The Longest Night: A Military History of the Civil WarA riveting, indispensable history of the Civil War, told chronologically—from the first shots fired at Fort Sumter to the surrender in the summer of 1865—a conflict that James McPherson in the Foreword calls "the most dramatic, violent, and fateful experience in American history." In this compelling account of the American Civil War, noted historian David Eicher gives us an authoritative history of battle from the first shots at Fort Sumter to Lee's surrender at Appomattox. As a strictly military history, The Longest Night covers hundreds of engagements, both well known and obscure, including the oft-neglected Western theater and naval actions along the coasts and rivers. The result is a gripping popular history that will fascinate anyone just learning about the Civil War while offering more than a few surprises for longtime students. Drawing on hundreds of sources and excerpts from correspondence by those who fought the war, The Longest Night conveys a real sense of life—and death—on the battlefield. In addition, Eicher analyzes each side's evolving strategy; examines the tactics of Lee, Grant, Johnston, and Sherman; and discusses significant topics such as prisons, railroads, shipbuilding, clandestine operations, and the role of African-Americans in the war. This is an definitive chronicle of the war that, as the author writes, "like no other conflict in our history, casts a long shadow onto modern America." |
Contents
| 17 | |
| 21 | |
| 29 | |
| 33 | |
| 57 | |
Southern Joy over First Bull Run | 80 |
A Massacre at Balls Bluff | 110 |
An Unlikely Hero at Belmont | 130 |
Three Days at Gettysburg | 501 |
Visiting the River of Death | 570 |
The Battles for Chattanooga | 600 |
Sherman Eyes the Deep South | 624 |
The Red River Campaign | 641 |
Grant Moves into the Wilderness | 659 |
Action at Atlanta and Petersburg | 705 |
Sheridan Raids the Valley | 735 |
Grant Moves into Tennessee | 154 |
Clash of the Ironclads | 183 |
A Bloodbath at Shiloh | 219 |
Jacksons Valley Campaign | 243 |
The Peninsular Campaign | 268 |
Confederate Triumph at Second Bull Run | 298 |
The Wars Bloodiest Day | 335 |
Fredericksburgs Appalling Loss | 381 |
Stalemate at Stones River | 408 |
The Campaign for Vicksburg | 436 |
Lees Master Stroke | 457 |
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Common terms and phrases
A. P. Hill action April army artillery attack batteries battle began Bragg brigades of Brig Burnside campaign Capt captured Carolina casualties cavalry Cemetery Hill Civil command Confeder Confederacy Confederate Corps Creek Culp's Hill D. H. Hill Davis divisions of Brig divisions of Maj Eicher enemy Ewell Federal field fight fire flank force Forrest Fredericksburg Frémont George Gettysburg Grant gunboats guns Halleck heavy Hill Hooker Ibid Infantry Jackson James Jefferson Davis John Johnston killed Lee's Lincoln Longstreet March McClellan McClernand Meade miles military Mississippi moved movement naval Navy North Carolina Northern officers ordered position Potomac prisoners raid railroad Rebel regiments retreat Richmond Ridge River Road Robert Robert E Rosecrans shell Sherman ships shot skirmish soldiers Southern southward Stonewall Jackson struck Tennessee Thomas town troops U.S. Army U.S. Navy Union Union army Vicksburg Virginia Washington William wounded wrote Yankees
Popular passages
Page 51 - We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.