The book
“The Civil War Told By Those Who Lived It” edited by Brooks D. Simpson, Stephen W. Sears and Aaron Sheehan-Dean (The Library of America, a four volume boxed set, 3,624 pages, $157.50)
At this time of year I begin to compile lists of books that might make excellent gifts. Regular readers of this column will know to expect my column of gift suggestions to appear on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Usually I don’t have much difficulty restraining myself from offering up suggestions before that column is ready to run.
This year I’m making one exception. Back 150 years ago the Civil War was still raging and was slowly drawing to an end. Many books have been published in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of our War between the States. The Library of America just released a four volume boxed set called “The Civil War Told By Those Who Lived It.”
Over the last four years the Library of America has been publishing a volume each year to coincide with the anniversary of each year of the Civil War. The debut volume, “The First Year,” was published in 2011.
It contains material written that first year of the war as hostilities finally boiled over. In each volume you’ll find works penned by a variety of correspondents ranging from heads of state like Abraham Lincoln to soldiers scribbling in field diaries.
All four volumes are available now in this box set. Here are some samplings:
“The First Year” — in South Carolina Catherine Edmondston wrote in her diary about the looming attack on Fort Sumter. She recorded that: “as I afterwards sat at Lawrence’s breakfast table and looked from the luxurious & peaceful family scene in doors, across the still smooth water smiling in the beauty of the crisp morning air, to Sumter, standing stern, silent, sullen, defiant as it were, bristling with cannon, whilst a light smoke stealing up from her Battlements told that they were heating shot, ready for instant action, & thought how in an instant it could all be changed, that horror & ruin might take the place of peace and comfort … .”
“The Second Year” — George W. Smalley described General Hooker at the 1862 Battle of Antietam: “The rebel bullets had followed him all day, but they had not hit him, and he would not regard them. Remounting on this hill, he had not ridden five steps when he was struck in the foot by a ball. Three men were shot down at the same moment by his side. The air was alive with bullets. He kept on his horse a few minutes, though the wound was severe and excessively painful, and would not dismount till he had given his last order to advance.”
“The Third Year” — General William T. Sherman wrote in an 1863 letter to General Henry W. Halleck about “young Bloods of the South, sons of Planters, Lawyers about Town, good billiard players & sportsmen. Men who never did work, or never will. War suits them: the rascals are brave, fine riders, bold to rashness, and dangerous subjects in every sense.” He observed “They hate Yankees ‘per se’ and don’t bother their brains about the Past, present or Future. As long as they have a good horse, plenty of Forage and an open Country they are happy.”
This massive 3,624 page collection of wartime correspondence is fascinating and deeply informative. The box set also contains four lovely maps. What a splendid gift this could make for any Civil War devotees.
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