Gautam Mukunda wrote:
> I post a link and you don't bother to read it; curious. Well you keep your
> memories and I'll use facts.
>
> Kevin T.
>
> Me:
> Who said that? I read it. But I've also read lots of _other_ stuff about
> James Buchanan, from sources considerably more rigorous than the Grolier
> encyclopedia. McPherson's _Battle Cry of Freedom_ is a great general
> history of the Civil War. _Lincoln and the First Shot_ does a very good job
> of encapsulating the difficult situation the Buchanan left to Lincoln to
> resolve. Harry V. Jaffa's _A New Birth of Freedom: Abraham Lincoln and the
> Coming of the Civil War_ might be my favorite for its analysis of the
> intellectual currents of the time, and it has been highly recommended by
> Prof. Gienapp as well.
I'm still in the midst of the Foote - nearly finished with the
second volume (yes, I'm slow). I find that his perspective is
decidedly different than McPherson or Catton. His portraits of
Grant and Lincoln, for instance are not nearly as flattering. He
spends a good deal more time from the Southern perspective.
Naturally, in the course of a 2500+ page history he spends a good
deal more time, period.
I am thoroughly enjoying it. He characterizes well, uses the
natural suspense of the war to keep the narrative interesting, and
covers much that I have read or heard little about.
One thing that really amazes me about the Civil War is the level of
incompetence in both Armies. Lincoln's difficulties in finding a
competent General for the Army of the Potomac is well documented,
but there are many other instances of poor leadership, failure to
obey orders, ineptness and sluggishness. And almost all of them
were graduates of West Point!
--
Doug
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.zo.com/~brighto
"Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the
fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first
existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the
higher consideration." A. Lincoln's First Annual Message to
Congress, December 3, 1861.
