The first proper Civil War history I read was Catton's Centennial History, which I assumed was authoritative because of the title. Thoroughly enjoyed it, read it a few times since. So I was a bit surprised a few years ago when you referred to "uncredentialled historians".
Thanks for sharing, Ken. I am really impressed thus far with Catton's appreciation of the politics of command. He is critical of McClellan, but at the same time reveals the challenges that he faced while commanding from D.C.
And such a good writer. In historiography class, Bud Robertson read Catton's description of Grant turning south from the Wilderness as something near perfect, the best example he knew of great writing.
I am pleased to say that my ACW education began with Catton. My grandfather owned his books, including the American Heritage Illustrated History of the Civil War, my true gateway. I read the AotP trilogy as a teenager, alongside Freeman’s Lee’s Lieutenants—another trilogy that required more reading and education to truly understand in context. Catton’s literary quality alone beckons readers.
Catton’s view of the shame and defiance of a better-supplied, but defeated, army at Second Bull Run, certainly brought to mind earlier struggles at the beginning of the Second World War at places like Buna and Kasserine, where leadership failed to inspire and, well, lead, before new men arrived and events combined to alter the course.
Like all of the other comments below, I am a huge fan of Bruce Catton. Ironically, I just read the trilogy this summer. It was my third time through it. Interestingly, I finished Stillness and ran to my bookshelf to re-read the Red Badge of Courage. Together, Catton and Crane made me love studying the Civil War and American history and I can honestly say that they continue to set my heart on fire.
I first read "A Stillness at Appomattox" when I was 12 in 1958. Catton's superlative narrative instilled a lifelong interest in the Civil War era, which continues to this day. The sequence that won me over was after the battle of the Wilderness, when the Army of the Potomac could either retreat and regroup - as Hooker did after Chancellorsville, as Burnside did after Fredericksburg, as McClellan did after the Seven Days - or move further South, continuing to grapple with Lee. His description of the soldiers' reaction when they viewed Grant and his staff taking the road south seemed to demarcate the exact point when those soldiers knew they could win the war, knew that they WOULD win the war. Thrilling even now to recall reading that. Thank you, Bruce Catton.
I got hooked on reading Catton when I was looking for information on the Battle of Wilson Creek. My great-great grandfather who was in the Kansas 1st Infantry Co B was wounded there and taken prisoner. I’ve read the whole trilogy twice now. Will be interested in your take on it.
Thanks for tackling Bruce Catton's trilogy! I eagerly await your commentary on the rest of it. Back in the day, I was a real Civil War buff and eventually got around to reading all three volumes. To me, the thing that made reading Catton a positive experience was his style, and the scope of his narrative. The adjective "magisterial" comes to mind!
I foolishly waited many years to read Catton. I, perhaps to my detriment, always want the freshest takes on history. Catton’s work isn’t that, but after seeing how much an influence he was I decided to read it. I am happy I did.
It is slightly dated, but it holds up well. More importantly, his writing and ability to blend the life of the soldier into a coherent, loving history is a treat to read.
I also consider these books as a celebration of the citizen-soldier, something very much at home in the America of his time. The bulk of the volunteers of the AoP had the same motivation as the bulk of the veterans of the Second World War and of the early Cold War. That was to do the job, bear good faith, go home, and get back to being a civilian once more. I think it provided a throughline to the reader that they readily understood.
Doing this made the Civil War soldier more understandable to his audience.
Thanks for sharing. I also have a sense that Catton's interpretation of the volunteer soldier would have resonated with his readers, many of whom were undoubtedly veterans of WWII.
As a kid in Virginia you weren’t sure who those other guys “we” were fighting. Then in the early 60’s I cut my teeth on the Civil War with this trilogy. Since then I have always had a soft spot for the A of P. About 5 years ago I picked them off my book shelf and reread them. Still a great read today. It is not a history but a soldier’s story.
This was the series of books (relatively new at the time) that inspired a kid who grew up 60 mi away from Lincoln’s Tomb in Illinois to a lifelong study of the War of Rebellion. Have three first edition copies that are cherished.
I read them when I was a kid but my impression is that, as one person noted, it might be a bit dated, probably because the way history is now written has changed.
I don't think there is any question that the books are dated in certain respects, but that's one of things that makes it so interesting to read. At the same time I am impressed with his ability to deal with complicated issues such as the politics of the Union high command and the experience of the rank-and-file. Keep in mind that there was very little scholarship available on the latter at this time.
Kevin, I have an affection for Bruce Catton...something rarely, if ever said about historians. In 1963, I saw him interview Eisenhower on television. I wrote him a letter telling him how much I enjoyed it and also relating my enthusiastic interest in the Civil War. He promptly wrote me back, on American Heritage letterhead (I still have the letter) thanking me, and encouraging me to continue my exploration of that subject that we had in common. He also said that he was sending me a "book, with which I had a good deal to do, and I hope you enjoy it." A couple of weeks later, arrived the young reader's edition of This Hallowed Ground. Many of the illustrations utilized toy soldiers...I was rapt. Like my parents, Bruce Catton had a direct, and personal, influence on the direction of my life.
Again, "affection" is an unusual word when directed toward an historian.
This is the series that pulled me into the Civil War. I remember reading the Haupt passage while listening to the trains rumble over the Neabsco Creek bridge not far beyond my bedroom window. That was late '80s so, unfortunately, I don't remember much about the narrative...
I’ve never read Catton either. Now I’m getting inspired. His choice of a title “A Stillness at Appomattox” is wonderful. I can almost sense the relief just from that phrase.
The first proper Civil War history I read was Catton's Centennial History, which I assumed was authoritative because of the title. Thoroughly enjoyed it, read it a few times since. So I was a bit surprised a few years ago when you referred to "uncredentialled historians".
I'm late to the party, but This Hallowed Ground was the first serious Civil War book I ever read. My career started there.
Thanks for sharing, Ken. I am really impressed thus far with Catton's appreciation of the politics of command. He is critical of McClellan, but at the same time reveals the challenges that he faced while commanding from D.C.
And such a good writer. In historiography class, Bud Robertson read Catton's description of Grant turning south from the Wilderness as something near perfect, the best example he knew of great writing.
I am pleased to say that my ACW education began with Catton. My grandfather owned his books, including the American Heritage Illustrated History of the Civil War, my true gateway. I read the AotP trilogy as a teenager, alongside Freeman’s Lee’s Lieutenants—another trilogy that required more reading and education to truly understand in context. Catton’s literary quality alone beckons readers.
Catton’s view of the shame and defiance of a better-supplied, but defeated, army at Second Bull Run, certainly brought to mind earlier struggles at the beginning of the Second World War at places like Buna and Kasserine, where leadership failed to inspire and, well, lead, before new men arrived and events combined to alter the course.
Like all of the other comments below, I am a huge fan of Bruce Catton. Ironically, I just read the trilogy this summer. It was my third time through it. Interestingly, I finished Stillness and ran to my bookshelf to re-read the Red Badge of Courage. Together, Catton and Crane made me love studying the Civil War and American history and I can honestly say that they continue to set my heart on fire.
Thanks to all of you for sharing your personal stories about reading Catton for the first time. Really enjoying reading your comments today.
I first read "A Stillness at Appomattox" when I was 12 in 1958. Catton's superlative narrative instilled a lifelong interest in the Civil War era, which continues to this day. The sequence that won me over was after the battle of the Wilderness, when the Army of the Potomac could either retreat and regroup - as Hooker did after Chancellorsville, as Burnside did after Fredericksburg, as McClellan did after the Seven Days - or move further South, continuing to grapple with Lee. His description of the soldiers' reaction when they viewed Grant and his staff taking the road south seemed to demarcate the exact point when those soldiers knew they could win the war, knew that they WOULD win the war. Thrilling even now to recall reading that. Thank you, Bruce Catton.
I got hooked on reading Catton when I was looking for information on the Battle of Wilson Creek. My great-great grandfather who was in the Kansas 1st Infantry Co B was wounded there and taken prisoner. I’ve read the whole trilogy twice now. Will be interested in your take on it.
Thanks for tackling Bruce Catton's trilogy! I eagerly await your commentary on the rest of it. Back in the day, I was a real Civil War buff and eventually got around to reading all three volumes. To me, the thing that made reading Catton a positive experience was his style, and the scope of his narrative. The adjective "magisterial" comes to mind!
I foolishly waited many years to read Catton. I, perhaps to my detriment, always want the freshest takes on history. Catton’s work isn’t that, but after seeing how much an influence he was I decided to read it. I am happy I did.
It is slightly dated, but it holds up well. More importantly, his writing and ability to blend the life of the soldier into a coherent, loving history is a treat to read.
I also consider these books as a celebration of the citizen-soldier, something very much at home in the America of his time. The bulk of the volunteers of the AoP had the same motivation as the bulk of the veterans of the Second World War and of the early Cold War. That was to do the job, bear good faith, go home, and get back to being a civilian once more. I think it provided a throughline to the reader that they readily understood.
Doing this made the Civil War soldier more understandable to his audience.
Hi Jerry,
Thanks for sharing. I also have a sense that Catton's interpretation of the volunteer soldier would have resonated with his readers, many of whom were undoubtedly veterans of WWII.
As a kid in Virginia you weren’t sure who those other guys “we” were fighting. Then in the early 60’s I cut my teeth on the Civil War with this trilogy. Since then I have always had a soft spot for the A of P. About 5 years ago I picked them off my book shelf and reread them. Still a great read today. It is not a history but a soldier’s story.
This was the series of books (relatively new at the time) that inspired a kid who grew up 60 mi away from Lincoln’s Tomb in Illinois to a lifelong study of the War of Rebellion. Have three first edition copies that are cherished.
I read them when I was a kid but my impression is that, as one person noted, it might be a bit dated, probably because the way history is now written has changed.
Hi Brad,
I don't think there is any question that the books are dated in certain respects, but that's one of things that makes it so interesting to read. At the same time I am impressed with his ability to deal with complicated issues such as the politics of the Union high command and the experience of the rank-and-file. Keep in mind that there was very little scholarship available on the latter at this time.
I’m going from memory here but Rick Atkinson’s books on WW II remind me slightly of Catton.
Kevin, I have an affection for Bruce Catton...something rarely, if ever said about historians. In 1963, I saw him interview Eisenhower on television. I wrote him a letter telling him how much I enjoyed it and also relating my enthusiastic interest in the Civil War. He promptly wrote me back, on American Heritage letterhead (I still have the letter) thanking me, and encouraging me to continue my exploration of that subject that we had in common. He also said that he was sending me a "book, with which I had a good deal to do, and I hope you enjoy it." A couple of weeks later, arrived the young reader's edition of This Hallowed Ground. Many of the illustrations utilized toy soldiers...I was rapt. Like my parents, Bruce Catton had a direct, and personal, influence on the direction of my life.
Again, "affection" is an unusual word when directed toward an historian.
Mannie
Hi Mannie,
Great to hear from you. Thanks so much for sharing this story.
This is the series that pulled me into the Civil War. I remember reading the Haupt passage while listening to the trains rumble over the Neabsco Creek bridge not far beyond my bedroom window. That was late '80s so, unfortunately, I don't remember much about the narrative...
Catton is simply the best narrative writer of the Civil War, and his scholarship, while a bit dated today. is still outstanding. (IMO)
Yep. Agree 100%
I’ve never read Catton either. Now I’m getting inspired. His choice of a title “A Stillness at Appomattox” is wonderful. I can almost sense the relief just from that phrase.
I've heard from others that this particular book is his best.