What They Didn't Teach You about the Civil War

As someone with family roots from both armies involved in this war, I found this book to be more fair, honest, and true than many books I have read about the Civil War. Unfortunately, it is normally the victor who decides what gets written in the history books, and much false or inaccurate information has been written about Southerners who fought in the War of Northern Agression, or as most know of it, the Civil War. This book is full of interesting anecdotes and does afford some insight into the lives of those who experienced the War's effects first-hand. If you are a history buff, especially American history, then this book is for you.

Mike Wright captures little known facts and sometimes humorous oddities of the Civil War and brings them together in a entertaining book. History lacking in school or lacking in general comes to life in this wonderful book that captures events such as Fort Sumter, Soldier life, Jackson versus McClellan, Great raids with meager results, Prison Camps, Sex and the single soldier, Spies, Errors, Villians, Music, Outlaws, fame and much more! This book is such a different approach to reporting on battles, people or places. It covers what many books rarely mention or are written about. Anyone who is a fan of the Civil War owes it to themselves to read about these funny yet important aspects of the war.

The author is a TV writer and producer who lives in Chicago. He is a native Virginian which gives him better insight into this topic. If the "Civil War" only means dates, names, and battles to you, this book gives concrete facts that helps you to understand those times. The book is well worth reading, as entertaining as it is educational.Mike Wright says "no one has yet determined just where 'yankee' originated" (p.xx). James Fenimoore Cooper had the Indians speak of the "yengeese". I think this word is the Indian pronunciation of "English" (soft vowel, dropped "l", hard "s"). It was first used to differentiate the rebel Colonials from the loyalist Englishmen. Then to describe the Union supporters. Often derogatory, as slang often is.The only complaint I have is that the book isn't longer!

This book is funny as hell in parts, and easy to read in all the other parts. The bits about baseball and games are interesting, while the chapter on sex is just plain funny. A very quotable book as well. Definitely worth a read, if not a buy.