Which Books Influenced You the Most?

[john duffer]

Re: Which Books Influenced You the Most?

LEE'S LIEUTENANTS, Douglas Southall Freeman. I read it twice in High School and a few times after that. I've read hundreds of others since but nothing I'd recommend more.

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Which Books Influenced You the Most?

Bruce Catton American Heritage The Civil War. Got it from my aunt in 5th grade for Christmas and birthday present. I spent hours looking at the maps, pictures and reading. IT was THE book that got me hooked. Oh I have others but none were as important as that one book.

Same here. There are other books I could list, but this one lit the fire. From age 5 or so and on through my childhood, I spent a lot of time looking through that book.

[Craig L Barry]

Re: Which Books Influenced You the Most?

The Rifled Musket by Claud E. Fuller. Probably the best single volume on the US model rifle muskets. It made me want to do research on Civil War arms. The Fuller collection of US Civil War long arms (plus some) is on display at CHCH National Military Park. It is a national treasure.

[Cumpston1862]

Re: Which Books Influenced You the Most?

The American Hertiage Book by Bruce Catton was a big influence for me too. I about wore out the copy at our school library so my parents finally got me my own. I looked it over late into the night for weeks. I still pull it down on occasion.

Another big influence was the book Gettysburg: The Long Encampment by Jack Mclaughlin which spurred a fascination in that battle for me. The Gettysburg book has a special memory attached to it for me because when I found it by chance there was an older gentleman looking for books in the same area and we started talking. He told me about his grandfather that served in the Army of the Potomac and all the stories he related to him growing up about the war. Sure wish I could remember his grandfather's name and unit...long time ago!

[jake.koch]

Re: Which Books Influenced You the Most?

I've got to start when I was a kid with Across Five Aprils and Rifles for Watie, then it was the hand-me-downs that were my dad and uncles when they were growing up during the Centennial - Catton and the like. Now I would have to say Union Jacks, Life in Mr. Lincoln's Navy, Ed Bearss' 3 Volume Set on the Vicksburg Campaign, and any of the Vicksburg Campaign related books writted by Michael Ballard as they all make my life a whole lot easier at work!

[Mississippian]

Re: Which Books Influenced You the Most?

Bruce Catton's American Heritage book, I must have been 4 or 5 when I stumbled upon it on the bottom shelf of the Beaureguard Parish library. That was the start. I own two copies now. I would have to say some of the others are:

Osprey Men at Arms Union Army by Philip Katcher
Civil War Small Arms By Earl Coates
Civil War Cannons, by Dean Thomas
Hardtack and Coffee, by Billings
Soldiering in the Army of Tennessee by Larry Daniel.

Also when I was a kid I had subscriptions to "Americas Civil War" and "Civil War Times" magazines. I must have every issue of both from 1992-2004.

Will MacDonald

[roundshot]

Re: Which Books Influenced You the Most?

For me as a third grader in the mid 1950s it was the illustrations by artist Don McKay in the Landmark children's book" Gettysburg" that stirred my interest. Two of them are shown below. From there it was on to other books like "Gray Riders," "We were there at the Battle of Gettysburg," and "Rifles for Watie." And of course, the wonderful American Heritage CW volume with its unique picture maps. What a fun journey.

[jake.koch]

Re: Which Books Influenced You the Most?

Bob,

Things don't change alot sometimes, even as a child of the 80s and early 90s I loved those picture maps!

[TKlas]

Re: Which Books Influenced You the Most?

Hi gents,

Like a broken record Bruce Catton - but Stillness at Appomattox and Alan Nolan's Iron Brigade top my list. I still read Catton's trilogy and have goosbumps.

[Ambrose Bierce]

Re: Which Books Influenced You the Most?

Hardtack and Coffee.
One of Jackson's Foot Cavalry.
Ambrose Bierce's Civil War.
Si Klegg and His Pard.
Co. Aytch.
American Heritage History of The Civil War. I loved all the illustrated depictions of the phases of the battles.
The Union Infantryman in Battle.

Just a few over the years that are still on the bookshelf, dogeared and well-read.

[Philip cav]

Re: Which Books Influenced You the Most?

A few that I was influenced by was Descrating this Fair Country the diary of Lt. Henry C Lyon 34th New York Infantry, Osprey's Elite The American Civil War in Indian Territory by John Spencer, and Hardtack And Coffee by John Billings

[Jubilo]

Re: Which Books Influenced You the Most?

Dear Fellers,
I think I began with Joseph A. Altsheler's Civil War Series and never stopped.
all for the old flag,
David Corbett

[Armiger]

Re: Which Books Influenced You the Most?

Across Five Aprils**and**Rifles for Watie,

Wow what deja vu, had an elementary teacher that read these two books too our class in school. It sparked me to read all the books in the school's library on the war. To long ago to remember any of the other title's I read independently but these two stuck.

[James Brenner]

Re: Which Books Influenced You the Most?

I gotta go with Across Five Aprils and Rifles for Watie, too - both Newberry Award winners.

[Coatsy]

Re: Which Books Influenced You the Most?

While "Rifles for Watie" was not my first Civil War book that I read, it is one of those books that still sticks with me to this day. As a child under 10, my grandparents gave me "A Picture History of the Civil War". (I can't remember the exact title right now at the office) That, and the silver Time Life ACW series got me into the history of the time period.