Fellow US History Freaks 1850 - 1875 era

[1042 Trooper]

Any fellow U.S. History nuts out there?

Favorite historical sites? Historical cities? Books?

I'm looking for a good, comprehensive book on U.S. History from events leading to the civil war - the war - and the rebuild in the aftermath.

Suggestions?

As to historical areas, North Carolina and Virginia (Old Richmond, etc., are favorite haunts of mine. I plan on spending a solid month back there one day in my retirement.

[nuthead]

Charleston, SC is a good place. I've spent several weeks up at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland and toured Gettysburg quite a bit. Great place to poke around.

I don't know of a specific book, I've read many different ones covering different time periods and people.

[willowdared]

I don't know that you could find one book that could do justice to the whole period of time you are interested in, you might do better finding several biographies of major players helpful.

I really enjoyed Manhunt: The 12 Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James Swanson. Most people forget that Seward was nearly killed that night as well, and it's a real nail-biter, even knowing how it ends.

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin also very good.

Shelby Foote's Civil War trilogy is considered a classic, and he brings a Southerner's viewpoint.

Battle Cry of Freedom and What God Hath Wrought are from Oxford History series.

I am a History Book club junkie.

[LA DEP]

Shelby Foote's Civil War Narrative is an outstanding book (ok....several door stopper size volumes) on the subject.....very readable as well.....

[nuthead]

Douglas Freeman's biography of General Lee is an excellent set to read. Takes a while to get through it, but it's well worth it.

[mdrdep]

Good Lord you could fill a library with book covering just that period. If and when I get my books out of boxes and back onto shelves (God I hate moving) I'll take a look. I got about a shelf just covering the Civil War period. Although I just reached under my coffee table and pulled out "The Civil War" by Geoffrey C. Ward with Ric and Ken Burns (goes along with the PBS Series) Another excellent book that highlights the entire time period.

[yooper_fi]

I hit the Harper's Ferrry, WV area at least once a year; it's great there. Great old town, lots of historical stuff, and a really nice park. The book stores there cover every topic, but my favorites trend to historical arms and manufacturing. There's a "historical" gun shop there (John Zimmerman, gunsmith); the guy sells originals and repros of period guns, and he also has a good selection of books. Oh, and he has all the necessary period equipment to manufacture guns from scratch.

Recently I got to fire an original 1873 in .45-70, and now I'm really feeling the itch to pick one up for myself...

[ray8285]

Favorite historical sites? Historical cities? Books?

I'm looking for a good, comprehensive book on U.S. History from events leading to the civil war - the war - and the rebuild in the aftermath.

Suggestions?

As to historical areas, North Carolina and Virginia (Old Richmond, etc., are favorite haunts of mine. I plan on spending a solid month back there one day in my retirement.

Read about Kansas and Missouri prior to the war. We were having the CW before 1860. Leavenworth KS is a good place to go, it was nearly destroyed by Missourians attacking it.

Read anything by Shelby Foote, great CW writer.

If you are driving from home to east coast chart a CW path. Leavenworth KS, Lexington MO (one of the last battles, still cannon ball in court house) St. Louis MO, KY, PA, TN. There are so many battlefields between you and what would be my ultimate stop, Gettysburg, I think you would have a great trip.

Must be nice to be retired

[charles353]

Read "The Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara. Very good civil war book. It is about the battle of Gettysburg.