With his passion for his subject, knowledge, and flair for presentation, Ed Bearss (b. 1923) is America's premier Civil War tour guide. A former historian at Vicksburg and Chief Historian of the National Park Service, Bearss continues to give selflessly of his time to increase understanding of one of the defining moments of American history. In 2007, the National Geographic Society published "Fields of Honor"
Fields of Honor: Pivotal Battles of the Civil War a book of transcripts of Bearss' tour presentations for several major Civil War Battlefields. In this new book, "Receding Tide", readers receive the benefit of more Bearss tours but with a focus. The book concentrates on the conflict during late 1862 to mid- 1863. The focus is on Vicksburg and Gettysburg, "The Campaigns that Changed the Civil War", but the campaign in Tennessee during this time period also receives much attention.
Other than books that give an overview of the Civil War, most books that explore the military conflict in depth focus on one campaign or the other. Thus, there are many books on the Gettysburg campaign and a smaller though still substantial number of books about Vicksburg. I have read many books about individual battles and about the Civil War, but Bearss' book taught me a good deal. He weaves together the stories of the three primary theaters of the war: the East in Virginia and Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Vicksburg and the Mississippi River and shows their interrelationship. The narrative shifts back and forth among the different theaters and various points and helped me understand how they held together. Besides offering a broad strategic picture, Bearss' account is full of detail about the battles and their participants, from generals to privates. His battle accounts frequently have a Homeric sweep.
The single most important focus of the book is on the Vicksburg campaign. Bearss begins with an overview of the importance of the Mississippi River to Union commerce and to its war effort. The story picks up in late 1862 with Grant's many unsuccessful early attempts to capture Vicksburg and gain control over the river. During this time, Lee was winning his victory at Fredericksburg. Also during this time, The Army of the Tennessee under its commander, Rosecrans, had fought a difficult battle at Stone's River after which the Confederate general, Braxton Bragg, made an impolitic decision to retreat. Bearss sees Stones River as the beginning of the end for the Confederacy that would carry through Vicksburg and Gettysburg.
Again, Bearss juxtaposes Grant's brilliant campaign south of Vicksburg with Lee's victory at Chancellorsville and with Rosecrans' reluctance to take action in Tennessee. He shows how the Vicksburg campaign impacted strategy and affected decision making for both sides in these two other theaters of the war. In particular, following Lee's success at Chancellorsville, the Confederacy gave a great deal of consideration to moving troops from Virginia and Tennessee to assist in the increasingly beleagered defense of Vicksburg. Lee persuaded the Confederate government to support his invasion of Pennsylvania instead. This book gave me the impression that the decision was unwise.
Bearss offers his own thoughts on the leadership on both sides. I was surprised with his sympathy for Union General John McClernand, a political general who many students see as a liability to the Federal effort because he tried to take command away from Grant. Bearss offers a positive assessment of McClernand's role in the Vicksburg campaign, and he is critical of Grant's efforts to shunt McClernand aside.
The Gettysburg Campaign occupies only about the final third of the book. Bearss narrates the events of the battle with a sweep and intensity that kept me riveted. Bearss has an eye for the telling detail as well as for the broad picture of the battle. He gives a great deal of attention to the frequently overlooked fighting on Culp's Hill on the far right of the Union line. Bearss makes a great deal of the role of Col David Ireland of the 137th New York in saving Culp's Hill for the Union against numerioally superior forces during the night of July 2. Ireland's actions were, Bearss argues, as important to the Union effort as the more hearalded role of Colonel Joshua Chamberlain on the Union left at Little Round Top earlier in the afternoon of July 2.
Parker Hills, a retired military officer and the author of a tour guide to the Vicksburg Campaign has prepared introductory and supplemental material to the transcripts from Bearss' tours. Hills' materials add a great deal to the book. This is an outstanding book which added to my knowledge of and passion for the Civil War. It will be of most interest to readers who already know the battlefields and who want to hear the unique voice of Ed Bearss.
Robin Friedman
Re: What book are you reading?
Originally Posted by Xiahou
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