American Civil War Books

THE AMERICAN FLAG BOOKPLATES (Sample available)
art from a photo. Condition: NEW package of 10 bookplates made by pacaritambo books. The peel-off label stock is heavier than most bookplate materials and is matte and not glossy. We can also personalize the bookplates if you like - email us the name you want on the bookplate. They are as perfect as possible, and we feel the subject matter is much different than you can get anywhere else. 3.75" H x 3.75" W. Content: This bookplate is a version of the American Flag - with plenty of room for a name of even an inscription. Any questions or for a sample, click here to email us.
$ 3.59 + $ 2.75 first class shipping.

CIVIL WAR FLAG BOOKPLATES (Sample available)
art by unknown artist. Condition: NEW package of 10 bookplates made by pacaritambo books. The peel-off label stock is heavier than most bookplate materials and is matte and not glossy. They are as perfect as possible, and we feel the subject matter is much different than you can get anywhere else. We can also personalize the bookplates if you like - just email us with the name. 3.0" wide x 3.5" high. Content: Two American Civil War flags - North & South - in red, white, & blue. Any questions or to request a sample, click here to email us.
$ 3.59 + $ 2.75 first class shipping. International shipping available - please use the drop-down menu.

THE 1862 PLOT TO KIDNAP JEFFERSON DAVIS
by Victor Vifquain. Edited by Jeffrey Smith and Phillip Thomas Tucker. B&W photo section. Condition: NEW 1999 Stackpole hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Content: Never-before-known plot to kidnap Jefferson Davis and a fresh perspective on Richmond during the Civil War. In early 1862, three Frenchmen, formerly of d'Epineuil's Zouaves, hatched a plot to ride into Richmond and capture Jefferson Davis. Using the pseudonyms Athos, Porthos, and Aramis from Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers, the young adventurers slipped into Richmond but were captured and thrown into Libby Prison. Victor Vifquain, later awarded the Medal of Honor for his valiant action at Fort Blakely, was one of the brash threesome, and he kept copious notes during the escapade. His memoir written from those notes, recently unearthed from the Nebraska Historical Society and thoroughly edited and annotated, is a stunning tale of intrigue and daring. Jeffrey Smith, a descendent of Victor Vifquain, is a history professor at Bellevue University, Nebraska. Phillip Thomas Tucker, currently the chief historian at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D. C., is the author of several books on the Civil War. [1 copy available]
$ 3.59 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

ALL AFIRE TO FIGHT: The Untold Tale of the Civil War's Ninth Texas Cavalry
by Martha L. Crabb. B&W era photos and art reproductions illustrate. Condition: NEW 2000 Post Road hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Tiny edge wear to DJ top & bottom spine. Content: Crabb's "untold tale" adds considerably and readably to knowledge of the Trans-Mississippi Confederacy. Raised in northeast Texas in fall 1861, the Ninth Texas contained few natives of the state but a great many men enthusiastic about identifying themselves with it and typically Texan in preferring to ride to war rather than walk. The regiment's career involved fighting in the Indian Territory, Arkansas, Mississippi, Georgia, and Tennessee before being furloughed to recruit back to full strength in March 1865. Although they missed a good many historic battles, the Texans saw plenty of hard fighting and almost unbelievably more hard riding, which frequently so wore out the horses that the regiment had to be dismounted. Add to those conditions the logistical shoestring on which the Confederacy fought, and it isn't wonderful that the men's health and morale suffered, though never to the point of giving up as long as there was any hope for the Confederacy. "Any reader who wants to march, or ride, alongside the Civil War soldier, to hear the rhythms of his speech, taste the spareness of his rations, feel the raggedness of his clothes, share his grim laughter, smell the sweat from the heat and his fears, will experience this immediacy in Martha Crabb's magnetically readable book." She has produced what must be called a brutal book. For all that we have learned of the Civil War, she manages to shock us anew with her Texas boys' description of death, mutilation, illness, hunger, cold, fear, loneliness--all that 1861-1865 must have been. They tell the story, and a fearful one it is. [2 copies available]
$ 31.59 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM: The Civil War Era (Pulitzer Prize Winner)
by James M. McPherson. Two B&W era photo sections plus B&W maps, drawings, and other illustrations throughout. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1989 Ballantine large soft cover, 16th printing. Tanning to page edges. Light edge wear with slight lift front cover fore edge. Interior clean and tight. Content: Published in 1988 to universal acclaim, this single-volume treatment of the Civil War quickly became recognized as the new standard in its field. James M. McPherson, who won the Pulitzer Prize for this book, impressively combines a brisk writing style with an admirable thoroughness. He covers the military aspects of the war in all of the necessary detail, and also provides a helpful framework describing the complex economic, political, and social forces behind the conflict. Perhaps more than any other book, this one belongs on the bookshelf of every Civil War buff. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 7.00 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

A Coloring Book of the CIVIL WAR
by Allan Archambault. B&W drawings by the Author. Condition: NEW 1983 Bellerophon large soft cover, no printing given. Tiny edge wear. Content: Yes, this is a kid's book. However, for research purposes, this might be of some benefit. The interesting uniforms of the different units were far more colorful than just blue and gray. Line drawings of soldiers wearing these uniforms are included along with a coloring key. Uniforms from Zouaves to Hampton's Legion to Rhode Island Detaached Militia to the Drummer Boys - they are all here. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 4.59 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

CIVIL WAR COMMANDERS [Expanded Edition]
by Dean S. Thomas. B&W era photos of the "commanders." Condition: Very good, gently pre-read c. 1990 Thomas Publications soft cover (stapled wraps), second & expanded edition, no printing given. There is light edge wear with some light scuffing (shelf wear) to the covers. Interior clean & tight. Content: The Civil War Commanders lists them alphabetically accompanied with a photo, birthplace, military academy, prewar experience, rank, major battles, and date of death. Quick reference for buffs. [1 copy available]
$ 5.00 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

The COURT MARTIAL OF ROBERT E. LEE (A Novel) (Historical Fiction)
by Duglas Savage. Condition: Very good 1995 Warner Books Trade Paperback, first printing. Tiny edgewear top cover and rubbing on the front hinge; pale spine crease. Interior tight & clean. Content: An intriguing blend of fact and fiction, this engrossing novel explores the question: What if the Confederacy called Robert E. Lee to account for his tragic failure at Gettysburg? Using a court-martial trial as the novel's centerpiece, Savage weaves an intimate portrait of Lee as a man free of the myths of history. [1 copy available]
$ 3.29 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

THE CRATER: Burnside's Assault on The Confederate Trenches, June 30, 1864
by John Cannan. B&W era photos. Condition: NEW 2002 Da Capo Press soft cover, first printing. 2 pages have shelfwear from the book being shoved back into the shelf carelessly. Not bad, but there. Content: Reviewer: "The infamous battle of The Crater, July 30, 1864, was one of the biggest "what ifs" of the Civil War; had the assault succeeded, and a breakthrough to Petersburg effected, the war would likely have ended much sooner than it did. But apathy on the part of Grant and Meade, pettiness and insubordination on the part of Burnside, questionable leadership on the field, and the unforseen obstacle that The Crater itself ended up being, all played a part turning the potention stalemate-ending breakthrough into a humiliating defeat for the Union. The author covers all of these aspects in a lucid manner, making this an excellent book for those who want a concise overview of this significant event in the Seige of Petersburg. The only real fault is that the book was not better proofed; as a result, there are a few awkward sentences and grammatical errors." Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 3.39 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

THE DAMNED RED FLAGS OF REBELLION: The Confederate Battle Flag at Gettysburg
by Richard Rollins. B&W era photos & art plus a color photo section of the "red flags." Condition: NEW 1997 Rank & File Trade Paperback, first paperback edition. Content: The Confederate battle flag was arguably the most powerful symbol produced during the Civil War. Confederate flags incorporated the language of color, shape, design, and inscription, weaving them into a new icon that offered a material and highly visible representation of the differences between North and South. In this unique study, Richard Rollins outlines the meaning Confederate battle flags had for both sides, details their deep roots in the American experience, and analyzes their use in combat. A special section includes 41 full-color photographs of flags captured during the Gettysburg campaign. Reviewer: "The Confederate Battle Flag came to symbolize for both sides the Southern struggle for independence, and gained a place in the hearts of Southerners that time, and misuse can never erase. Aside from symbolic value, regimental colors had a tactical function as well; the vicinity of the flag being the hottest and most dangerous place on the field, and the locus of that quaint and discredited nineteenth-century notion; military glory. In this excellent study Rollins chronicles the history of Confederate flags and in particular the 42 battle flags captured during the Gettysburg campaign. Each has a story of its own, and Rollins tells it thoroughly and compellingly, with maps, diagrams, admirably clear narrative, and a color photo of the flag as it appears today. A bonus is Rollins' illuminating essay on the heart, mind, and culture of the Southern soldier, which alone makes the book worthwhile. A fine production; highly recommended for all Civil War students, and especially anyone seeking understanding of the Confederate Battle Flag and its meaning." Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 7.49 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

GETTYSBURG REQUIEM: The Life And Lost Causes Of Confederate Colonel William C. Oates
by Glenn W. LaFantasie. Two B&W era photo sections. Condition: NEW 2006 Oxford Univ. Press large Trade Paperback, first printing. Tiny edge wear to bottom front cover corner tip. Content: Leading Alabama's 15th regiment in the final charge up Little Round Top on July 2, 1863, was the supreme moment for Confederate colonel Oates, though he retreated after meeting bloody resistance. LaFantasie does not claim his subject is undeservedly neglected, but he finds enough other highlights to justify this biography of the hot-tempered, brave, sexist and implacably racist 19th-century Southern white male. Born poor, Oates managed to educate himself well enough to pass the bar. After secession, he recruited a company and went to war, fighting with great courage and perhaps too little judgment, returning home in 1864 when he lost an arm. Despite Alabama's struggling postwar economy, Oates's legal practice made him wealthy with suspicious rapidity. An ambitious politician, he spent seven terms in Congress, served as governor during the 1890s and as a general in the Spanish-American War. LaFantasie spends too much time reminding readers that abusing blacks, oppressing women and exploiting the poor were acceptable in Oates's circle, and he is positively clairvoyant in his ability to read Oates's thoughts and describe his emotional reactions. Though most readers will agree Oates deserves his obscurity, his life still makes for an engaging biography. [1 copy available]
$ 5.49 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

THE LAST DAYS OF JACKSON
by Ralph Happel. 3-tone maps and drawings plus B&W era photos. Condition: UNREAD 1992 reprint (very new - probably a 2000+ reprint) US Park Service Trade paperback, no printing given. Very pale tag removal mark. Content: This is a well-written, short (63 pages) biogrpahy of the great Stonewall Jackson and his military career. Published by the National Park Service for sale at the Stonewall Jackson shrine. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 3.59 + $ 3.19 media shipping. Priority shipping available.

PETERSBURG (Sieges That Changed the World series)
by Bruce L. Brager. Sepia era photographs with B&W maps. Condition: NEW 2003 Chelsea House Trade Paperback, first printing. Content: Reviewer: "The siege of Petersburg was the final battle of the American Civil War and nearly everyone who took part in it knew that to be the case. As Brager points out several times, even the foot soldiers understood that if the Union forces were to prevail and take control of Petersburg, the Confederacy would be no more. Sherman had taken Atlanta and had reached the Atlantic and was slowly turning his mighty army northward. Fortunately for the Union side, they had finally settled on a General that knew how to fight and win the war. Ulysses S. Grant was not as imaginative as his counterpart Robert E. Lee, but he understood that he had resources and staying power that Lee lacked. Therefore, he kept the pressure on, wearing down the armies of Lee until there was nothing left. Unfortunately for the Union side, Grant took control of the Army of the Potomac much too late to execute a quick end to the war. This story opens as the Union siege of Petersburg, Virginia begins in June, 1864 and moves through until the Lee surrender in April, 1865. The lengthy battle was not a siege in the traditional sense, the battle line extended over thirty miles and there was some significant movement of forces. As many historians have pointed out, it was a harbinger of the stationary carnage of the western front in the First World War. If the battle had taken place earlier, before the Confederacy was worn down, it would have been an accurate prelude. Even then, it took nearly a year for the more powerful Union forces to win the battle. This is a book of historical relevance, because it not only describes the battle in detail but from it you can see what was to come. There were opportunities for a quick victory and an end to the war, unfortunately there was no commander on the Union side with the daring to take advantage of it. Those opportunities are explained, along with the specifics as to why they were missed and the reasons why the victory took so long to achieve." Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 3.59 + $ 3.09 media shipping. Priority shipping available.

RAIDERS AND BLOCKADERS: The American Civil War Afloat
by William N. Stil, Jr.; John M. Taylor; and Norman C. Delaney. B&W era photos illustrate. Condition: NEW 2000 Brassey's Trade Paperback, first printing. Content: Ironclads, sailing ships, and valor on the High Seas. These 19 vignettes by three distinguished naval historians offer fascinating descriptions of the Union and Confederate navies. Alternating chapters on commanders, ships in action, naval technology, commerce raiders, the blockade, and the Jack Tars of North and South provide multiple perspectives on the Civil War afloat. Naval actions played an important but neglected part in the Civil War, this stimulating book remedies part of that neglect. - James McPherson. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 4.49 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE (Illustrated)
by Stephen Crane. Illustrated with B&W and sepia civil war era photos & art work. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1974 Washington Square paperback, third printing. Edge wear with moderate tanning to page edges. Content: Everyone knows the story of this historical novel, so I won't bore you. I will say that the addition of the B&W era photos makes this edition special. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 2.59 + $ 2.94 media shipping. Priority shipping available.

TESTAMENT: A Soldier's Story of the Civil War
by Benson Bobrick. B&W map & photo of Baker. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, Simon & Schuster hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition, first printing. Problem: Gift inscription on loose end page. Content: The soldier of this valuable book is Bobrick's great-grandfather, Benjamin ("Webb") Baker, of the 25th Illinois. Growing up in rural Charleston, Illinois, Webb enlisted in 1861 and served a full three years. He saw a great deal of action in the western theater, including Pea Ridge, Perryville, Stone's River, Chickamauga, and the Atlanta campaign, as well as a lot of hard marching, short rations, bureaucracy, delayed pay, and officers and comrades who were as menacing as the rebels. He also lost some use of his left arm to wounds, and a brother and a stepbrother to death, but somehow managed not to lose weight, even on army rations. Bobrick weaves excerpts from Baker's expressive letters, most of them addressed to his mother, into his own excellent narrative continuum that conveys Baker's milieu and the progress of the war so clearly that even readers new to the subjects should be engrossed. Complete texts of the letters constitute part two of this worthy, betimes heart-rending addition to the Civil War literature. [1 copy available]
$ 4.49 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

ULYSSES: A NOVEL (Biographical Novel) (SIGNED COPY)
by Robert Skinin. Condition: Gently pre-read 1994 St. Martin's Press hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition, first printing. SIGNED BY AUTHOR ON loose end page. DJ shows small edgewear bottom spine. Content: Historical novelist Skimin (whose Chikara won the Ohiana Book Award in 1984) divides this uneven but generally successful life of Ulysses S. Grant into three parts: Grant's West Point beginnings and early forays in the Mexican War, which established him as a soldier to be reckoned with; his illustrious career as a Union general; his political career, including two terms as president. While the dialogue and characterizations of Grant's colleagues, wife and family are sometimes pedestrian, Skimin keeps events moving briskly and sketches background details of the developing strains in Grant's personality. Though he adds little to existing accounts of the Civil War years, his depiction is absorbing, and the Mexican material is valuable because of its relative obscurity. The narrative really comes alive in considering Grant's later decades, however; the tales of his difficulties during Reconstruction are replete with compelling historical detail, and the final chapters, dealing with the cancer-riddled Grant's attempts to finish his biography under the tutelage of Samuel Clemens, are heart-wrenching. [1 copy available]
$ 6.49 + $ 3.39 media shipping.