10. “The 111th New York Volunteer Infantry: A Civil War History”, by Martin Husk
9. “Army of the Potomac” series by Bruce Catton. First set of books I ever bought.
8. “Landscape Turned Red”, by Stephen Sears
7. “Lee Considered: General Robert E. Lee & Civil War History”, by Alan T. Nolan
6. “Brave Men’s Tears: Iron Brigade at Brawner’s Farm”, by Alan Gaff
5. “Gettysburg: A Journey in Time”, by William Frassanito
4. “Return to Bull Run: The Campaign and Battle of Second Manassas”, by John Hennessey
3. “Richmond Redeemed: The Siege of Petersburg”, by Richard Sommers
2. “Gettysburg: the Second Day”, by Henry Pfanz
1. “Embrace an Angry Wind”, by Wiley Sword

I’ll also second “The Cause Lost: Myths and Realities of the Confederacy” by William C. Davis, mentioned above by Dan. While some of the opinions and judgments Davis offers may be debatable, the essays are very thoughtful and thought-provoking.

1. McPherson’s “Battle Cry of Freedom”
2. Albert Castel’s “Decision in the West”
3. Joseph Glatthaar’s “General Lee’s Army”
4. David Detzer’s “Donnybrook” (some might consider this part of a trilogy on the early part of the war, but I think it stands alone as its own work)
5. Noah Ann Trudeau’s “Gettysburg: A Testing of Courage”
6. Stephen Sears’ “Chancellorsville”
7. Steven Woodworth’s “Six Armies in Tennessee” (somewhat shorter than these others, but still, to me, the best condensed treatment of the Chick-Chatt campaign)
8. William C. Davis’ “The Cause Lost” (technically an essay collection, rather than a monograph, but anyway…)
9. Steven Woodworth’s “Jefferson Davis and His Generals”
10. Charles Dew’s “Apostles of Disunion” (some qualifiers: 1. quite short, 2. deals with secession, rather than the war; still, it’s eye opening—at least, it was to me—about the causes)
11. McPherson’s “For Cause and Comrades”
12. Paddy Griffith’s “Battle Tactics of the Civil War” (you may not agree with his conclusions, but at least he offers a different viewpoint)

1. “Lee’s Lieutenants,” by Douglas Southall Freeman.
2. “Stars in their Courses: The Gettysburg Campaign,” by Shelby Foote.
3. “A Pictorial History of the Confederacy,” by Lamont Buchanan [My 1st CW book].
4. “Heroes in Blue and Gray,” by Robert E. Alter [My 2nd CW book].
5. “Richmond Redeemed: The Siege of Petersburg,” by Richard J. Sommers.
6. “Terrible Swift Sword,” by Bruce Catton.
7. “To Appomattox,” by Burke Davis.
8. “Like Men of War,” by Noah Andre Trudeau.
9. “Hard Tack and Coffee,” by John B. Billings.
10. “If the South Had Won the Civil War,” by MacKinlay Kantor [My 3rd CW book].
11. “The Stonewall Brigade,” by James I. Robertson, Jr.
12. “The 24th Virginia Cavalry Regt,” by R. D. Holland [My only published CW book].

And my Top three “Books on Tape?’ 1. “Stars in Their Courses,” by Foote; 2. “Landscape Turned Red,” by Sears; and 3. “The Last Full Measure,” by Shaara.

As far as making a list of top 12 books… I’m not well-read enough yet to have a 12 best book list. I’ve read a few of the books on the list (Pfalz, Hennessey, and Sears), and glad to see them there.

One book I’ve read that I don’t see on the list, and will stick my neck out for is David G. Martin’s Gettysburg July 1 book. For whatever reason, I love this book (even if it did have some problems when published). It’s dispassionate and unembellished in its analysis, and I love that. There’s little puffery of regiments or brigades involved. Mr. Martin, in his austere manner, simply tries to provide all the evidence that is out there, along with the myriad arguments surrounding the events of the day; before drawing his own conclusions and allowing the reader do so as well. Love it.

I also just finished Mr. Wittenberg’s and Mr. Petruzzi’s “Plenty of Blame to Go Around” and it seems to come from a similar place as the Martin July 1 book, i.e. heavy on the evidence and the variety of arguments surrounding the evidence, and also presented in an unembellished, as is sort of way. Definitely the way I like to have specific historical events presented to me in writing.

Interestingly, out of all the Sears books of Civil War campaigns my least favorite is his Antietam book. I actually think his style of writing comes together the best in his Chancellorsville book.

Anyway, thanks for the two top 12 lists. There’s plenty of new there to read.

I have read 10 of your dozen and agree. Don’t have McPherson’s “Battle Cry” or the American Heritage Picture book. Surprising huh?

Mike

12. Nothing But Victory: The Army of the Tennessee, 1861-1865 by Steven E. Woodworth

11. General Lee’s Army: From Victory to Collapse by Joseph Glatthaar

10. The Sword of Lincoln: The Army of the Potomac by Jeffry D. Wert

9. Shenandoah 1862 by Peter Cozzens

8. Unfurl Those Colors: McClellan, Sumner, and the Second Army Corps in the Antietam Campaign by Marion Armstrong

7. Combined Operations in the Civil War by Rowena Reed

6. American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War

5. Return to Bull Run: The Campaign and Battle of Second Manassas by John J. Hennessy

4. The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command by Edwin B. Coddington

3. Battle Cry of Freedom by James M. McPherson

2. How the North Won: A Military History of the Civil War by Herman Hattaway

1. Taken at the Flood: Confederate Strategy in the Maryland Campaign by Joseph Harsh

Regards
Jim Rosebrock

In my list Peter Cozzens would have a title or two in it such as his wonderful books on Chickamauga and Iuka/Corinth.

Catton’s book has always been one of my favorite introductions to the war as his maps are first rate and so fun to look at. Also, if bound in one volume his trilogy on the Army of the Potomac is one of my favorite single books with its lyrical, moving prose bringing that star crossed army to life.

Chris