Drawn with the Sword: Reflections on the American Civil War

Professor James McPherson's book is a collection of essays exploring the American Civil War. These essays have appeared in print elsewhere, and most of them are reviews of other Civil War -related literature, including recent scholarly studies, the novel, "Uncle Tom's Cabin", and the movie "Glory", which focused upon the attack by Federal African-American troops upon Fort Wagner, South Carolina, in July, 1863. These essays are the product of a masterful historian who has been able to distill a great deal of factual information, reflect upon it, and present his analysis of the significance of the Civil War in an eloquent and persuasive way.The book consists of fifteen essays arranged in five sections. The first section "Origins of the Civil War" consists of three essays focusing on the pre-Bellum South and on how its culture and commitment to its peculiar institution of slavery brought on the War.The second section of the book, "The War and American Society" consists of four essays that discuss broadly the significance of the Civil War for future generations of Americans, the transformation of the War from a limited conflict to a "total war" that changed the fabric of American society, and on the effect of the War on the status of African-Americans, including the discussion of the movie "Glory" mentioned earlier.The third section of the book, "Why the North Won" will be of interest to students of the military aspects of the War. (Professor McPherson does not denigrate this kind of study, as do some academic historians.) There are four essays, the first two analyze why the North won the War and why the South lost. The third essay in this section rehabilitates Robert E. Lee from some recent criticism of his leadership; while the final essay focuses on Ulysses Grant's "Personal Memoirs" written near the end of his life, which is a literary masterpiece as well as a book revealing Grant's character and generalship.The fourth section of the book "The Enduring Lincoln" consists of three essays reexamining Lincoln's role in setting and persevering in the aims of the War, in freeing the slaves, and in keeping the hopes of a democratic society alive in a world which was hostile to government "by and for the people." The final section of the book consists of a single essay titled "What's the Matter with History?" This essay discusses the three types of reader interested in reading about the Civil War" the professional historian, the amateur student of battles, sometimes called a Civil War "buff", and the mythical "general reader". McPherson laments the inability of professional historians to write books appealing to an audience of anyone other than their peers. It is a shortcoming that Professor McPherson's own writings manage brilliantly to avoid.This is not a book of facts and figures, dates and statistics. It is a book of historical reflection that will help the reader think about the meaning and importance of our country's Civil War.

James McPherson is considered by many to be the greatest Civil War historian in the US these days. His one-volume classic about the War, Battle Cry for Freedom, is the one most recommended to those who want the best book about the war. Therefore, it was with great interest that I read Drawn with the Sword.McPherson does not disappoint with this book which is really a series of essays about various topics from the war. The essays range from Why the South Lost to Who Actually Freed the Slaves. Based mostly on previous articles and lectures, all the essays are excellent, and McPherson pulls no punches during his detailed analysis. For example, McPherson disputes the claim by some recent social historians that argue that the slaves freed themselves, and that Lincoln played a reluctant part in the process. McPherson clearly lays out the argument that Lincoln went to great lengths to ending slavery, and that without him it probably would not have happened.McPherson also gives his educated opinion about Lee's performance as a general, and whether or not the South actually could have won the war. Two topics which I find fascinating because they are so disputed, even among professional historians. Speaking of historians, I particularly liked McPherson's final essay about the challenge that professional historians face when trying to bring history to the masses. He offers a fresh glimpse into this problem, and spells out the potential danger that historians face by making themselves irrelevant to the general public. To find out more, read the essay.I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a student of the American Civil War, like myself. The essays will add to your knowledge, and broaden your perspective of the war. If you are new to this part of history, I recommend that you start instead with McPherson's Pulitzer Winning book about the war, Battle Cry of Freedom.

James McPhereson has proven himself with "Battle Cry of Freedom" (the best one volume treatment of the Civil War) and "Why the Fought". This book is a collection of his essays and lectures on various Civil War topics. As such, it lacks the central theme of a book. It does, however, allow one of America's most learned CW historians to range over vairous topics and explore them with his insightful thinking and clear, bold prose.The topics are varied, from a look at the origns of the war, why it turned out the way it did, the continuing impact of the war on American society (with a nice discussion of the movie "Glory") as well as a collection of essays on the Enduring Lincoln. A nice endpiece looks at problems with current day historical scholarship and historians and is a good argument for getting that important field of study back on track and away from the political agenda that has unfortunately subverted the purpose of many historians.This is a good book for the reader who knows something of the war and enjoys an intellectual treatment of various war topics that go beyond storytelling. An important and telling addition to Civil War scholarship that will appeal to the layman as well as the deep reader.

Just in case you had any doubt - James McPherson is our preeminent contemporary historian on the American Civil War. McPherson may have his biases - as do we all - but his method, his analysis and his arguments are cogent and deep-rooted in facts derived from thorough (and thoughtful) research. This collection of essays is a bit of a two-for-one deal - we receive the benefit of McPherson's commentary on a wide range of ACW topics - from Who freed the slaves? To Why did the North Win? - while at the same time connecting to leads on ACW books we may not have otherwise read (most of the essays are book reviews of one sort or another). One of McPherson's strengths is his willingness to take a risk and make a definitive, convincing statement (much like his heroes Grant and Lincoln) on a subject which his peers may discuss ad nauseum only to shrink from presenting any conclusion. McPherson is a great lover of Lincoln, Grant, Sherman (and the Northern perspective in general) and has little sympathy for the "Lost Cause" subscribers. However, whatever the reader's bias, McPherson's arguments on Lincoln's place in history, and the significance of the Northern victory in the ACW far beyond that time and place in history are convincing. McPherson shows his even-handedness when he refutes Alan Nolan's unjustified, unfounded criticisms of R. E. Lee (Nolan's book 'Lee Considered is reviewed). A fitting conclusion to 'Drawn With the Sword' is McPherson's essay 'What's Wrong with History?' The answer is: self-serving, elitist historians, but the discussion would be applicable to any of a number of academic disciplines. This is a first-rate collection of thoughtful and thought-provoking essays by one of the few truly first-rate ACW historians. Most highly recommended.

Drawn With a Sword is the best explanation and examination of the imapct of the Civil War yet published, particularly in a one volume edition. McPherson's essays clearly define what the Civil War was fought over and he is especially good at explaining why we Americans continue to hold the Civil War in such fascination. His characterizations of both North and South and their various leaders give the reader many new insights as to the how and why of the War. Any reader with only a cursory understanding of the War will come away with a much deeper and clearer one after reading this book. I cannot recommend it highly enough