Month: December 2013

  • Civil War Book Review: A Disease in the Public Mind: A New Understanding of Why We Fought the Civil War

    A Disease in the Public Mind: A New Understanding of Why We Fought the Civil War by Thomas Fleming Product Details Hardcover: 384 pages Publisher: Da Capo Press; 1st Edition, 1st Printing edition (May 7, 2013) Language: English ISBN-10: 0306821265 ISBN-13: 978-0306821264 This book is upsetting a number of people, looking at the distribution of […]

  • The Case of the Missing Telegram

    Last week, in expressing my initial thoughts about General Grant and the Rewriting of History by Frank Varney, I wrote “do not be surprised to find me writing multiple blog posts” about the book. And so here I am, at it again. In the comments section to the previous post there was some discussion of […]

  • Civil War Book Review: The Last Battle of Winchester: Phil Sheridan, Jubal Early, and the Shenandoah Valley Campaign

    The Last Battle of Winchester: Phil Sheridan, Jubal Early, and the Shenandoah Valley Campaign, August 7 – September 19, 1864 by Scott C. Patchan Product Details Hardcover: 576 pages Publisher: Savas Beatie (July 2013) Language: English ISBN-10: 1932714987 ISBN-13: 978-1932714982 Note: Also available in a Kindle edition for $11.49. The largest battle in The Valley […]

  • Save 40% at UNC Press During their Holiday Sale!

    I’ve been remiss in not letting readers know about the University of North Carolina Press’ ongoing Holiday Sale.  You have a good chance to go back and save 40% on any UNC Press books you’ve missed over the last few years: Hope you’re staying cozy as winter officially settles in. Our new books this month […]

  • Savas Beatie Author Interview: Edward B. Hicks, J. Michael Cobb, and Wythe Holt on Big Bethel

    Editor’s Note: This Savas Beatie author interview originally appeared at the Savas Beatie web site and appears at TOCWOC with written permission.  This interview may not be reproduced without the express written content of Savas Beatie.  For more details on this and other fine Savas Beatie books, please email the publisher at  sales@savasbeatie.com. An Interview with The Battle of Big […]

  • Chickasaw Bayou (4)

    Scouting the River While the land component was conducting operations at Milliken’s Bend, Admiral Porter’s fleet began the reconnaissance of the Yazoo River. Porter directed Lt Commander William Gwin to take his powerful vessel, Benton, along with the timber-clad gunboats Lexington and Tyler, the tin-clads Romeo and Juliet, and the ram Lioness to sweep the […]

  • The Top 13 Controversies at Franklin: Part 1

    Editor’s Note: After I’d posted my recent comments on Lee’s possible endorsement of John Bell Hood for army command in 1864, I started going back over a lengthy nine or ten part series I did on Eric Jacobson’s book For Cause & for Country: A Study of the Affair at Spring Hill and the Battle of […]