Good Shiloh Book

[adamandnicole]

During these winter months, I was hoping to read a good book on Shiloh it preparation for the upcoming event. I have already read Cyrus Boyd's book and am aware of Shiloh Bloody April by Wiley Sword (although I'm not sure if it's any good), but I was wanting to get other opinions on a good Shiloh book.

Thank you,

Adam Dickerson

[J. Donaldson]

Re: Good Shiloh Book

While this work was originally written as a dissertation in the 1960s, it's only been recently published, and I found it to be a new take on the campaign and the battle itself, truly questioning the legitimacy of Ruggles' 62 gun onslaught against the Hornet's Nest, as well as other aspects of the battle. This may actually be the best work currently on the market.

Shiloh and the Western Campaign of 1862

[Mark Choate]

Re: Good Shiloh Book

Adam,

I will have to say that the book by Wiley Sword on Shiloh is excellent (IMHO). I had a chance to meet him after he wrote "Embrace an Angry Wind" (on Battle of Franklin) and got him to sign both that, as well as the Shiloh book. I appreciated his approach to the book and his detail in laying out the order of battle. He has a couple of appendices in the back that are worth the book just in laying out the order of battle for both Johnston's, as well as Grant's armies. From the death of Peabody, to the horror of the Hornet's nest and the Peach Orchard to the chaos of Forrest and Sherman's clash at the end in the Fallen Timbers, this will be an enjoyable and informative read.....................but that's MY opinion........:sarcastic

regards,
Mark

[Daniel]

Re: Good Shiloh Book

Another good general book is "Shiloh: The Battle That Changed the Civil War" by Larry J. Daniell. The author is one of the best historian's of the Confederate Army of Tennessee. And very few people know more about Confederate artillery than he does.

Dan Stewart

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Re: Good Shiloh Book

The Cunnigham book that Bob mentioned is very good. Get your hands on In Hell Before Night it is also good. Also, I would recommend a book that is no longer in print. University Recruits 101 by Roger Bowen and Charles Clark. It is about Company C of the 12th Iowa. These men were mainly college students at Upper Iowa. It details the battle of Shiloh (they were in the Hornets Nest) and getting captured. Also there is a book called Seeing the Elephant.(Title? I need to look upstairs at the title) and it takes an overall approach of the men who fought on both sides.

I have read many books on Shiloh and Wiley Swords is by far the best!!!

[Pumpkinslinger]

Re: Good Shiloh Book

I've got Larry Daniel's book mentioned above, Wiley Sword's book and James Lee McDonough's Shiloh-In Hell before Night. All are great books with Larry Daniel's book getting my nod. After spending many days roaming the battlefield over the years I could practically see the trees as he described the different engagements as I read his book.

[john duffer]

Re: Good Shiloh Book

Shameless self promotion - I have IN HELL BEFORE NIGHT for sale.

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?34609-And-more-books-misc-battles

[LWhite64]

Re: Good Shiloh Book

The NPS relies on the Cunningham book as it addresses several myths about the battle. I would also highly recommend Seeing the Elephant, especially for our common soldier outlook. I would also throw in The Untold Story of Shiloh: The Battle and the Battlefield by Tim Smith (Its a collection of essays by Smith) and The Shiloh Campaign (Another essay book, this time edited by Steven Woodworth).

[bizzilizzit]

Re: Good Shiloh Book

Can someone recommend a book on Shiloh from the civilian's point of view?

[Strawfoot]

Re: Good Shiloh Book

What myths Lee? Also, in my opinion, Shiloh by Larry Daniel is the most thorough book on that battle.

[Paul L Muller]

Re: Good Shiloh Book

You might like Shilo by Shelby Foote plm

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Re: Good Shiloh Book

Foote book is good but it is fiction. If you want a good overall Battle of Shiloh book go with the ones mentioned before.

[Shane62]

Re: Good Shiloh Book

Here's a good explanation about Shiloh's myths... http://www.nps.gov/shil/historycultu...oad/Sunken.pdf. Cunningham's book, though widely disdained by academics when written, has become a very good reference.

A good guilty pleasure is Shelby Foote's, Shiloh: A Novel. Though written as a narrative, he does a good job of boring into the heads of the soldier's voices he hijacks. Be sure to document anything you read in it though.

[Paul L Muller]

Re: Good Shiloh Book

I had forgotten about the Foote book being fiction, sorry, but now you know that I can read... plm