1863: The Rebirth of a Nation

I have read many Civil War histories including McPherson's, much of Foote's trilogy (I am working my way through it), Bruce Catton's two trilogies, etc. So much happened on different fronts that it takes a lot of reading and study to become familiar with it in great detail. This marvelous book is a great contribution to putting order to the understanding of the war.Having read numerous biographies and histories of the period, it is hard for me to judge how this book would be rceived by a novice to the Civil War but, my guess is that since it is so well written, it would be a good read for someone encountering the subject matter for the first time. The year 1863 started with the Emancipation proclamation shortly after the Confederate soundly defeated the Army of the Potomac at Fredericksburg. The Confederate prospects looked good as the Union forces became bogged down in the mud march fiasco.After a change in command to Gen. Hooker, Union hopes were further dashed as his poor generalship led to a terrible and inexcusable defeat at Chancellorsville as Lee and Stonewall Jackson took advantage of Hooker's paralysis. Furthermore, a naval effort at Charleton was repulsed by P.G.T. Beauregard. Then the tide turned with Gettysburg and the fall of Vicksburg. In the West, Gen. Bragg for the Confederates and and Gen. Rosecrans for the Union were both indecisive and timid. However, after Bragg's victory at Chickamauga, Rosecrans was replaced and Grant, Sherman and Thommas successfully defended Chatanooga by capturing Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. Basically, the defeatist Bragg gave up those strongholds without much of a fight.Thus, the year which started out brightly for the Confederates ended just as brightly for the Union forces. Stevens captures this in a clear, understandable manner which puts these multitude of events into context. Lest we forget, there were also many important political events, such as the New York Draft Riots. Stevens covers these events well also. By breaking down this complex war into a study of just one pivotal year, Stevens makes the war more understandable. This book is a great effort by the author and I recommend it to veteran Civil War buffs and neophytes alike.

It was 1863 - some might say the best of times, or the worst of times. In his progression from January to December of that year, Joseph E. Stevens has gone above and beyond the call of duty in this gripping, fascinating historical book. While most authors concentrate on the wide view of events that may span a whole conflict, touching briefly on each point along the way, Stevens has chosen to discuss only one year - 1863. In doing so, he is able to give the in-depth examinationg of not only the events, but more interestingly, the people of the war. There was Grant and his "drinking problem", the insubordinate Longstreet, "retreat is my middle name" Pemberton, and so on. Through this display of not only the events, but the people that went through them, Stevens has managed to create a book that actually holds your interest for hundreds of pages on one year! Go ahead and set some time aside, because once you buy this book, you'll never put it down....

Whether you're a Civil War buff or don't know anything about it, you will love this book. Not all military and battlefield stuff; we also get a good look at businessmen, poets, nurses, etc. Fascinating and well written. Everything a good history book ought to be. Hope the author continues to write.

I read about the Civil War a lot, but in this book I've found more rich detail about people than I've found in other histories. Makes it come alive; seem more immediate. You can feel the way history changed in that year with every page. It's illuminating and riveting. I'll be sorry to finish it!

It is unfair to review a "Kirkus Review" of a book one hasn't even read. This book deserves a wide and lasting readership. It makes the history come to life and illuminates the lives of many famous people (Whitman, Rockefeller, Louisa Mae Alcott, etc.) who are not necessarily known for their connection to the Civil War. More for just Civil War buffs, this is an excellent and elegant introduction to the Civil War.