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.

Additional titles available via subject search.

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

Eggleston, George Cary, 1839-1911

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

Madison, Lucy Foster, 1865-1932

McCarter, Margaret Hill, 1860-1938

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

Wikipedia: William Taylor Adams

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

Anonymous

Armstrong, William H.

Bancroft, George, 1800-1891

Barry, Joseph

Batten, John M., 1837-1916

Beatty, John

Wikipedia: John Beatty

Beers, Fannie A.

Bissell, George P.

Blackwell, Sarah Ellen, 1843-1913

Blakeslee, B. F.

Bowers, John Hugh, 1843-1913

Boykin, Edward M.

Boynton, Henry V., 1835-1905

Brockett, Linus Pierpont, 1820-1893

Brown, Andrew

Browne, A. K.

Browne, Francis Fisher, 1843-1913

Burnet, Alf

Cable, George Washington, 1844-1925

Canfield, William A., 1840-

Carnahan, James R., 1840-1905

Charnwood, Godfrey Rathbone Benson, Baron, 1864-1945

Chittenden, Lucius Eugene, 1824-1900

Wikipedia: Lucius E. Chittenden

Cist, Henry Martyn, 1839-1902

  • The Army of the Cumberland stock_book_yellow-16.png (English)
    Cist was a general in the Union Army. His book includes the battles of Perryville, Stone's River,
    Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge.

Clark, William H.

Clarke, Charles H.

Clement, Edward Henry 1843 - 1920

Coffin, Charles Carleton, 1823-1896

Wikipedia: Charles Carleton Coffin
Coffin was a journalist for The Boston Journal.

Cooke, John Esten, 1830-1886

Wikipedia: John Esten Cooke

Cooper, Alonzo, 1830-1919

Cox, Jacob Dolson, 1828-1900

Wikipedia: Jacob Dolson Cox

Crane, William E.

Cutter, Orlando P.

Dame, William Meade, 1845-1923

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Wikipedia: Jefferson Davis

Dawson, Sarah Morgan, 1842-1909

DeLeon, T. C.

Dickert, D. Augustus

  • History of Kershaw's Brigade stock_book_yellow-16.png (English)
    First-hand account of Dickert's service under the command of General Joseph Brevard Kershaw, McLaws' division,
    Longstreet's corps, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, 12/10/1860 through 04/28/1865.

Dodge, Grenville M., 1831-1916

Wikipedia: Grenville M. Dodge

Dodge, Theodore A., 1842-1909

Wikipedia: Theodore Ayrault Dodge

Doubleday, Abner 1819-1893

Wikipedia: Abner Doubleday

Duffy, Edward

Duke, Basil Wilson, 1838-1916

Wikipedia: Basil W. Duke

Dunaway, Wayland Fuller, 1841-1916

Elliott, James Carson

Ellis, Samuel K.

Fleming, Walter Lynwood, 1874-1932

Fletcher, Samuel H.

Force, Manning Ferguson, 1824-1899

Wikipedia: Manning Force

Fremantle, Arthur J. L.

Wikipedia: Arthur Fremantle

  • Three Months in the Southern States, April-June 1863 stock_book_yellow-16.png (English)
    Fremantle was a British officer. As a foreign observer attached to Longstreet's army, he witnessed the Gettysburg campaign. He returned to England to write this book predicting a Confederate victory.

Fuller, Charles Augustus

Gildersleeve, Basil L., 1831-1924

Wikipedia: Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve

Glazier, Willard, 1841-1905

Goodell, Henry Hill

Gorman, John C.

Grant, J. W.

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

  • Army Life in a Black Regiment stock_book_yellow-16.png (English)
    Higginson's first-hand account of his service as commander of the First South Carolina Volunteers, the first slave regiment mustered into the service of the United States during the civil war.

Hill, Alfred J., 1833-1895

Hill, Frederick Trevor, 1866-1930

Hitchcock, Frederick L., 1837-

  • War from the Inside
    The Story of the 132nd Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in the War for the Suppression of the Rebellion, 1862-1863     stock_book_yellow-16.png (English)
    Frederick Lyman Hitchcock, born in Waterbury, Conn., April 18, 1837, son of Daniel and Mary (Peck) Hitchcock. His mother was a grandniece of General Artemas Ward, the predecessor of Washington in command of the American Army at Boston. He served in the Civil War and was engaged in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, and was in Florida. In 1862 he was Adjutant of the 132d Pennsylvania Volunteers; Major, May, 1863; twice wounded at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862; discharged as Major, June, 1863, at the expiration of term of service; commissioned as Lieutenant-Colonel 25th U. S. Colored Troops, December, 1863; Colonel, May, 1865; mustered out with regiment, December, 1865.

Hopkins, Luther W., 1843 -

Howe, W. W.

Huse, Caleb, 1831-1905

Irwin, Richard B., 1839-1892

Jones, Jenkin Lloyd 1843 -

Jones, John Beauchamp, 1810-1866

Keifer, Joseph Warren, 1836-1932

Wikipedia: J. Warren Keifer

Kelly, Walden

Kendall, Henry Myron

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

Kinnear, John R.

Kniffin, Gilbert C., 1831 -

Lawrence, George A., 1827-1876

  • Border and Bastille stock_book_yellow-16.png (English)
    Lawrence, a British novelist, came to America intending to join the Confederate army. He was taken prisoner by Union forces, subsequently released based on his promise to return to England.

Leale, Charles A., 1842-1932

Wikipedia: Charles Leale

Lee, Robert Edward, General, 1807-1870

Wikipedia: Robert E. Lee

Leech, Rev. Samuel Vanderlip, 1837-1916

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Wikipedia: Abraham Lincoln

Little, George

Lockwood, John, 1826-1901

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Logan, John Alexander, 1826-1886

Wikipedia: John A. Logan

Loughborough, Mary Ann

Ludlow, William

Lunt, Dolly Sumner, 1817 -

Maxwell, James Robert

McBride, Robert E.

McCarthy, Carlton, 1847-

McElroy, John, 1846-1929

Wikipedia: John McElroy

McManus, Thomas

Meacham, Henry H.

Melville, Herman, 1819-1891

Meyer, Henry Coddington, 1844 - 1935

Moore, Edward A.

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

Neil, Henry M.

Nickerson, Ansel D., 1866-1954

Nicolay, Helen, 1866-1954

Nicolay, John George, 1832-1901

Oakey, Daniel

Olney, Warren, 1841-1921

Parker, Ezra Knight, 1830-1919

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

Wikipedia: George Wilbur Peck

Pettis, George H., 1834 -

Phisterer, Frederick, 1836 - 1909

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

Rankin, R. C.

Reichardt, Theodore

Richards, Caroline Cowles

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

Rochelle, James Henry, 1826-1889

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Schneck, B. S. (Benjamin Shroder), 1806-1874

Schofield, John M., 1831-1906

Wikipedia: John Schofield

  • Forty-Six Years in the Army stock_book_yellow-16.png (English)
    Schofield was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at the battle of Wilson's Creek, Missouri, in August 1861. Later, he commanded the Army of the Ohio during Sherman's assault on Atlanta and during the battles of Franklin, Tennessee and Nashville. He later served as Secretary of War under President Andrew Johnson.

Scott, Emma Look, 1858-

Semmes, Raphael, 1809-1877

Wikipedia: Raphael Semmes
Semmes was an officer in the Confederate States Navy and captain of the CSS Alabama

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

Spear, Ellis, 1834-1917

Wikipedia: Ellis Spear

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

Stone, James Madison

Taylor, Richard

Thomas, Hampton Sidney 1837 - 1899

Tillinghast, Pardon E.

Ulmer, George T.

Vaill, Dudley Landon

Vance, Wilson J.

Various

Various

Vaughn, Mary C.

Watkins, Sam R., 1839-1901

Wikipedia: Sam Watkins

Watson, E. W., 1843-1914

Whipple, Wayne

Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892

Wikipedia: Walt Whitman

Widger, David, 1932-

Wilder, Theodore

Wilkinson, John, 1821-1891

Wilson, Joseph T., 1836-1891

Wingate, George W.

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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