Hallowed Ground: A Walk at Gettysburg by James M. McPherson

Hallowed Ground: A Walk at Gettysburg by James M. McPherson-141 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

McPherson takes readers on a "tour" of the grounds of the Gettysburg battlefield. He discusses many monuments and dedications on the grounds. Stories about several officers and soldiers on both sides, Union and Confederate, are included. I was already familiar with some of the stories, but not all. For instance, there were a couple of Confederates from the town of Gettysburg who fought here. One was related to the Culp family for whom Culp's Hill was named. His name was Wesley Culp and he was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg. 

McPherson also dispels a few myths surrounding the Battle of Gettysburg. One of these dispelled myths involves a spring on the battlefield. Supposedly, at the end of the second day of battle Confederate and Union soldiers declared a truce and shared water from the springs. However, according to McPherson there are no accounts which support this myth. An account from a Union soldier relates that he approached the spring but slowly backed away when he saw Confederate soldiers already there. He dispels several other myths in addition to this one. 

Overall, I really liked this short book. I want to visit Gettysburg National Military Park even more now. The only qualm I have is that there are no images of monuments that the author visits. It would have been nice to have even a small image of some of the monuments the author mentions. This is why I didn't give it five stars.

She Came to Slay: The Life and Times of Harriet Tubman by Erica Armstrong Dunbar

She Came to Slay: The Life and Times of Harriet Tubman by Erica Armstrong Dunbar-176 pages

I watched the film "Harriet" about Tubman recently and I wanted to know more and to know how much of the movie was based in truth and how much was artistic license.  In reading this biography, I am surprised that much of the movie is based on fact, although as per usual, there is some artistic license, especially in the details surrounding the facts. Harriet Tubman is a woman who survived and escaped slavery only to return to Maryland 13 times to retrieve other slaves (many were family members) and take them out of bondage. She risked being taken back into slavery herself, since she was a fugitive by law. She rescued some 70 slaves before the Civil War and hundreds more in the Cumbahee Raid in South Carolina during the Civil War. One thing I learned that surprised me is that Tubman supported, both in word and finances, John Brown. She wanted to see slavery end and knew that it would take bloodshed for it to happen. Additionally, she didn't receive a pension or pay for her work as a nurse for the Union during the Civil war until she was in her 70s and she never received pay for her work as a spy. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this accessible biography about an American hero and I would recommend it to anyone interested in American history or history in general.

Where Death and Glory Meet: Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts Infantry by Russell Duncan

Where Death and Glory Meet: Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts Infantry by Russell Duncan-179 pages

I have seen the film "Glory" a few times, which is based on the story of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry. This regiment was all African-American (except for the commissioned officers including Shaw, who were white) and was the first such regiment to see meaningful combat. The 54th was watched closely to see how African-Americans would fare at soldiering. Many racist notions abounded, even in the North, about the capabilities and inferiority of African-Americans. These notions were put to rest (mostly) after the Assault on Fort Wagner led by the 54th Massachusetts. Having seen the film "Glory," I was keen to study more on the true events. It turns out that the film takes plenty of artistic license, which is no surprise. One example of this is that Robert Gould Shaw is the only member of the 54th Massachusetts in the film that was a real person. Everyone else in the regiment is a fictional character. Even with Shaw artistic license is taken as in real life he was blonde and in the film he has brown hair. Other examples of artistic license in the film exist, additionally. Overall, I enjoyed learning more about Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts. However, the author speculates a few times throughout the book when he does not have clear answers from his research and it hinders his effectiveness a bit.

Grant by Ron Chernow

Grant by Ron Chernow
1074 pages / 48 hrs, 2 mins

"A biographer at the height of his powers, Chernow has produced a portrait of Grant that is a masterpiece, the first to provide a complete understanding of the general and president whose fortunes rose and fell with dizzying speed and frequency.

"Before the Civil War, Grant was flailing. His business ventures had been dismal, and despite distinguished service in the Mexican War, he ended up resigning from the army in disgrace amid recurring accusations of drunkenness. But in the Civil War, Grant began to realize his remarkable potential, soaring through the ranks of the Union army, prevailing at the Battle of Shiloh and in the Vicksburg campaign and ultimately defeating the legendary Confederate general Robert E. Lee after a series of unbelievably bloody battles in Virginia. Along the way Grant endeared himself to President Lincoln and became his most trusted general and the strategic genius of the war effort..."

"The definitive biography, Grant is a grand synthesis of painstaking research and literary brilliance that makes sense of all sides of Grant's life, explaining how this simple Midwesterner could at once be so ordinary and so extraordinary."    --from the publisher.

This is an amazing book.  If history texts were written in similar fashion, students would have a hard time putting them down. And what an amazing man! I recommend this book very highly.

Rebels Resurgent: Fredericksburg to Chancellorsville by William K. Goolrick

Rebels Resurgent: Fredericksburg to Chancellorsville by William K. Goolrick-176 pages

I am going to ALA in Washington, D.C. this summer and taking a little vacation afterwards. One of the places I am planning to visit is Fredericksburg, Virginia, so I am reading more on the battle. I am somewhat of a Civil War historian already, but I want to continue to grow in my knowledge on the subject and I am very excited to visit Fredericksburg. So many battles took place near Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Virginia during the Civil War and I eventually really want to see all of them (as many as possible, at least). I enjoyed this refresher on the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville and it still baffles me how inept many of the commanders of the Army of the Potomac (Union) were, especially in the early years.

Women of the Blue & Gray: True Civil War Stories of Mothers, Medics, Soldiers, and Spies by Marianne Monson

Women of the Blue & Gray: True Civil War Stories of Mothers, Medics, Soldiers, and Spies by Marianne Monson-230 pages

I read this for the Non-fiction challenge this month. I also happen to be very interested in Civil War history. I learned quite a bit about women in the Civil War. Some women disguised themselves as men and enlisted and others followed husbands or brothers into enlistment. One woman, Jennie Hodgers, took the identity of a man named Albert D. J. Cashier to enlist and went by that name and dressed as a man for nearly 50 years after the Civil War before she was discovered. Many women served as spies, nurses, and doctors during the war, also. Although, it would take many years and much cajoling for many of the women who served in these capacities to be paid for their service. Women had to volunteer (and not get paid) as nurses or doctors to start the war. Women such as Lydia Maria Child, Harriet Tubman, Susie Baker King Taylor, Clara Barton, the Grimke sisters, Mother Bickerdyke, Dr. Mary Walker, Ellen Orbison Harris, Mary Ann Shadd Cary, Harriet Jacobs, Cornelia Peake McDonald, and Virginia Mason McLean (who had the distinction of witnessing both the first real battle and the surrender of Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia near her house) are discussed in various detail, along with many others. I found this to be an informative, enlightening read.

Abe Lincoln at Last! by Mary Pope Osborne

Abe Lincoln at Last! by Mary Pope Osborne-130 pages (Kindle Edition)

Jack and Annie meet Abraham Lincoln in this Magic Tree House adventure, along with his two sons Tad and Willie. The magic given to Jack and Annie by Teddy and Kathleen takes them back to when Lincoln was a boy in Indiana, which gives them an in when they need to meet him again later as President. Merlin has tasked Jack and Annie to give Abraham Lincoln hope by receiving a feather and giving the feather. I have really enjoyed reading the Magic Tree House books over again and plan to read two more before the end of the month (along with a few other books).

Civil War on Sunday by Mary Pope Osborne

Civil War on Sunday by Mary Pope Osborne-73 pages

I read the newest edition of this book, as I have most of the Magic Tree House books. I enjoyed reading this one, as usual, but I didn't like all the generalizations when it came to the actual history of the Civil War. One such generalization is that those who wore blue were Union soldiers and those who wore gray were Confederate soldiers. This was not always the case, especially early in the war. Early on, many Union soldiers wore gray and many Confederate soldiers wore blue, which caused confusion during more than one battle/engagement. There were other generalizations made I didn't agree with, but, as always, I like that these books engage children with history in a fun, exciting way. I think these books should be mandatory reading at elementary school!

The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara-355 pages

I have seen the movie "Gettysburg" several times and have known for a while that this is the novel the movie is based on. I really enjoyed reading the novel and was surprised at how closely the movie followed it, with a few minor exceptions (one being that Chamberlain reports to General Sykes in the book and merely passes by General Hancock, whereas in the movie he reports to Hancock and there is no mention of Sykes). I am somewhat of an expert/student of American history, especially from the Civil War era, so this type of historical fiction really appeals to me. I have read Jeff Shaara's four novels on major Western Theater Civil War battles and want to read "Gods and Generals" and "The Last Full Measure." Also, I intend to read Ralph Peters' Civil War novels. Overall, this is one of (if not the) the best Civil War novels I have read so far.

Bayonet! Forward: My Civil War Reminiscences by Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

Bayonet! Forward: My Civil War Reminiscences by Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain-328 pages

General Chamberlain was Colonel of the 20th Maine at Little Round Top at the Battle of Gettysburg and successfully defended it with a bayonet charge. He was also at Fredericksburg, Petersburg, White Oak Road, Five Forks, and several other major Civil War battles in which the Union Army of the Potomac fought. Additionally, he (his division) was chosen to take the official surrender of arms of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia after Lee's surrender at Appamattox. I have previously read a biography about Chamberlain and one of his works and immediately wanted to read this book when I came across it on Goodreads. This was a good read and Chamberlain is clearly a good orator and writer, after all he was professor of rhetoric and oratory at Bowdoin College in Maine before his enlistment. His thoughts and remembrances of his experiences during the Civil War are compelling and thought-provoking, although glorifying of war and his experience a bit. One can tell that he was an intellectual, thoughtful man who was also humble and contrite. His thoughts on his peers and superiors are particularly compelling. Overall, this was a good read.

The Gettysburg Address: A Graphic Adaptation by Jonathan Hennessey

The Gettysburg Address: A Graphic Adaptation by Jonathan Hennessey-224 pages

This was very thought-provoking and interesting. I am a history enthusiast, especially the Civil War and Reconstruction Era of the United States. I am glad to have read this and it is a good, thought-provoking account of the meaning of each phrase and the whole of the Gettysburg Address and its place in American past and present.