The Civil War diaries of David Hunter Strother, known better to his contemporaries as “Porte Crayon,” chronicle his three years of service in the Union army with the same cogency and eye for detail that made him one of the most popular writers and illustrators in America in his time. A Virginian strongly opposed to secession, Strother joined the Federal army as a civilian topographer in July of 1861 and was soon commissioned, rising eventually to the rank of brigadier general. He served un...

In this classic piece which was serialized in Harper's during the 1850's, David Hunter Strother, also known as Porte Crayon, travels his native state in the company of his cousins and his driver Mice. The piece is richly illustrated with Porte Crayon's Original sketches. The Illustrations show Virginia as it was to the traveler in antebellum Virginia. Crayon travels with his three female cousins visiting Caverns, Spas, Peaks and Valleys at a time when roads were deplorable, and visiting ma...

Memoirs of the Union general from the Civil War, responsible for the march through Georgia and known for having said, "War is hell". According to Wikipedia: "William Tecumseh Sherman (February 8, 1820 - February 14, 1891) was an American soldier, businessman, educator, and author. He served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War (1861?65), for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy and criticism for the harshness of the "scorche...

An English colonel chronicles three months behind Confederate lines at the height of the American Civil War—edited by a #1 New York Times –bestselling author."Richly rewarding. . . . Takes its rightful place among the standard works on the Civil War." — The Christian Science MonitorThree hours after stepping onto American soil, James Fremantle saw his first corpse: that o...

William Tecumseh Sherman (February 8, 1820 - February 14, 1891) was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War (1861-65), for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched earth" policies that he implemented in conducting total war against the Confederate States. (courtesy of wikipedia.com) Contents: Preface To The Secon...

Set between January 1862 and January 1863, this second installment in the ambitious Civil War series paints an unforgettable portrait of the year that turned a secessionist rebellion into a war of emancipationIncluding eleven never-before-published pieces, here are more than 140 messages, proclamations, newspaper stories, letters, diary entries, memoir excerpts, and poems by more than eighty participants and observers, among them Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, U...

Sixty years ago today the guns that thundered round Fort Sumter began the third and greatest modern civil war fought by English-speaking people. This war was quite as full of politics as were the Other two--the War of the American Revolution and that of Puritan and Cavalier. But, though the present Chronicle never ignores the vital correlations between statesmen and commanders, it is a book of warriors, through and through. I gratefully acknowledge the indispensable assistance of Colonel G...

Born on January 19, 1807 in Stratford, Virginia to "Light Horse Harry Lee," Robert E. Lee came to military prominence during the U.S. Civil War, commanding his home state's armed forces and becoming general-in-chief of the Confederate forces towards the end of the conflict. Though the Union won the war, Lee has been revered by many while others debate his tactics. He went on to become president of Washington College.This is one of the most straightforward and enter...

In 'Civil War Live' by Charles Carleton Coffin, readers are treated to a gripping account of the American Civil War through the lens of a seasoned journalist. Coffin's vivid and immersive writing style plunges readers into the heart of the battlefield, providing a real-time experience of the war's most crucial moments. The book captures the bravery, chaos, and tragedy of war, making it a valuable historical resource for those interested in the Civil War era. Coffin's journalistic backgroun...

In "Destruction and Reconstruction: Personal Experiences from the Civil War," Richard Taylor offers a profound first-person narrative that captures the complexities of the Civil War through the lens of a Confederate general. Taylor's writing is both evocative and meticulously detailed, combining personal anecdotes with broader historical reflections to present an engaging account of the trials and tribulations faced by soldiers and civilians alike. His style marries personal recollection w...

Sir Walter was born in a house which has long ago disappeared; it stood at the head of the College Wynd, and was removed to make room for the northern front of the University buildings. On his father's side he was descended from the Scotts of Harden, the elder branch of the great Border sept of that name. In his personal aspects he much resembled his paternal ancestry, his features being of the Saxon type, rugged, massive, heavy,-almost stolid. Through his paternal grandmother, he traced a...

Indispensable must-reads for all Civil War buffs and historians, bringing together little-known and never before gathered first-hand accounts, articles, maps, and illustrationsThe first four volumes of Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, published in the late nineteenth century, became the best-selling and most frequently cited works ever published on the Civil War. Volume 5, assembled by the acclaimed military historian Peter Cozzens, carries on the tra...