Blue and Gray Almanac
Introduction
With over 70,000 books already written about the American Civil War, you might wonder if another one is necessary. Spoiler: it is!
What will you find inside this book?
Table of contents:
Chapter 1: The “House Divided”
Chapter 2: From succession to Civil war
Chapter 3: The Civil War in 11.000 words
Chapter 4: Armies in blue and gray
Chapter 5: Incidents and Anecdotes of war
Chapter 6: The Naval War
Chapter 7: War and Society
Chapter 8: The Generals
Chapter 9: Money, Graft, and Corruption
Chapter 10: The naughty bits
Chapter 11: The troops
Chapter 12: Civil War Medicine
The book is filled with unsual facts. During the final days of the war some Richmond citizens were wont to throw ‘Starvation Parties’, at which elegantly attired guests would gather at soirees where the finest silver and crystal table ware was used, though there were usually no refreshments save water. Union Rear-Admiral Goldsborough was nicknamed ‘Old Guts’, not so much for his combativeness as for his heft, weighing about 300 pounds, and was described as “… a huge mass of inert matter”. 30.6 percent of the 425 Confederate generals, but only 21.6 percent of the 583 Union generals, had been lawyers before the war. In 1861, J. P. Morgan made a huge profit by buying 5,000 condemned US Army carbines and selling them back to another arsenal, taking the Army to court when they tried to refuse to pay for the faulty weapons. Major General Loring was reputed to have so rich a vocabulary than one of the men once remarked he could “curse a cannon up hill without horses”. Many militia units had a favourite drink: the Charleston Light Dragoons’ punch took around a week to make while the Chatham Artillery required 1 pound of green tea leaves be steeped overnigh. There were five living former presidents when the Civil War began, and seven veterans of the war (plus one draft dodger) went on to serve as President.
Review
As a Dutch reader, this distant war never captured my attention much. Sure, most non-Americans are familiar with Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg, and perhaps the famous ironclad battle between the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia at Hampton Roads in 1862. However, in-depth knowledge of the American Civil War is not common in Europe, and I’m no exception.
In The Netherlands, the Civil War isn’t part of our history curriculum. Our national history focuses on many other wars, both domestic and foreign. Still, I felt it was time to dive into a book about this pivotal event in American history. Out of the many titles available, this one caught my eye because of its fresh approach. Does it offer anything new to the already extensive literature on the topic? The answer is yes.
This book is not only informative but also enjoyable to read, shedding light on topics that many other books overlook. Its thematic structure makes it stand out, and I’d argue that it brings something fresh to the table, making it an engaging read for both Americans and non-Americans alike.
As I mentioned, I’m no expert on this topic, but I can confidently say that most major themes are covered. While some chapters take a conventional approach—focusing on military affairs like most history books—the social and cultural insights are what make this book stand out. Readers interested in history will also appreciate the short essays and anecdotes that add depth to each subject.
The book is filled with quirky and surprising facts. Did you know, for example, that 30.6% of Confederate generals had been lawyers before the war, compared to 21.6% of Union generals? Or that Major General Loring was notorious for his colorful language, with one soldier claiming he could “curse a cannon uphill without horses”? And have you ever heard of “starvation parties”? They sound worse than they actually were. The book even touches on the unique drinks favored by military units, such as the Chatham Artillery Punch—a recipe you might want to try at your next 4th of July celebration!
One of the more intriguing aspects of this book is its exploration of Civil War medicine and the introduction of modern battlefield treatment. Before the Civil War, severe battlefield injuries were almost always fatal. Military medicine was still in its infancy, and even basic procedures like CPR were unknown. The first recorded use of anesthetics was in 1846. The book provides fascinating statistics, noting that more soldiers died from disease than from combat. Each chapter is packed with unexpected details, making this a refreshing take on the Civil War.
This isn’t just a collection of amusing facts and anecdotes. The author also challenges widely accepted figures, such as the number of casualties. While the common estimate is 620,000 deaths, with 175,000 killed in battle, the book argues that the true death toll could be higher. It’s in this questioning of established facts that the book offers a new perspective on the war.
If you’re looking for a highly detailed, battle-by-battle account, this might not be the book for you. The author himself notes that it doesn’t aim to tell “the whole story.” However, it does fill in gaps that other books leave behind, offering a broad range of topics for any reader to enjoy.
With its well-designed cover, rich illustrations, and diverse content, this book is a great addition to any military history collection—as long as you’re not expecting page after page of battlefield tactics alone.