The Photographic History of the Civil War, Volume 5: Armies & Leaders

Rating:
Summary: Superb!
Review: I have been a student of the American Civil War for 30-plus years and still find this book, with its accompanying 4 volumes, a foremost commentary and comprehensive photographic assemblage which surpasses most other single volumes or more inclusive works. I like two things about this collection....there are photographs here that I have never seen before, so it is extremely extensive, and it was initially compiled and published in 1911, which gives an advantageous and "less than contemporary" perspective from many actual participants of the event that were still alive at that time. In this particular volume, short biographies and photographs are given of each army's leaders, north and south. Essays are presented on Grant, R. E. Lee, and "Stonewall" Jackson as well as the various departments and armies of both governments. Various statistics are presented such as the sizes of armies, corps, regiments, and so on, and the dates of every battle and skirmi! sh, no matter the impact, with casualty counts. There is also a complete section concerning the veterans organizations which were established during and after the war, including their histories through 1911.