Civil War
American Era History Book Review: The Civil War Through The Camera
Book Title/Title Page:
The Civil War Through The Camera.
Hundreds of vivid photographs
Actually Taken in Civil War Times
Sixteen Reproductions in Color of Famous War Paintings
A Complete Illustrated History of the CIVIL WAR
By Henry W. Elson, Professor of History, Ohio University
Copyright 1912
By Patriot Publishing Co., Springfield, Mass
About This Version
The antiquarian version reviewed here is a high quality hard bound book in a large format, with beautifully decorated and framed pages, excellent quality paper and printing of text, and images, mostly actual photographs, and includes sixteen full page color reproductions of Civil War paintings. Editing and production are flawless; a modern word processing program could not have done better.
This book consists of about 260 textual pages, and 317 photographs and images, and the sixteen color prints.
Comments:
Do not be misled by the title; this is not a picture book, though it is loaded with hundreds of fascinating photographs. Published almost 50 years after the end of the Civil War, the author created a comprehensive history of the war with compelling textual style and content, and hundreds of actual photographs.
The author, Henry Elson, had plenty of factual records to research, and digest, and he had the added advantage of living and writing in an era when the Civil War was still part of living history in the minds of many people, including war veterans from both sides.
This is a complete story of the Civil War, from beginning, to end, with all the horror, in between. And the whole story is made even more vivid by the accompanying photographs.
You don’t have to know any history of the Civil War in order to read this book; this book will teach the reader, as no modern book will, about the causes, and the conduct of the War. This book tells the story of the Civil War from not only a factual, no nonsense approach, but also from a uniquely human viewpoint, in dramatic prose.
Since this book was written over 86 years ago, most people will note that the textual style, prose, grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc, are somewhat different than our modern day expectations. (This is true of many antiquarian history books of the day). The effect is to provide a interesting, and delightful snapshot of a day and time, 1912, when prose was often unabashedly exciting, and dramatic. Even though the subject is about the horror and misery of war, you will find yourself smiling at the common use of words and phrases that we think of as being over dramatic hyperbole; it seems a little hokey, at times, for our modern world, but, in that day, it was quite common, and, regardless, it added another level of enjoyment.
For instance, the following quotations, are just two examples of many dramatic phrases common throughout the book: (While reading this, I can almost imagine hearing a drum roll as the war descends upon the land.)
On the field of Shiloh, for the first time, two great American armies were to engage in a mighty struggle that would measure up to the most important in the annals of Europe. And the pity of it was that the contestants were brethren of the same household, not hereditary and unrelenting enemies.
or, another example:
A murderous fire from the batteries on the cliff poured into their ranks. Gallantly the attacking columns withstood the deluge of leaden hail and drew near the creek. A few of the more aggressive reached the opposite bank but their repulse was severe.
The fact that this book was published in 1912 does not compromise the factual integrity. I have read modern versions, and this version, and there is no lack of factual historical content. In fact, I am sure that modern works rely heavily on works such as this book. Rather than give just the cold, hard facts of the civil war, this book gives more of an insiders view of the war; the emotion filled tales of sacrifice, and destruction, and death, and deprivation, and hatred, and cruelty, and pain, are balanced by tales of honor, chivalry, kindness, and humanity, and morality, and patriotism.
I am a History Buff; I am particularly interested in American era history; of the various antiquarian American history books that I’ve read, this one is a superb original work that I’m sure has been the basis for many subsequent Civil War histories.
This book makes for compelling reading. The historical content is without equal, and, while the format is similar to a textbook, it reads more like a novel, and it is hard to put down once you have started reading it. Even if you are a Civil War expert, and you have read many books about the war, I think you will find that you will gain a whole new perspective of the war from reading and studying this book. And if you are not an expert, you will be on your way to expert-hood when you finish this book.
This is a perfect candidate for conversion to a multimedia ebook. The subject, the layout, the text, the prose, the photographs, and all the additional Civil War resources available, are the ideal components of a multimedia enhanced ebook.
If this book were a movie, I would rate it PG, mostly because of the photographs, and because the prose may be a little difficult for the younger, grammar school age kids.
On a scale of 1 to 10, this book is a 10.
The End
EBJ030309002
=================================================================
Supplemental Information:
Table of Contents:
Section 00 RECORDS WAR BETWEEN THE STATES
Section 01 BULL RUN THE VOLUNTEERS FACE FIRE
Section 02 FORT HENRY AND FORT DONELSON
Section 03 SHILOH THE FIRST GRAND BATTLE
Section 04 THE FIGHT FOR RICHMOND
Section 05 THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY
Section 06 THE SEVEN DAYS BATTLES
Section 07 CEDAR MOUNTAIN
Section 08 SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN
Section 09 ANTIETAM, OR SHARPESBURG
Section 10 STONES RIVER, OR MURFREESBORO
Section 11 FREDERICKSBURG DISASTER FOR A NEW UNION LEADER
Section 12 CHANCELLORSVILLE AND JACKSONS FLANKING MARCH
Section 13 VICKSBURG AND PORT HUDSON
Section 14 THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG THE HIGHWATER
MARK OF THE CIVIL WAR
Section 15 CHICKAMAUGA THE BLOODIEST CONFLICT IN THE WEST
Section 16 LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN
Section 17 THE BATTLE IN THE WILDERNESS
Section 18 SPOTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE
Section 19 COLD HARBOR
Section 20 TO ATLANTA
Section 21 THE LAST CONFLICTS IN THE SHENANDOAH
Section 22 THE INVESTMENT OF PETERSBURG
Section 23 SHERMANS FINAL CAMPAIGN
Section 24 THE LAST INVASION OF TENNESSEE FRANKLIN NASHVILLE
Section 25 THE SIEGE AND FALL OF PETERSBURG
Section 26 APPOMATTOX
About the Author
Learn more about this publication, and other rich sources of American era history, and antiquarian history, in general:
The Civil War Through The Camera
American Era History Publications from eBookJoint Publishing, LLC
American Era History Resources – Antiquarian History eBooks
Guns N’ Roses – Civil War (Music Video)
|
|
A Civil War Treasury of Tales & Legends HC Book 1993 VF $5.99 |
|
|
Edward Boykin – BEEFSTEAK RAID – Civil War 1960 HC/DJ $34.95 |
|
|
1890′s Union Soldiers GAR Soldiers Homesteads Claims Advertising Ink Blotter $10.49 |
|
|
The official guide to Confederate money & Civil War tok $12.15 |
|
|
1958 The Official Atlas of the Civil War Henry Commager $99.99 |
|
|
Ron Wall Miniatures SET37 American Civil War- Union Infantry Figures w/Flag LN $39.51 |
|
|
Civil War North South Carolina Georgia map $9.99 |
|
|
40 U.S. CIVIL WAR Photo Fact Cards $4.99 |
|
|
#NW7 PATRIOTIC CIVIL WAR COVER BM3147 $20.00 |
|
|
#ST479 PATRIOTIC CIVIL WAR COVER BM3149 $30.00 |
|
|
Richmond Depot Jacket, Sz 42 Hand-sewn buttonholes. $42.00 |
|
|
#ST531 PATRIOTIC CIVIL WAR COVER BM3150 $25.00 |
|
|
CT PHOTO aax-220 Civil War Uniforms $15.00 |
|
|
#CU7 VARIETY PATRIOTIC CIVIL WAR COVER BM3153 $50.00 |
|
|
#CU2 PATRIOTIC CIVIL WAR COVER BM3154 $50.00 |
|
|
Early Lot of 28 Civil War era CDV’s some with Revenue Stamps $48.89 |
|
|
#ER212A PATRIOTIC CIVIL WAR COVER BM3156 $20.00 |
|
|
100% Wool Hand-Knitted Scarf –Brown $25.00 |
|
|
VINTAGE GUM CARDS-ABC-FLAGS@CIVIL WAR NEWS CARDS- $6.15 |
|
|
1863 CIVIL WAR TOKEN “EXCHANGE” RIM DIE BREAK AMAZING SPECIMEN W/ LOW MINTAGE $59.99 |
|
|
“The Bride and the Bandit”, Civil War, John Hunt Morgan $15.99 |
|
|
Civil War Times Illustrated: Volume XIX (1980-198) (Vol $12.95 |
|
|
#ST518 PATRIOTIC CIVIL WAR COVER BM3148 $30.00 |
|
|
SHE-HULK #8 CIVIL WAR 1st PRINT 2005 SERIES! $1.75 |
|
|
RARE ORIGINAL DOUBLE SIGNED NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST RAILROAD BOND $1,500.00 |
|
|
PATRIOTIC Civil War Medal & Flags c1910 Embossed Postcard $6.63 |
|
|
Civil War USMC Officer’s Cap Insignia, Model of 1859 $24.00 |
|
|
If the South Won Gettysburg – Mark Nesbitt – Civil War Alternative History $6.99 |
|
|
WITH MY FACE TO THE ENEMY Civil War Essays COWLEY $5.18 |
|
|
US Union Army Civil War Blue Wool INFANTRY KEPI Forage Cap Hat MINT Repro BADGED $24.99 |
|
|
Civil War Chronicles with fabrics by Judie Rothermel/designer Homestead Hearth $217.28 |
|
|
REMINISCENCES OF CALIFORNIA AND THE CIVIL WAR $159.95 |
|
|
The Last Safe House by Barbara Greenwood Civil War $2.99 |
|
|
PICTORIAL WAR RECORD, BATTLES OF THE LATE CIVIL WAR VOL $2,495.00 |
|
|
1863 Civil War Token “Not One Cent” W/ Amazing Poopping Out Detail and Colors $49.99 |
|
|
1864 $1 Civil War CSA Bank Note nice Original; Hand Signed and Numbered $22.05 |
|
|
1865 LIBERTY 3 THREE CENT PIECE NICKLE COIN CIVIL WAR ERA FINE+ $20.50 |
|
|
Echo of a Distant Drum: Winslow Homer and the Civil War $49.00 |
|
|
COTTON REPLICA CIVIL WAR KEPI SOUTH CONFEDERATE HAT M $8.50 |
|
|
The Last Days of the Civil War DVD Box set NIB $5.99 |
|
|
Louis Froelich Confederate Civil War Swords CSA Weapons $59.99 |
|
|
Civil War Cap Badge Pennsylvania Fire Zouaves Company D $24.00 |
|
|
POSTCARDS GETTYSBURG PENNSYLVANIA PA POSTCARD LOT CIVIL WAR HISTORICAL SITES $4.95 |
|
|
1995 CIVIL WAR PRESTIGE PROOF SET GEM PROOF in US Mint packaging with COA $86.00 |
|
|
Texas Civil War Artifacts Collector Guide Lone Star Etc $54.00 |
|
|
Billy Yank: Uniform of the Union Army 1861-1865 Civil War Era Refence Guide $15.25 |
|
|
1860-1865 CDV Portrait Photos Clothes Fashion Styles Civil War Era Collector Ref $12.99 |
|
|
Pennsylvania Civil War Trails: The Guide to Battle Site $17.56 |
|
|
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. (NEWSPAPER) , CIVIL WAR VIRGINIA $199.95 |
|
|
Civil War Rosters – Names – Records – 70 Books on DVD $0.99 |
|
|
Bayou Classic 7485, Tripod Stand with Chain and Bag $24.00 The Tripod Stand with Chain & Tote Bag from Bayou Classic is the perfect way to cook professionally at home or on the go. It comes with a tripod stand as well as a chain and travel tote bag that fits the 49″ steel rods…. |
|
|
Summer Clearance Sale – Marine Corp Stein * the Perfect Holiday Gift – Limited Edition ! $198.00 This stein has been crafted to honor the service of the U.S. Marine Corps since their inception. The body of the stein is a smooth, black glazed, high quality stoneware decorated with a platinum wrap around design. Along the top border are the words, “The History of the U.S. Marine Corps.” The left side of the platinum design features a images of various military vehicles as well as a variety of M… |
|
|
Westland Giftware Gone with the Wind Red Dress Scarlett 10-3/4-Inch Cookie Jar $44.95 The 1939 epic remains one of the most enduring symbols of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Scarlett is resplendent in red as a cookie jar accented with the film’s logo. Makes a wonderful addition to your collection! Scarlett Cookie Jar: 10″ tall…. |
|
|
Barton Hollow $5.99 … |
|
|
Barton Hollow $8.45 2011 debut full length from the Folk/Country duo. The Civil Wars consists of John Paul White, hailing from Florence, AL and Joy Williams, originally from Santa Cruz, CA, but now residing in East Nashville. The duo’s chance meeting a year and a half ago fueled an immediate songwriting chemistry and creative synergy. Their second show ever, performed at a sold out Eddie’s Attic, was recorded and rel… |
|
|
The Head and the Heart $8.60 So many decisions in life and in the music we love can come down to a critical tug between the logic in our heads and the hot red blood beating through our hearts. Seattle s The Head and the Heart live authentically in that crux, finding joy and beauty wedged there. Their music pulses effervescently both explosively danceable and intuitively intelligent. With Americana roots and strong vocal harmo… |
|
|
Of Gods and Men (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) $27.69 The monks at the Trappist monastery in Algeria seem almost to exist outside of time, so it may be a while before we recognize the 1990s as the setting for Of Gods and Men. And old traditions cannot escape new warfare in this stirring movie, based on a true story that happened at a remote enclave of peaceful, studious priests. These Christian monks minister to the largely Muslim (and very poor) vil… |
|
|
Eleni [VHS] $14.99 VHS not a DVD of Eleni [VHS]…. |
|
|
Nathan Bedford Forrest / The Battle of Franklin & Nashville / Zouaves! (Civil War Journal II 2, Volume 6) Contains three episodes from the series: Nathan Bedford Forrest, The Battle of Franklin & Nashville, and Zouaves!… |
|
|
CSA Belt Buckle Knife (Silver) $11.19 C.S.A. Belt Buckle/Knife Overall Knife Length: 5.125″ Blade Length: 2.125″ Handle Length: 3″ Blade Material: Sharpened Stainless Steel Handle Material: Cast Metal with Lockback Mechanism All cast metal buckle with hidden slide out pocket knife. Rebel flag and civil war swords molded into the buckle. C.S.A. The Confederate States of America is molded into the front and back of this small concea… |