Our Favorite Books: Aaron Stoyack’s Top 5 Books

The Rifle Musket in Civil War Combat: Reality and Myth by Earl Hess

The number of battlefield casualties during the Civil War is often attributed to the use of rifled muskets. These weapons could be loaded and fired three times a minute and often had effective ranges out to 600 yards. Yet Hess makes a compelling case that these firearms had surprisingly little impact compared to their predecessors. By percentage, there is no significant deviation from earlier battles, most engagements took place at less than 100 yards, and soldiers had no knowledge of how to effectively use their weapons at greater distances. The author tackles the history of guns in European combat as far back as the 1600s, before focusing on Civil War issues of supply, logistics, and application in the hands of infantrymen.

The Three-Cornered War: The Union, The Confederacy, and Native Peoples in the Fight for the West by Megan Kate Nelson

As the title suggests, these three groups were active participants in two concurrent conflicts, one of disunion and one of incorporation. The Three-Cornered War tackles the little-examined history of the administration of and campaigns in the New Mexico Territory. It charts developments from the outbreak of war to Geronimo and the completion of the transcontinental railroad. Nelson examines these from the lens of an ensemble including generals, natives, privates, army wives, miners, and more. This book reveals that the history of New Mexico in the war spans far beyond just the battle of Glorieta Pass.

Gettysburg: The Last Invasion by Allen C. Guelzo

In this work, Guelzo provides a phenomenal overview of one of the most famous battles in American history. The narrative pulls from the experiences of both armies, the townsfolk, and political leaders to situate the engagement in the larger context of the war efforts. This book is accessible to near-beginners, with ample background as to the main players while clearly outlining moments of historical contention. It also engages with other facets of Civil War history, such as medicine, the experience of combat, and battlefield tactics that provide revelatory information to even the well-read. While the Gettysburg nut who already read a dozen books on the battle may not encounter much new information, this is, in my opinion, the best introduction to the campaign.

Frederick Douglass’s Civil War: Keeping Faith in Jubilee by David W. Blight

Biographies of the famous abolitionist abound, with Blight also contributing perhaps the seminal work on Douglass’s life and times; yet none engage as much with his impact on the conflict as this. The author begins by highlighting Douglass’ comments, both written and spoken, on developments leading up to the war in the preceding decades. His usage of rhetoric receives careful attention as symbolism, logos, and other persuasive techniques aided in his advocacy for emancipation, black recruitment, the equal treatment of African American soldiers, and the reelection of Abraham Lincoln. The narrative continues to the end of Douglass’ life, tracking his unceasing fights for equity and against the Lost Cause movement. This work demonstrates not only the tangible changes he spurred on, but his role as an architect in portraying the northern war effort as existing not only for the preservation of the Union, but for the abolition of slavery.

Breaking the Backbone of the Rebellion: The Final Battles of the Petersburg Campaign by A. Wilson Greene

As a park ranger at Pamplin Historical Park, the site of the Breakthrough at Petersburg on April 2, 1865, I have a soft spot in my heart for this book and its author, who served as our first executive director. Breaking the Backbone describes the tactical situations and individual experiences of both armies from the winter of 1864-65 until the evacuation of Petersburg on April 2. The Petersburg Campaign was the longest campaign, had the most engagements, and saw the most extensive use of fortifications of the war, but is too often skimmed after the Battle of the Crater. Greene leaves no stone unturned as the 500-plus pages are rich in their minute-by-minute description of the pivotal battles that prompted the end of the 292-day campaign and Lee’s surrender only one week later. The notes sections following each chapter are just as informative as the preceding pages, sometimes including humorous side stories, such as how the author won a bet and steak dinner from a colleague over a historical debate. It is hard to imagine a more informative read than what Greene accomplished with this book.

Part of a series.