TOCWOC – A Civil War Blog

Author: James Durney

  • Reading the War, December 1862

    Reading the War December 1862 We do not have many books from Antietam to Gettysburg.  I have no idea why but it is a fact we have to accept.  Compounding the problem is that several books are out of date or just plain bad.  My recommendations are: The Fredericksburg Campaign by Francis Augustin O’Reilly is […]

  • 150 years ago, December 1862

    150 Years Ago December 1862 The bright promise of summer has turned into bitter disappointment.  In May, the Army of the Potomac was closing on Richmond, now it is on the Rappahannock facing the Army of Northern Virginia on the hills behind Fredericksburg.  Nashville, once a securely occupied city is now the front lines.  Bragg […]

  • Civil War Book Review: The Maps of Antietam

    The Maps of Antietam: An Atlas of the Antietam (Sharpsburg) Campaign, including the Battle of South Mountain, September 2 – 20, 1862 (Savas Beatie Military Atlas) by Bradley M. Gottfried Product Details Hardcover: 360 pages Publisher: Savas Beatie (June 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 1611210860 ISBN-13: 978-1611210866 Savas Beaties “The Maps of” series makes available high […]

  • Civil War Book Review: THE IRON BRIGADE IN CIVIL WAR AND MEMORY: The Black Hats from Bull Run to Appomattox and Thereafter

    THE IRON BRIGADE IN CIVIL WAR AND MEMORY: The Black Hats from Bull Run to Appomattox and Thereafter by Lance J. Herdegen Product Details Hardcover: 696 pages Publisher: Savas Beatie; First Edition edition (August 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 1611211069 ISBN-13: 978-1611211061   The best brigade history, I have ever read.   In 1957, John J. […]

  • November 2012 Civil War Book Notes

    Those that can’t write, Review! November 2012 James W. Durney *********************************************************** New in the stores   Larry J. Daniel’s book Battle of Stones River: The Forgotten Conflict Between the Confederate Army of Tennessee and the Union Army of the Cumberland due in stores on the fifth. The Civil War and American Art (Smithsonian American Art […]

  • 150 years ago, November 1862

    150 Years Ago November 1862 Fall weather is turning roads to mud and the grass is dying, poor road conditions coupled with increased demand for forage force armies to build winter encampments.  Men usually build log huts with floors using tents for the roof.  Smoke vents through a chimney built of small barrels and mud.  […]

  • October 31, 1862: A Counterfactual

    October 31, 1862 The Confederate offensive of 1862 resulted in defeats at Antietam, Perryville and Corinth.  What would happen if the battles of Antietam and Perryville had not taken place?  What if Van Dorn had not risked everything attacking Corinth?  Over estimating the size of armies is endemic in 1862.  Yes, my numbers for Lee, […]