The Civil War For Dummies
The Civil War was America's trial by fire; its battles forged the nation we know today. We're still fascinated with it -- the national reckoning with slavery, the legendary generals and leaders, the epic and bloody clashes of armies, the impact on the daily lives of ordinary people. We visit its battlefields -- mostly idyllic patches of countryside near small towns and creeks -- where more Americans died in combat than in all other wars combined, except for World War Two. And we tell its stories -- of last charges, brother fighting brother, imprisonment and emancipation, and tragedy and rebirth. It is our country's epic; the story of how we became who we are, and what price we paid. The Civil War For Dummies is your complete introduction to this seminal conflict. Eschewing tedious historical pondering and military micro--analysis, this fun and information--rich guide gives an accurate overview of the event, from the war's causes through the fighting to the aftermath. Inside you'll discover: 1850--1860: what led to war * First Bull Run: illusions lost * Antietam: the bloodiest day * The Emancipation Proclamation * Heroes and goats of each major battle * Jackson's Valley Campaign * Sherman's March to the Sea * Surrender at Appomattox * And much more Full of sidebars and illustrations, The Civil War For Dummies brings history to life with personalities, factoids, battle reports, strategic maps, and "what ifs." In addition to the military and political history, you'll also find out about: * The African American experience in the war * Women and the Civil War * Native Americans and the war * The life of the common soldier * Banking and finance systems and the war "Firsts" that make the Civil War history's first modern war * Civil War food * Civil War tourism: the best battlefields to visit, and how to get the most out of your trip Written in an accessible style so you can start reading at any point in the story, The Civil War For Dummies makes a great cornerstone for learning about this violent and compelling chapter of American history.
Introduction: The First Modern War
Part I: The War and Its Causes
Chapter 1. How Did the War Happen?
Chapter 2. The Five Steps to War: 1850–1860
Chapter 3. Secession and War: 1860–1861
Part II: Making War
Chapter 4. Civil War Armies: Structure and Organization
Chapter 5. Union and Confederate Strategy
Chapter 6. Organizing and Training the Armies
Chapter 7. Weapons of the Civil War
Part III: Opening Moves, 1861–1862
Chapter 8. Starting the War: Bull Run (First Manassas), July 1861
Chapter 9. The Road to Shiloh, April 1862
Chapter 10. Setbacks for the South, March–July 1862
Chapter 11. Stonewall Jackson’s Valley Campaign, March–June 1862
Chapter 12. The Seven Days of Robert E. Lee, June–July 1862
Chapter 13. Second Bull Run (Manassas), August 1862
Chapter 14. The Bloodiest Day: Antietam (Sharpsburg), September 1862
Chapter 15. Bragg Fails at Perryville
Chapter 16. War So Terrible: Fredericksburg and Murfreesboro, December 1862
Part IV: War to the Hilt, 1863–1865
Chapter 17. The Battle of Chancellorsville, May 1863
Chapter 18. The Battle of Gettysburg and Vicksburg, July 1863
Chapter 19. The Battle of Chickamauga and Chattanooga, August–November 1863
Chapter 20. Lee and Grant: The Virginia Campaign, May–June 1864
Chapter 21. The Atlanta Campaign and a Guarantee of Union Victory, May–December 1864
Chapter 22. The Destruction of Hood’s Army in Tennessee, October 1864–January 1865
Chapter 23. A Matter of Time: Petersburg and Appomattox, January–April 1865
Part V: Behind the Lines
Chapter 24. The Confederacy at War: Creating a Nation and Vying for Recognition
Chapter 25. The Union at War: Creating a New Banking System and a Strong Economy
Chapter 26. The Life of the Common Soldier, Women, and Other Participants
Part VI: The Civil War Tourist
Chapter 27. Getting Ready to Travel
Chapter 28. Visiting a Civil War Battlefield
Part VII: The Part of Tens
Chapter 29. The Ten Worst Generals of the Civil War
Chapter 30. The Ten Biggest “Firsts” of the Civil War
