The Longest Night : A Military History of the Civil War

In this compelling new account of the American Civil War, noted historian David Eicher gives us an authoritative history of battle from the first shots at Fort Sumter to Lee's surrender at Appomattox. As a strictly military history,__The Longest Night__covers hundreds of engagements, both well known and obscure, including the oft-neglected Western theater and naval actions along the coasts and rivers. The result is a gripping popular history that will fascinate anyone just learning about the Civil War while offering more than a few surprises for longtime students.Drawing on hundreds of sources and excerpts from correspondence by those who fought the war,__The Longest Night__conveys a real sense of life -- and death -- on the battlefield. In addition, Eicher analyzes each side's evolving strategy; examines the tactics of Lee, Grant, Johnston, and Sherman; and discusses significant topics such as prisons, railroads, shipbuilding, clandestine operations, and the role of African-Americans in the war. This is an indispensable chronicle of the war that James M. McPherson, in the Foreword, calls "the most dramatic, violent, and fateful experience in American history."

his Authoritative, Riveting, Indispensable Single-volume History Of The Civil War -- From The Opening Engagement At Fort Sumter To Lee's Surrender At Appomattox -- Looks At The Role Of African Americans And Clandestine Operations In The War, And Examines The Battle Strategies And Tactics Of Lee, Grant, Johnston, Sherman, And Other Leading

publishers Weekly

in A Period When The Study Of Campaigns And Battles Is Considered Old-fashioned When Not Misleading, The Military Side Of The Civil War Continues To Receive A Higher Proportion Of Attention Than Any Other Modern Conflict. Eicher (the Civil War In Books), Associate Editor Of North And South And Managing Editor Of Astronomy, Manifests A Corresponding Degree Of Intellectual Courage In Offering This 900-odd-page Operational History. The War's Causes, The Armies' Composition, The Soldiers' Motivations All Take Second Place To A Straightforward Account Of The Fighting Of A War That Has Already Produced Shelves Of Excellent Combat Narratives By Such Outstanding Scholars As Thomas Rhea And Harry Pfanz. Eicher Does More Than Hold His Own In A Distinguished Company, Establishing Himself As A Remarkable Battle Narrator. He Does Set Pieces Like The Attack On Little Round Top At Gettysburg And The Doomed Confederate Charge At Franklin With The Verve Of Shelby Foote Or Wiley Sword. His Accounts Of Antietam And Gettysburg, Stone's River And Chickamauga, Are Models Of Clarity And Cohesion, Correspondingly Useful Introductions To The Detailed Monographs That Often Lose Readers In Thickets Of Data And Analysis. Eicher Is No Less Successful On A Larger Scale. His Presentation Of The Vicksburg Campaign Will Serve General Readers And Specialists Alike As An Overview Of One Of The War's Most Complex Operations. Eicher Offers No Significant Revisions Of Conventional Wisdom On Crucial Issues. Nor Does He Seek Controversy In A Field That Often Invites It. With Maps By Lee Vande Visse And A Foreword By James M. Mcpherson (battle Cry Of Freedom), This Book Succeeds Above All In Demonstrating That The Civil Waroffered No Shortcuts To Victory Or Defeat At The Sharp End Of Battle. (sept. 13) Forecast: While Reenactors May Rely On Monographs Devoted To Their Specific Sites, This Will Be The Word-of-mouth, Single-volume Operational Account For Non-scholars. Expect Correspondingly Steady Sales As The News Spreads. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Like no other conflict in our history, the Civil War casts a long shadow onto modern America,'writes David Eicher. In his compelling new account of that war, Eicher gives us an authoritative modern single-volume battle history that spans the war from the opening engagement at Fort Sumter to Lee's surrender at Appomattox (and even beyond, to the less well-known but conclusive surrender of Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith in Galveston, Texas, on June 2, 1865). Although there are other one-volume histories of the Civil War -- most notably James M. McPherson's Pulitzer Prize-winning Battle Cry of Freedom, which puts the war in its political, economic, and social context -- The Longest Night is strictly a military history. It covers hundreds of engagements on land and sea, and along rivers. The Western theater, often neglected in accounts of the Civil War, and the naval actions along the coasts and major rivers are at last given their due. Such major battles as Gettysburg, Antietam, and Chancellorsville are, of course, described in detail, but Eicher also examines lesser-known actions such as Sabine Pass, Texas, and Fort Clinch, Florida. The result is a gripping popular history that will fascinate anyone just learning about the Civil War while at the same time offering more than a few surprises for longtime students of the War Between the States. The Longest Night draws on hundreds of sources and includes numerous excerpts from letters, diaries, and reports by the soldiers who fought the war, giving readers a real sense of life -- and death -- on the battlefield. In addition to the main battle narrative, Eicher analyzes each side's evolving strategy and examines the tactics of Lee, Grant, Johnston, Sherman, and other leading figures of the war. He also discusses such militarily significant topics as prisons, railroads, shipbuilding, clandestine operations, and the expanding role of African Americans in the war. The Longest Night is a riveting, indispensable history of the war that James McPherson in the Foreword to this book calls'the most dramatic, violent, and fateful experience in American history.' "The Longest Night is strictly a military history. It covers hundreds of engagements on land and sea, and along rivers. The Western theater, often neglected in accounts of the Civil War, and the naval actions along the coasts and major rivers are at last given their due. Such major battles as Gettysburg, Antietam, and Chancellorsville are, of course, described in detail, but Eicher also examines lesser-known actions such as Sabine Pass, Texas, and Fort Clinch, Florida. The result is a gripping popular history that will fascinate anyone just learning about the Civil War while at the same time offering more than a few surprises for longtime students of the War Between the States.". "The Longest Night draws on hundreds of sources and includes numerous excerpts from letters, diaries, and reports by the soldiers who fought the war, giving readers a real sense of life - and death - on the battlefield. In addition to the main battle narrative, Eicher analyzes each side's evolving strategy and examines the tactics of Lee, Grant, Johnston, Sherman, and other leading figures of the war. He also discusses such militarily significant topics as prisons, railroads, shipbuilding, clandestine operations, and the expanding role of African Americans in the war."--BOOK JACKET. In this compelling new account of the American Civil War, noted historian David Eicher gives us an authoritative history of battle from the first shots at Fort Sumter to Lee's surrender at Appomattox. As a strictly military history, The Longest Night covers hundreds of engagements, both well known and obscure, including the oft-neglected Western theater and naval actions along the coasts and rivers. The result is a gripping popular history that will fascinate anyone just learning about the Civil War while offering more than a few surprises for longtime students. Drawing on hundreds of sources and excerpts from correspondence by those who fought the war, The Longest Night conveys a real sense of life -- and death -- on the battlefield. In addition, Eicher analyzes each side's evolving strategy; examines the tactics of Lee, Grant, Johnston, and Sherman; and discusses significant topics such as prisons, railroads, shipbuilding, clandestine operations, and the role of African-Americans in the war. This is an indispensable chronicle of the war that James M. McPherson, in the Foreword, calls "the most dramatic, violent, and fateful experience in American history." In this compelling new account of the American Civil War, David Eicher gives us an authoritative history of battle from the first shots at Fort Sumter to Lee's surrender at Appomattox. As a strictly military history, "The Longest Night" covers hundreds of engagements, both well known and obscure, including the oft-neglected Western theater and naval actions along the coasts and river. Drawing on hundreds of sources and excerpts from correspondence by those who fought the war, "The Longest Night" conveys a real sense of life -- and death -- on the battlefield. In addition, Eicher analyzes each side's evolving strategy; examines the tactics of Lee, Grant, Johnston, and Sherman; and discusses significant topics such as prisons, railroads, shipbuilding, clandestine operations, and the role of African-Americans in the war. -- From publisher's description A military history of the Civil War from Fort Sumpter to Lee's surrender at Appomottax covers the Western theater, war strategies, major and obscure battles at land and sea, and the role of railroads and African Americans