July 3, 2007

Book of the Week: The Civil War, a Narrative--Vol. 3

Of all of the books in this series, this--the third and final volume--is my favorite, for a number of reasons.

First, in this book the North wins. Finally, we see competent generals take the helm and lead the Federal army to victory--a victory it could have won at least two years earlier. I admire the generals and fighting men of the South as much as anybody, but as a patriotic American I am partial to the north.

Second, this book describes the actions which saw the participation of the 114th New York egiment--one of whose members was Orlando Barney Monroe, my great-great grandfather.

Finally, this book relates the story of the only battle of the American Civil War fought in Brazilian territory. It was a sea battle between Union and a Confederate ships, fought in the Baiha de Todos os Santos--the port of present day Salvador. In that instance, because the Union ship violated international law by firing on the Confederate vessel within neutral waters, Brazil briefly (for a space of a few minutes) entered the war on the Confederate side--firing on the American ship from a fort on the coast. It is tantalizing to think of what might have happened had the US not been able to smooth things over with the Brazilian government.

This has been an outstanding (if a tad long) series to read. The Civil War--in all it's glory and bloodiness--has come alive to me as I have read Shelby Foote's monumental narrative.

Posted by Andrew on July 3, 2007 8:14 PM.