Allegiance: Fort Sumter, Charleston, and the Beginning of the Civil War

This could have been a very dry report but it was fascinating. I never thought I'd find a description of the process of firing artillery so interesting! He really brings the politics and the human issues into focus.

Not usually the history buff, this book showed me an entirely new perspective on the actual events of not only Fort Sumter but the Civil War itself. David Detzer creates wonderful images and develops personalities so very well in print. For that reason, this book clearly defines the hardship and heartbreak of Charleston, Fort Sumter, and so many of the soldiers and their families. Obviously painstakingly researched, the author has shown us the facts without extolling or denouncing the beliefs of the times. Truly a great read.

The start of a war is always interesting; we cannot read to many books on Bunker Hill or Ft. Sumter. Mr. Detzer treats us to a very readable beginning of the American Civil War and the city that started it. 1861 Charleston is well drawn, very understandable and engaging as a city on the brink of war. Major Robert Anderson determined to do his duty with little guidance from above and constant criticism from below, takes center stage. Washington, distant and unsure is as much of a problem for him as the Rebel guns in the harbor. Presenting the position of the Confederate Government and the "fire eaters" in Charleston as they see events helps the reader understand the decisions made. While not agreeing or disagreeing, the author informs and guides the reader through this complex time.

Dezter writes so well that you kind of lose yourself and you almost imagine that you don't know how this story is going to end. This is a through examination of Major Robert Anderson, a very underrated Civil War key figure for his bravery, tenacity, and even stupidity during the Sumter/Charleston Harbor crisis. of 1860 and 1861. His writing is simple, like a teacher would speak to a class, not like some stuffy old Ph.D. trying to impress his first year students in some intro level American History class. It flows and follows nicely chronologically, hitting no snags, qualit or substance wise throughout. Excellent, it receives my higest recommendation.

First off I must admit that I love Charleston. I love the city and the people. Therefore, I know that this probably influenced my review.Being a military history buff, I DO NOT like the type of history that reads like a road map (XlXII corps moved here, VXII platoon took hill 4345, blah,blah,blah). I want to know the story of what happened. This book tells a wonderful story about a man who, for a short time, represented the whole conflict for both sides. His name was Major Robert Anderson and for a few months in 1861 he had in his hands the ability to start or stall the war based on what he did at Fort Sumter. This book captures the people and the times of this old Southern city better than any book I have ever read. Along the way you will meet many of the people destined for greatness later in the war.I have visited Fort Sumter on several occasions but I never really understood the tense standoff that happened there until reading this book. In short, this is a great story and a great book.