Sarah Kay Bierle’s Top Ten Civil War Books

Originally published November 2020 · p. 20

Sarah Kay Bierle’s Top Ten Civil War Books It’s been a challenge to pick just ten Civil War history books to feature, but here, listed in no particular ranking of favorites, are a few suggested books for delving a little deeper into the stories and experiences of people who experienced the Civil War or who have helped preserve memories or lessons from the conflict. 1. Fighting the Second Civil War by Bob Zeller. Knox Press, 2017. A recent read and addition to my collection, this book delves into the history of Civil War battlefield preservation with a particular focus on the American Battlefield Trust. The conflicts and triumphs to preserve places where history happened are nearly as complicated as the original battles, and this book serves as a reminder and an inspiration of saving tangible pieces of the historic landscape. 2. Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era by James M. McPherson. Oxford University Press, 1988. It’s such a classic!, and my usual go-to recommendation when someone asks for a one-volume overview of the Civil War. 3. My Life In The Irish Brigade: The Civil War Memoirs Of Private William McCarter, 116th Pennsylvania Infantry by William McCarter, edited by Kevin E. O’Brien. Da

Capo Press, 2003. This book made its way into my library through a trip to Antietam National Battlefield just weeks before the pandemic lockdown in the spring, and McCarter’s stories provided some much-needed insight and entertainment. Not only did McCarter write helpful historical details and funny anecdotes, his command of words and language makes this reminiscence read like classic literature. From places of great natural beauty to the horrors of Fredericksburg, this Irishman created a valuable and readable primary source. The End of an Era by John S. Wise, 1899. Not the typical Confederate memoir… John Wise (son of Virginia’s governor, Henry Wise) had an idyllic childhood which he came to question in later years. The Civil War, cadetship at Virginia Military Institute, and the Battle of New Market grew John Wise quickly from a boy to a young man as the world he had known crashed around him. This autobiographical story is filled with humor, serious evaluations, and insight into a youth’s life, though some accounts should definitely be taken with a grain of salt since they might be a little exaggerated! Defend The Valley: A Shenandoah Valley Family in the Civil War by Margaretta Barton Colt. Oxford University Press, 1994. A fascinating look at the letters, journals, and reminiscences of an extended family in the lower Shenandoah Valley. I appreciate the military and civilian details and how it flows together in one primary sourced narrative instead of separating the camp from the homefront. A Southern Woman’s Story by Phoebe Pember, 1879. One of my favorite primary source narratives written by a Civil War nurse, this small volume reveals the many challenges women faced when they volunteered to help with medical care. Pember also has a healthy dash of humor that makes some sections a true delight to read and research. Diary of a Union Lady, 1861–1865 by Maria Lydig Daly, edited by Harold Earl Hammond. University of Nebraska Press, 2000. Part of “higher society” in New York City, Daly’s diary can seem snobby at a first read…but it started a research journey as I try to better understand the situation for wealthy Northern women who based their place in society on that society’s view of them and their husbands. A bright and sometimes gossipy glimpse into NYC culture during the Civil War with vivid records of a woman’s view on the war and politics. If I could time travel and put historical people in the same room for a chat, I’d love to see Maria Daly and Mary Chesnut have a battle of wits and discuss “the men’s war.” 8. A Strange and Blighted Land: Gettysburg: The Aftermath of a Battle by Gregory Coco. Savas Beatie, 2017. Although some may find this a difficult book due to its intensely descriptive passages about death and trauma, it is a powerful volume that is important to read. Taking Gettysburg as the focal study point, Coco examines the high cost of war, impact of battle on a community and environment, and what had to be done before recovery could begin. Sometimes, traditional military history leaves casualties as numbers on the page; this book shatters that concept and forever changed the way I view Civil War battle and war’s destruction. 9. Stonewall’s Man: Sandie Pendleton by W.G. Bean. University of North Carolina Press, 2000. This is a splendid biography for one of Stonewall Jackson’s staff officers and a detailed look at the life of a young man in his early twenties navigating life, war, mountains of paperwork, love and romance, and army management. The book draws from extensive primary sources and includes numerous letter quotes, allowing readers to appreciate the zeal exhibited by this officer in his short life. 10. Fear Was Not in Him: The Civil War Letters of Major General Francis C. Barlow, U.S.A. edited Christian G. Samito. Fordham University Press, 2006. Sarcastic, ambitious, tenaciously determined, and at times despondent in his private writings, Barlow enlisted as a private in 1861 and finished the war with the rank of major general. This collection of published letters allows readers to take a closer look at his personal views on the war, his leadership style, and opinionated phrasing. The editing notes provide helpful context without detracting from the original letters, following a rising commander from the streets of New York to the Peninsula, Antietam, Gettysburg, the Overland Campaign, and beyond. Sarah Kay Bierle serves on staff at Central Virginia Battlefields Trust and volunteers as managing editor at Emerging Civil War. She has published four books, including a nonfiction study on the Battle of New Market. She is currently researching Confederate artillery officers and the Union’s II Corps.