This is the second volume in Bruce Catton's three part Centennial History of the Civil War, detailing the events following the First Battle of Bull Run through to the aftermath of the horrifically bloody Battle of Antietam, including the final removal of McClellan from command of the Army of the Potomac. One, maybe two or three revolutions had taken place transforming America and how it would grow. At the end of the war the country was on a different path. The topic will always mean something to Americans. These books are an unusual combination of incisive analysis and good literature. When he repeated that statement in Lincoln's presence he was summarily dismissed from the Army. Major Key of the Army of the Potomac said that the game of the war was to exhaust both armies and make the politicians enter into a compromise that saved slavery. That was enough of a victory for Lincoln to take the Emancipation Proclamation out of his desk where it had waited. McClellan had the key to Lee's destruction in his hand and settled for a draw at the Battle of Antietam. Lee went into Maryland and his Order 191 got lost and found. At Second Bull Run John Pope's troops absorbed probably one of Longstreet's greatest smash attacks while the Army of the Potomac looked on. The rise of Lee from his beginnings in the Seven Days to Second Bull Run was an integral part of the military history. Lincoln once remarked' This is not an army it is the personal body guard of General McClellan.' Lincoln's hopes for McClellan ended when he realized the general 'Had a case of the slows'. The Proclamation left room for any state in the Confederacy to end the war and retain slavery but that could never happen.Īnother part of the epic story was the relationship between McClellan and Lincoln and the Northern military effort.

At the end of the book the war had become a war to end slavery. Everyone knew that the slaves would soon be free but racist attitudes still predominated. In July of 1861 when the book opened Lincoln was talking about compensated emancipation and colonization.

The book ends with the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. I find the emphasis in this volume on the social changes taking place. He is telling an epic tale of a great war and revolutionary changes in society.

All of the elements of good fiction are present gleaned from years of research.Ĭatton's writing is rich and full of detail.

The events described in the books changed the course of life in America. His books have good dialog and are full of interesting characters. The author is an excellent writer who I am sure if he had wanted to could have written very good fiction. I have enjoyed reading all three of the books very much. This is the second volume of the Centennial History of the Civil War.

Terrible Swift Sword by Bruce Catton