US Civil War (Bookshelf)

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The American Civil War (1861–1865) was a separatist conflict between the United States Federal government (the "Union") and eleven Southern slave states that declared their secession and formed the Confederate States of America, led by President Jefferson Davis. The Union, led by President Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party, opposed the expansion of slavery and rejected any right of secession. Fighting commenced on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces attacked a Federal military installation at Fort Sumter in South Carolina.

—Excerpted from American Civil War on Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.

Contents

Fiction

Altsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander), 1862-1919

Wikipedia: Joseph Alexander Altsheler

Altsheler's series of "juvenile historical fiction" follows the experiences throughout the war of two cousins from Pendleton, Kentucky: Harry Kenton, who fights for the South, and Dick Mason, who fights for the North. See excerpt below.

Bellamy, Edward, 1850-1898

Wikipedia: Edward Bellamy

Burnett, Alf,

Bierce, Ambrose, 1842-1914?

Wikipedia: Ambrose Bierce

Bishop, Austin

Brady, Cyrus Townsend, 1861-1920

Wikipedia: Cyrus Townsend Brady

Cable, George Washington, 1844-1925

Castlemon, Harry, (pseud.) , 1842-1915

Charles Austin Fosdick
Wikipedia: Harry Castlemon

Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William), 1865-1933

Churchill, Winston, 1871-1947

Wikipedia: Winston Churchill (novelist)

Coffin, Charles Carleton, 1823-1896

Wikipedia: Charles Carleton Coffin

Craddock, Charles Egbert

see: Murfree, Mary Noailles

Crane, Stephen, 1871-1900

Wikipedia: Stephen Crane

Dawson, Sarah Morgan 1842-1909

De Forest, J. W., 1826-1906

Wikipedia: John William De Forest

Dixon, Thomas, 1864-1946

Wikipedia: Thomas Dixon, Jr.

Dixon is best known for his book The Clansman, which served as the inspiration for D. W. Griffith's controversial movie The Birth of a Nation.

Dunn, Byron A., 1842-1926

Fox, John, 1863-1919

Harris, Joel Chandler, 1848-1908

Wikipedia: Joel Chandler Harris

Hawthorne, Nathaniel, 1804-1864

Henty, G. A. (George Alfred), 1832-1902

Wikipedia: G. A. Henty

Johnston, Mary, 1870-1936

Wikipedia: Mary Johnston (novelist)

Keenan, Henry Francis

King, Charles

Lincoln, Natalie Sumner, 1885-1935

McElroy, John, 1829-1914

Mitchell, S. Weir (Silas Weir), 1846-1929

Murfree, Mary Noailles, 1850-1922

(Pen name: Charles Egbert Craddock)
Wikipedia: Mary Noailles Murfree

Norton, Andre Alice, 1912-2005

Wikipedia: Andre Norton

Optic, Oliver, 1822-1897

Page, Thomas Nelson, 1835-1922

Parrish, Randall, 1858-1923

Peple, Edward Henry, 1869-1924

Robins, Edward, 1862-1943

Piper, H. Beam, 1904-1964

Links for H. Beam Piper: Wikipedia

Roe, Edward Payson, 1838-1888

Non-Fiction

Abel, Annie Heloise

Wikipedia: Annie Heloise Abel

Adams, Ephraim Douglass

Wikipedia: Ephraim Douglass Adams

Adams, F. Colburn (Francis Colburn)

Addeman, Joshua M., 1840-1930

Alcott, Louisa May, 1832-1888

Allen, Walter, 1840-1907

Armstrong, William H.

Bancroft, George, 1800-1891

Batten, John M., 1837-1916

Beatty, John

Wikipedia: John Beatty

Beers, Fannie A.

Bissell, George P.

Blackwell, Sarah Ellen, 1843-1913


Bowers, John Hugh, 1843-1913

Brockett, Linus Pierpont, 1820-1893

Browne, A. K.

Browne, Francis Fisher, 1843-1913

Burnet, Alf

Cable, George Washington, 1844-1925

Charnwood, Godfrey Rathbone Benson, Baron, 1864-1945

Chittenden, Lucius Eugene, 1824-1900

Wikipedia: Lucius E. Chittenden

Cist, Henry Martyn, 1839-1902

Clarke, Charles H.

Coffin, Charles Carleton, 1823-1896

Wikipedia: Charles Carleton Coffin

Cooke, John Esten, 1830-1886

Wikipedia: John Esten Cooke

Cox, Jacob Dolson, 1828-1900

Wikipedia: Jacob Dolson Cox

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Wikipedia: Jefferson Davis

Dawson, Sarah Morgan, 1842-1909

DeLeon, T. C.

Dickert, D. Augustus

Dodge, Theodore A., 1842-1909

Wikipedia: Theodore Ayrault Dodge

Doubleday, Abner 1819-1893

Wikipedia: Abner Doubleday

Duffy, Edward

Dunaway, Wayland Fuller, 1841-1916

Ellis, Samuel K.

Fleming, Walter Lynwood, 1874-1932

Force, Manning Ferguson, 1824-1899

Wikipedia: Manning Force

Fremantle, Arthur J. L.

Wikipedia: Arthur Fremantle

Gildersleeve, Basil L., 1831-1924

Wikipedia: Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve

Glazier, Willard, 1841-1905

Goodell, Henry Hill

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Wikipedia: Ulysses S. Grant

Grant's memoirs are available in six parts, or in two volumes, or complete in a single file.

Greene, S. D., 1839-1884

Gurowski, Adam, 1805-1866

Count Adam G. De Gurowski

Hascall, Milo S., 1829-1904

Wikipedia: Milo Smith Hascall

Hay, John, 1835-1905

Hayden, Horace Edwin, 1837-1917

Henderson, G. F. R., 1854-1903

Higginson, Thomas Wentworth, 1823-1911

Wikipedia: Thomas Wentworth Higginson

Hill, Alfred J., 1833-1895

Hill, Frederick Trevor, 1866-1930

Hitchcock, Frederick L., 1837-

Howe, W. W.

Huse, Caleb, 1831-1905

Irwin, Richard B., 1839-1892

Keifer, Joseph Warren, 1836-1932

Wikipedia: J. Warren Keifer

Kidd, J. H. (James Harvey), 1840-1913

Kinnear, John R.

Lawrence, George A., 1827-1876

Leale, Charles A., 1842-1932

Wikipedia: Charles Leale

Lee, Robert Edward, General, 1807-1870

Wikipedia: Robert E. Lee

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Wikipedia: Abraham Lincoln

Little, George

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Logan, John Alexander, 1826-1886

Wikipedia: John A. Logan

Maxwell, James Robert

McCarthy, Carlton, 1847-

McElroy, John, 1846-1929

Wikipedia: John McElroy

McManus, Thomas

Melville, Herman, 1819-1891

Moore, Edward A.

Morse, John T. (John Torrey), 1840-1937

Nicolay, Helen, 1866-1954

Nicolay, John George, 1832-1901

Oakey, Daniel

Olney, Warren, 1841-1921

Peck, George W. (George Wilbur), 1840-1916

Wikipedia: George Wilbur Peck

Pettis, George H., 1834-

Pickett, La Salle Corbell, 1848-1931

Pittenger, William, 1840-1904

Potts, Mrs. Eugenia Dunlap

Preston, Margaret J.

Rains, George Washington, 1817-1898

Ramsay, H. Ashton

Richardson, James D. (James Daniel), 1843-1914

Rochelle, James Henry, 1826-1889

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Schofield, John M., 1831-1906

Wikipedia: John Schofield

Scott, Emma Look, 1858-

Semmes, Raphael, 1809-1877

Shellenberger, John K., 1809-1877

Sheridan, Philip Henry, General, 1831-1888

Wikipedia: Philip Sheridan

Sheridan's memoirs are available in six parts, or in two volumes, or complete in a single file. See excerpt below.

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Wikipedia: William Tecumseh Sherman

Sherman's memoirs are available in four parts, or in two volumes, or complete in a single file.

Smith, Henry Bascom, -1916

Spicer, William A.

Sprague, Homer B.

Stees, Charles J.

Stephenson, Nathaniel W. (Nathaniel Wright), 1867-1935

Stevens, George T.

Stevenson, William G.

Stillwell, Leander, 1843-1934

Taylor, Richard

Vaill, Dudley Landon

Various

Vaughn, Mary C.

Watkins, Sam R., 1839-1901

Wikipedia: Sam Watkins

Watson, E. W., 1843-1914

Whipple, Wayne

Widger, David, 1932-

Wilkinson, John, 1821-1891

Wood, William (William Charles Henry), 1864-1947

Worden, J. L., 1818-1897

Wikipedia: John Lorimer Worden

Younger, Cole, 1844-1916

Wikipedia: Cole Younger

Excerpts

Joseph Altsheler's Civil War Series

The advantage now lay distinctly with the Northern army, won by its clever passage of Bull Run and surprise. But the courage and tenacity of the Southern troops averted defeat and rout in detail. Jackson, in his strong position near the Henry house, in the cellars of which women were hiding, refused to give an inch of ground. Beauregard, called by the cannon, arrived upon the field only an hour before noon, meeting on the way many fugitives, whom he and his officers drove back into the battle. Hampton's South Carolina Legion, which reached Richmond only that morning, came by train and landed directly upon the battlefield about noon. In five minutes it was in the thick of the battle, and it alone stemmed a terrific rush of Sherman, when all others gave way.

Noon had passed and the heart of McDowell swelled with exultation. The Northern troops were still gaining ground, and at many points the Southern line was crushed. Some of the recruits in gray, their nerves shaken horribly, were beginning to run. But fresh troops coming up met them and turned them back to the field. Beauregard and Johnston, the two senior generals, both experienced and calm, were reforming their ranks, seizing new and strong positions, and hurrying up every portion of their force. Johnston himself, after the first rally, hurried back for fresh regiments, while Jackson's men not only held their ground but began to drive the Northern troops before them.

The Invincibles had fallen back somewhat, leaving many dead behind them. Many more were wounded. Harry had received two bullets through his clothing, and St. Clair was nicked on the wrist. Colonel Talbot and Lieutenant-Colonel St. Hilaire were still unharmed, but a deep gloom had settled over the Invincibles. They had not been beaten, but certainly they were not winning. Their ranks were seamed and rent. From the place where they now stood they could see the place where they formerly stood, but Northern troops occupied it now. Tears ran down the faces of some of the youngest, streaking the dust and powder into hideous, grinning masks.

Harry threw himself upon the ground and lay there for a few moments, panting. He choked with heat and thirst, and his heart seemed to have swollen so much within him that it would be a relief to have it burst. His eyes burned with the dust and smoke, and all about him was a fearful reek. He could see from where he lay most of the battlefield. He saw the Northern batteries fire, move forward, and then fire again. He saw the Northern infantry creeping up, ever creeping, and far behind he beheld the flags of fresh regiments coming to their aid. The tears sprang to his eyes. It seemed in very truth that all was lost. In another part of the field the men in blue had seized the Robinson house, and from points near it their artillery was searching the Southern ranks. A sudden grim humor seized the boy.

The Campaign of Chancellorsville

XVI.

JACKSON'S ATTACK.

Such is the situation at six P.M. Now Jackson gives the order to advance; and a heavy column of twenty-two thousand men, the best infantry in existence, as tough, hardy, and full of elan, as they are ill-fed, ill-clothed, and ill-looking, descends upon the Eleventh Corps, whose only ready force is four regiments, the section of a battery, and a weak line of pickets.

The game, in which these woods still abound, startled at the unusual visitors, fly in the advance of Jackson's line towards and across the Dowdall clearing, and many a mouth waters, as fur and feather in tempting variety rush past; while several head of deer speedily clear the dangerous ground, before the bead of willing rifles can be drawn upon them.

This sudden appearance of game causes as much jollity as wonder. All are far from imagining its cause.

The next sound is that of bugles giving the command, and enabling the advancing troops to preserve some kind of alignment. At this the wary prick up their ears. Surprise stares on every face. Immediately follows a crash of musketry as Rodes sweeps away our skirmish line as it were a cobweb. Then comes the long and heavy roll of veteran infantry fire, as he falls upon Devens's line.

The resistance which this division can make is as nothing against the weighty assault of a line moving by battalions in mass. Many of the regiments do their duty well. Some barely fire a shot. This is frankly acknowledged in many of the reports. What can be expected of new troops, taken by surprise, and attacked in front, flank, and rear, at once? Devens is wounded, but remains in the saddle, nor turns over the command to McLean until he has reached the Buschbeck line. He has lost one-quarter of his four thousand men, and nearly all his superior officers, in a brief ten minutes.

Schurz's division is roused by the heavy firing on the right, in which even inexperienced ears detect something more than a mere repetition of the picket-fight of three hours gone. Its commanding officers are at once alert. Regimental field and staff are in the saddle, and the men behind the stacks, leaving canteens, haversacks, cups with the steaming evening coffee, and rations at the fires. Arms are taken. Regiments are confusedly marched and counter-marched into the most available positions, to meet an emergency which some one should have anticipated and provided for. The absence of Barlow is now fatal.

On comes Jackson, pursuing the wreck of the First division. Some of Schurz's regiments break before Devens has passed to the rear. Others stand firm until the victorious Confederates are upon them with their yell of triumph, then steadily fall back, turning and firing at intervals; but nowhere a line which can for more than a brief space retard such an onset.

Down the road towards Chancellorsville, through the woods, up every side road and forest path, pours a stream of fugitives. Ambulances and oxen, pack-mules and ammunition-wagons, officers' spare horses mounted by runaway negro servants, every species of the impedimenta of camp-life, commissary sergeants on all-too-slow mules, teamsters on still-harnessed team-horses, quartermasters whose duties are not at the front, riderless steeds, clerks with armfuls of official papers, non-combatants of all kinds, mixed with frighted soldiers whom no sense of honor can arrest, strive to find shelter from the murderous fire.

The Memoirs of General Philip H. Sheridan

My furniture was very primitive: a chair or two, with about the same number of camp stools, a cot, and a rickety old bureau that I obtained in some way not now remembered. My washstand consisted of a board about three feet long, resting on legs formed by driving sticks into the ground until they held it at about the proper height from the floor. This washstand was the most expensive piece of furniture I owned, the board having cost me three dollars, and even then I obtained it as a favor, for lumber on the Rio Grande was so scarce in those days that to possess even the smallest quantity was to indulge in great luxury. Indeed, about all that reached the post was what came in the shape of bacon boxes, and the boards from these were reserved for coffins in which to bury our dead.

Among the most notable of these doctors was an Indian named Sam Patch, who several times sought asylum in any cellar, and being a most profound diplomat, managed on each occasion and with little delay to negotiate a peaceful settlement and go forth in safety to resume the practice of his nefarious profession. I often hoped he would be caught before reaching the post, but he seemed to know intuitively when the time had come to take leg-bail, for his advent at the garrison generally preceded by but a few hours the death of some poor dupe.

"CITY POINT, Va., Nov. 9, 1864.

"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Cedar Creek, Va.:

"Do you not think it advisable to notify all citizens living east of the Blue Ridge to move out north of the Potomac all their stock, grain, and provisions of every description? There is no doubt about the necessity of clearing out that country so that it will not support Mosby's gang. And the question is whether it is not better that the people should save what they can. So long as the war lasts they must be prevented from raising another crop, both there and as high up the valley as we can control.

"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General."

In the same despatch I wrote: "If the thing is pressed, I think that Lee will surrender." When Mr. Lincoln, at City Point, received this word from General Grant, who was transmitting every item of news to the President, he telegraphed Grant the laconic message: "Let the thing be pressed."

Still, nothing could be done, but stand and take what was to come, for there was no chance of escape--it being supreme folly to undertake in wagons a race with Indians to Fort Stevenson, sixty miles away. To make the best of the situation, we unloaded the baggage, distributing and adjusting the trunks, rolls of bedding, crackerboxes, and everything else that would stop a bullet, in such manner as to form a square barricade, two sides of which were the wagons, with the mules haltered to the wheels. Every man then supplied himself with all the ammunition he could carry, and the Mandan scouts setting up the depressing wail of the Indian death-song, we all awaited the attack with the courage of despair.
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