In Their Own Words: Civil War Commanders (In their own words)

Rating:
Summary: Hear from those who fought the battles
Review: From Bull Run to Appomattox this books beautifully illustrates the very thoughts of the men who commanded during the Civil War. Mr. Stiles has put together a well researched collection of narratives to portray a "minds eye" view of these men before and after battle.

By using first hand accounts the reader will be thrust into the mind of the Commander; not a brief overview of battle using the finite eye of 20th. Century hindsight.

This book delves into the mundane routine of army life from a leaders point of view, and from there, goes into the moral convictions these officers faced after having committed their men to battle. To further assist the reader, the author includes 40 maps to accompany the words upon the page.

Upon finishing this work it will be hard not to reflect on the frailty of mankind and how it flowed over into the failure of command during battle.

A must read for insight into the minds of both Union and Confederate officers.