Battlefield Atlas of the Civil War

This book does in a single page what entire books sometimes fail to do - give you an understandable account of the ebb and flow of Civil War battles, armies, generals, and troop movements. Each battle has a map that is well-marked and explained so you don't have to be a military historian to figure out what is happening. The book is a work of genius to the extent that less is more. Obviously the author saw the need for pearing down the huge volumes of detail that get bogged down in regimental and corporate detail and condensing it into a macro view. Get this book if you want to really understand Civil War battles. All of the major engagements are included. The author obviously knows what he's writing about, becuase it's easily understood by the reader - the hallmark of a good teacher.

Great book for a thumbnail look at the war. There is a counterpart for the Revolutionary War as well. Everyone should have these two volumes on their shelves. Many references are made to more detailed sources.. I think I've bought three or four of each. I give them away to friends. WBB

I am the type of person who needs to see a battle laid out in a map. This is the book to get to help follow Civil War battles. Covers the major battles, most battles get two pages of coverage, the left page has the map, the right page has the narrative. (I say most battles, some battles, for example, Gettysburg get six pages, two per day of the battle). Nothing fancy with the maps but clearly laid out, the narrative uses numbers to reference the map.

I love this book. It is great to have beside you whenever you are reading any other book about Civil War battles. Although some other map books have more elaborate maps, this small volume is so handy to use that I find that it is the one I always consult first.

If you want to know the basics of the Civil War and its battles, this is the book for you. Symonds has distilled the information that is elaborated in larger tomes down to an easy to read and reference guide of every major land battle of the war.There is a two-page fold for each battle (with some exceptions that have more, like Gettysburg). On one page is a simple but informative map of the battle, while the opposite is an instructive narrative about the battle's events. The battles are also broken up into three sections that introduce the major campaigns and the important actors (politicians, Generals) that are vital to understanding the events of the war.If you like the Civil War as a hobby, buy this book. If you are reading about the war in another book or novel and want an atlas of the battles mentioned, buy this book. If you are taking a Civil War course... including Symond's own at the Naval Academy... buy this book. It is an invaluable resource.