No comments about Under the Flag of the Nation : Diaries and Letters of Owen Johnston Hopkins.

No comments about Gettysburg: Civil War Memories (Insights (Harrisburg, Pa.).).

1 comments about Shooting of Michael Collins: Murder or Accident.

1. Every year on August 22, I remember the death of Irish politician Michael Collins, usually by watching Niel Jordan's 1996 movie. This last Friday, though, I opted for a change of pace and decided to attempt to completely read a book about Collins in two days. I chose The Shooting of Michael Collins: Murder or Accident? by John M. Feehan.
   
   In the early months of our marriage, my wife and I used to sometimes spend Sunday nights down at a Barnes & Noble in Salt Lake City. Often, I would grab this book off the shelf and spend my time trying to understand Collins' death. As it was a confusing and hectic event, I became comfused myself but also very interested. I later bought the book.
   
   I started to read it this last Friday morning and finished it late Saturday night. I have to say that, overall, it is a good book- generally well-written and full of interesting information. Its shortcomings are that Feehan often repeats bits of informtion and that some of his logic is not clear. But its strength is that Feehan had access to sources very close to the event. He personally interviewed several people who were there on that fateful night in 1922, or who were politically active during that period. Feehan also analyzes, line by line, several printed accounts by eyewitnesses such as those by Maj. Emmet Dalton (who was riding the backseat of the touring car with Collins just before his death, and Smith, the motorcycle escort that night. These testimonies form the basis of the narrative, especially in the final two chapters and Feehan shows himself to be a true historian by using original documents to follow where the evidence takes him. These documents and his analyzation alone are worth the purchase and reading of the book. It would be helpful if the reader has a basic understanding of the Irish Civil War and the personalities involved before reading. There is very little background information other than what Feehan explains during his short biography of Collins in the first chapter.
   
   In the end, I find some of Feehan's conclusions to be sensible and others weak but his work is an interesting read nonetheless. I recommend The Shooting of Michael Collins.
   
   For more on Collins' death, see Meda Ryan's excellent book The Day Michael Collins Was Shot.

1 comments about A Perfect Picture of Hell: Eyewitness Accounts by Civil War Prisoners from the 12th Iowa.

1. The diaries, letters and speeches along with black and white photos truly complete this work and give insight into the "hell" that the men of the 12th Iowa went through.

   Each account goes to the heart of the reader when it comes to looking into the past lives and accounts of these men. A must read for Civil War enthusiasts as well as arm chair historians.

No comments about The Human Tradition in Antebellum America (Human Tradition in America).

2 comments about The Life of Abraham Lincoln.

1. In Isaac Arnold's book, The Life Of Abraham Lincoln, Mr. Arnold portyays Lincoln how he knew him. Isaac was aquainted with Abe Lincoln for over a quarter century, and that helped him in completing this wonderful biography. It does, however, lack several important facts that have now been discovered. Since Mr. Arnold wrote his book twenty years after Lincoln's death, the United States didnt have time to realize what an amazing and influential person Lincoln was. New data also shows that some of his facts in the book are proven to be wrong. Even with those minor details that are false, it doesnt take away from the intensity of the book. Being able to read his speeches and visualize Lincoln speaking is amazing and Mr. Arnold does a very good job of painting that picture.



2. As stated elsewhere, this biography has the asset of being written by a personal friend and colleague of Lincoln. The personal reminscences and portrayal of Lincoln and his characteristics are very good. By knowing and working wth Lincoln during his Presidency as well as in Illinois, the book is much stronger on the Civil War years than HERNDON'S LIFE OF LINCOLN (and thus more knowledgeable of Lincoln's evolution). The book discusses Lincoln's work with Congress to pass the 13th Amendment (outlawing slavery) far more than other bios and though such detail may disinterest the general reader, this accomplishment by Lincoln surpassed the Emancipation Proclamation in results. Surprisingly, though heavier on the politics, the book covers the Civil War's fighting pretty well. Of course, almost all 1 volume Lincoln biographies are noticeably flawed, and in this one, there is a big flop by the book virtually ignoring discussion of Lincoln's family during the White House years (Mary is discussed sympathetically as a widow). But if it is Lincoln the Politician, President, or friend, that interests you, this is pretty good.

No comments about Prince of Edisto: Brigadier General Micah Jenkins, CSA.

No comments about Memoirs of General William T. Sherman.

No comments about Andrew Jackson and His Tennessee Lieutenants: A Study in Political Culture (Contributions in American History).

4 comments about Soldiering With Sherman: Civil War Letters of George F. Cram.

1. Soldiering with Sherman makes reading about history interesting. This is a firsthand account of the civil war. You can tell that the editor did some painstaking research. I would suggest this book for any history buff.



2. Soldiering With Sherman: The Civil War Letters Of George F. Cram is a compilation of the letters of Union Sergeant George F. Cram's letters that reveal an educated young man's experiences as part of Sherman's army during the American Civil War. Advancing through the Confederacy with the 105th Illinois Infantry Regiment, Cram engaged in a number of key conflicts, including Sherman's famous "march to the sea". Cram wrote candid, literate letters conveying insights into the social dimensions of the Civil War. His writings are characterized by piercing objectivity, optimism, and a dry sense of humor. His vivid depictions of the campaigns in Alabama, Georgia, and the Carolinas are a superb and substantial contribution to Civil War studies. Soldiering With Sherman is an informative, engaging, and core title for any personal, academic, or community library Civil War studies collection.



3. Ms. Bohrnstedt's thoughtful and informative context for George Cram's letters is invaluable. The letters themselves are a treasure-- first-hand accounts from the trenches of the Civil War. Reading the book by the fireplace is like sitting with a Civil War maven, paging through scrapbooks with yellowed pages that come alive as she describes what is behind the scenes. What makes this book a 5-star gem? The quality of research and the uniqueness of the contribution to our understanding of our only violent, internal national conflict.



4. This wonderful book is comprised of all the letters home that George wrote to his mother. Thankfully he was a college student, doing what he felt was his duty, and his mother wanted to know all of the details of life in camp. Consequently we are fortunate to have information that covers all aspects of camp life. George gives his views on cleanliness, proper nutririon, drinking, & the ability to serve the country better as men of good character, He sometimes felt what was the use, but all in all he wanted to see the job finished. Upon returning home he & his uncle started a map company which is still in existence today.