior from a Union soldier who fought at the battle. Stillwell has a connection to me, as he was born in Jersey County, Illinois, which is where I am from. His memior was also an important component to my Master's thesis. Much of the section on Shiloh that Stillwell incorporated came from an earlier article he wrote for a newspaper.
These are what I would suggest be included in a list of books dealing with Shiloh. Unfortunately, I have not had as much time to read many books on Shiloh. What I would say is any list would be incomplete without books dealing with Grant, as the battle defined his career. What I have seen of some of the other submitted lists is quite good.
____________________
Daniel Sauerwein
Graduate Student
Dept. of History
University of North Dakota
Blogger Civil War History
Follow me on Twitter
|
bschulte
Member
| Joined: | Mon Jun 15th, 2009 |
| Location: | Illinois USA |
| Posts: | 12 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Mon Aug 3rd, 2009 05:09 pm |
|
All,
I have scheduled out the responses in this thread to appear on TOCWOC in the following way:
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Ron 769 words 8/4/09 8 am
Bjorn 995 words 8/4/09 1 pm
drew@cwba (Drew Wagenhoffer of Civil War Books and Authors) 8/4/09 4 pm LINK ONLY
tcb816 89 words 8/4/09 7 pm
Thursday, August 6, 3009
vtclark 2659 words 8/6/09 8 am
Nick Kurtz of Battlefield Wanderings (at his blog) 8/6/09 1 pm LINK ONLY
54th OVI 159 words 8/6/09 3 pm
Manassas1 157 words 8/6/09 6 pm
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Wrap10 (SDG founder Perry Cuskey) 4474 words 8/11/09 8 am
Thursday, August 13, 2009
rrrwright 1544 words 8/13/09 8 am
idaho native 299 words 8/13/09 2 pm
mona 127 words 8/13/09 5 pm
bschulte (at TOCWOC – A Civil War Blog) 8/13/09 7 pm LINK ONLY
____________________
Brett S.
TOCWOC - A Civil War Blog
|
c.d.rickman
Member
|
Posted: Mon Aug 3rd, 2009 08:10 pm |
|
| I know, I know the deadline has passed but you know how it is when you can't pick out your top seven but here is my top 11. 1. battles and leaders of the civil war. 2.official records of the civil war. 3. staff ride report; Shiloh. 4.the campaigns of nathan bedford forrest and of forrest's calvary by thomas jordan for reasons I have stated before.5."co aytech "by sam watkins, a confederate private's view.6. the diary of cyrus boyd, a union soldier's view. a lot of the statements and information on anniversary weekends come from these two books. 7. the battle of shiloh and the organizations engaged. by D.W.Reed 8.Shiloh by DeLong Rice. 9. Shiloh by Shelby Foote. 10. fort henry to corinth. 11. Shiloh, house of peace by dr. Ronnie Fullwood. 12. In Hell before night.
|
Current time is 01:26 pm | Page:   1 2 3   |
|
|
|
|
