America: The Civil War (America, Great Crises In Our History Told by it's Makers)

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2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War, a
bloody conflict that devastated the nation and claimed more American lives than
any war before or since. The eighth volume of this series of eye-witness
accounts of American history covers this defining event in the nation's story,
from Lincoln's first inaugural address to his death. It's essential reading. For
what could be more authoritative – and enthralling – than General U S Grant's
report of the surrender of Robert E Lee at Appomattox, than Lincoln's
assassination described by his own Secretaries, than Jefferson Davis's own
account of his flight and capture? You'll read accounts of Generals McClellan,
Sheridan, Sherman, Hood, Stonewall Jackson, Robert E Lee and other Union and
Confederate participants in such epic battles as Bull Run, Shiloh, Antietam,
Chancellorsville, and Lookout Mountain. This volume delivers an ‘inside view’ of
the Civil War that will inform, stimulate and fascinate.

Introduction To The Series

"After you've heard two eyewitness accounts of an auto accident, you begin to
worry about history." This observation, attributed to the comedian Henny
Youngman, summarizes the dilemma you face when you want to find out what really
happened in the past. When you read a history book, the "facts" are actually the
author's own interpretation, often colored by a conscious or unconscious wish to
have you share a particular point of view. You're one step
removed from the original source material.

That's why the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States compiled this 12-
volume collection of writings of people who actually witnessed the key events in
American history - the actual actors in the events or contemporary observers of
them. Past historians have spent decades locating, studying and consulting vast
amounts of material such as this. This meticulously chosen selection brings you
the essence of history as originally recorded by those who participated in it.

You'll be reading mostly eye-witness accounts, by people contemporary with the
events they describe, including many significant historical figures themselves.
So you can make your own assessments, draw your own conclusions and gain an
understanding of past events undistorted by the prejudices, assumptions and
selectivity of professional historians. In some instances where there aren't
reliable or easily accessible eye-witness accounts, the compilers have chosen
extracts from objective, authoritative historians of past generations such as
Francis Parkman whose judgements have stood the test of time. Through these
accounts, your knowledge of American history will be immeasurably greater, your
understanding of the key events in the building of the nation immensely
increased.

Founded in 1899, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a
nonprofit organization dedicated to foster camaderie among United States
veterans of overseas conflicts, from the Spanish-American War to Iraq and
Afghanistan, and to ensure that they receive due respect and entitlements for
the sacrifices they and their loved ones have made on behalf of the nation. With
this mission, the VFW has a natural desire to encourage a broad understanding
and appreciation of American history, and this essential collection of
historical documents makes a huge contribution to that aim.