The Civil War 100: The Stories Behind the Most Influential Battles, People and Events in the War Between the States

The CIVIL WAR 100 is history with a twist. Instead of merely delivering dates and places as they happen, author Michael Lee Lanning has created a comparative reference introducing the top one-hundred people, happenings, and battles that shaped the Civil War. Leading off are, 1) Antietam: This marginal Northern victory marked the turning point of the war; opening the door for Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and closing the door on any chance for English and French aid to the Confederacy. 2) Lincoln: This man and his unique qualities may have been the only person capable of leading the North through the Civil War and reuniting the Union. 3) Grant: Was a general who would use his superior numbers to grind away at sorely outnumbered Confederate forces. A quality lacking in a startling number of Union Generals. 4) Gettysburg: The most famous of Civil War battlefields, it demonstrated that the South could not be victorious without European aide. 5) Lee: Military hero, whose strategies are still a model for fighting larger, better supplied forces. Notable other rankings, 38) Black Soldiers and Sailors: By the end of the war over 180,000 African-Americans had fought for union and freedom. 42) Andersonville Prison: Deplorable conditions led to the deaths of over 12,000 Union prisoners in just fourteen months. 49) Uncle Tom's Cabin: This bestseller introduced the world to the everyday horror and degradation of slavery. 50) General McClellan: Union commander who twice squandered opportunities to defeat much smaller southern forces during the Peninsula campaign and Antietam. He serves an excellent example of how ineptness can become a major factor in shaping history. 54) John Brown: Northern radical who hoped his raid on Harper's Ferry would incite a slave rebellion. Instead it heightened Southern fears of remaining in a political union with an increasingly radical North. 68) Music: Highlights the affect stirring songs such as "The Battle Hymm of the Republic" and "Dixie" had on the morale of soldiers and civilians in both the North and the South. While a great introductory title and bookshelf guide for novices, the CIVIL WAR 100 may also interest some history buffs who will undoubtedly enjoy arguing the placement and ranking of each item on the list. If you are looking for a wealth of details, look elsewhere. But if you are interested in an engaging Civil War overview, look no further.