The Civil War Times Illustrated Photographic History of the Civil War, Volume I: Fort Sumter to Gettysburg

Easily understood without confusing the subject or the reader. More than anything, as they say, every picture says a thousand words. This book almost needs no words as there are endless photographs each saying a thousand words of their own. I knew nothing of the cicil war. I now know much. A sad time but interesting subject.

As an earlier reviewer stated, the Civil War was the first major conflict extensively covered by photographers. This first volume, which actually covers the conflict from secession to the climax at Gettysburg contains some of the best photograpy culled from the files of Matthew Brady, Alexander Gardner, and others. While the photographs alone would be worth the price, it is the accompanying text, written in the main by William C. Davis (with James M. McPherson and Shelby Foote arguably our finest Civil War historians) and Bell Wiley which captures the reader by tieing together the imagery with the fact. A picture is worth a thousand words, and the pre-war photographs of a timid-looking James Buchanan or the lean, mean look of the fireeating James Lane of Kansas are no exceptions. Or the dead Confederates laying near "Burnside's Bridge" following Antietam, or the bouyant beau sabeur Wade Hampton on one page and a youthful George Custer with his dog Rose on the next in the segment describing the cavalry fight at Gettysburg.This compact work is thick, it is true, but a lot easier to carry along than the oversized volume. The only drawback to this and the companion volume is the small print of the text and captions. But this volume and its companion are well worth a magnifying glass and should be part of any Civil War buffs home library.

I received this (and volume II "Vicksburg to Appomattox") as a gift from my wife. The articles are incisive, exploring events both leading up to and the during the actual conflict regularly ignored by other works. Although a magnifying device may be required for the text by some readers, the compact size of the two volumes makes them ideal "traveling books." (Ever try packing an oversized book in your suitcase or carry-on bag?)But the PICTURES! The Civil War was the first major conflict to be photographed, and the photographs are what make these volumes essential for any serious study of the Civil War.Please beware . . . the photographs are haunting, and some are downright disturbing. But the Civil War was just that -- a WAR in which men died in battle (and some died horribly). Over 50,000 casualties were inflicted in one major battle alone, and the pictures sans text tell the compelling story of the four years that literally defined us as a nation (and continues to define our nation in its present course in history).Whether as gifts for others or for yourself -- BUY THESE BOOKS!