Mr. Lincoln's Army

An absolute classic. Catton's prose soars. The series follows the Army of the Potomac through the war; this book covers the start of the war up through Antietam. Catton mixes thematic commentary with digressions on the histories of the major players as he follows the campaigns. He is particularly masterful exploring McClellan's meteoric rise while analyzing the complicated general's thinking.

[Mr. Lincoln's Army] is well-researched and strongly written. I've heard others mention that Shelby Foote is the better writer and that might be, but I felt Bruce Catton did a solid job and for a book that was written over 50 years ago, it had a nice contemporary feel. Catton's love and knowledge of this tempestuous time is impressive.This is the 1st book of his trilogy and covers the early years up to Antietam, which he describes hauntingly in all it's bloody horrific glory. I know there are not to many fans of General George McClellan out there but Catton paints him with a more sympathetic air, explaining his (sometimes misguided) motivations. I give Catton credit though for not letting him off the hook in the battle of Antietam. He show more hammers him pretty good. It's funny McClellan, in his own memoirs had felt that he had done an admirable job in that gruesome fiasco. How clueless is that? Highly recommended! show less

Well-written, amazing, hard to put down. Catton's ongoing commentary enhances the drama and provides some profound insights. After all the other Civil War books I've read, I finally understand why Antietam (the most chaotic and deadly battle) was a turning point in the war, and why.

Despite loving history, I've never been drawn to battle scenes till now. Catton makes them come alive and adds emotional drama and meaning. And grief. These "boys," as he calls them, have certainly lost their innocence, and their excitement about marching to war. After the battle, thousands upon thousands on both sides lay wounded in the fields all night, crying in pain and calling for help that never came. Very poignant.

This is book #1 in Catton's trilogy show more "Army of the Potomac." Now on to the next: "Glory Road" and, finally, "A Stillness at Appomattox."

Highly recommended if you want a detailed history of the Civil War. show less

Great read on the last 6-8 months of the war. Catton's storytelling feels anything but history-bookish, constantly pulling direct quotes from the mouths of soldiers. Definitely a north-bias, very rarely explaining the movements of southern armies or thoughts of their generals.

Let me be open, clear and honest here at the start - I am not a Civil War buff whatsoever. My knowledge of the Civil War comes from the old, musty lectures of History teachers in my Junior High School and High School classes - along with a single US History class early in my collegiate career. My knowledge of the Civil War is essentially truncated neatly into an relatively small understanding of why, names of primary individuals of interest, and the dates/locations of major military engagements.

This particular book that I have had in my hands for about a half a month, comes from my father. My father IS a Civil War buff. My father DOES understand much more about the Civil War then the surface edge that I comprehend. This particular book, show more and the other two books of "The Army Of The Potomac" series by Catton, were purchased by my father around the time I was born (1965) during the centennial celebration of this particular time frame of American history. I have inherited these books - along with several other Civil War books - from my father in this past year. I have looked at these books on his bookshelves in many places of residence (we were a military family - USAF - and moved quite a bit), but have never gotten the urge to pick them up to read. My forte' is Roman History, and have a couple of bookshelves cluttered with this particular topic. I was produ to obtain my father's Civil War collection, add it to my own, and now pick it up to read.

Mr. Cattons' reputation as a very skilled writer whose evocative method can literally place in the middle of the battlefields is well deserved. There were many times I could commiserate with the misery of the soldiers' on the battlefield. Given that the book is about The Army of the Potomac, its is stilted to a great degree to the story from the side of the Union. The Confederate Army is mentioned slightly, mostly in comparison points of battlefield conditions and overall morale of the combatants. Catton's true moments of genius come in the small side-stories that he pockets into paragraphs in the unfolding battle scenario. Here and there, he details a small set of details on this particular man or that particular unit. The one that stands out in my mind the most is how General R.E. Lee's Special Order #191 is found by two enlisted Union soldiers relaxing in a meadow - the orders being the paper that wrapped three cigars. Catton laments that while the story concerning what happened to the orders is a given in history, there is no recorded instance on exactly what happened to the three cigars. Little caveats such as this, make this book a sheer treasure to read. show less

Shelby Foote completely satisfied my appetite for books about the ACW for a decade or so, but it looks like I'm reading this stuff again.

This is very well-written, although it gets a little purple near the end. Very thorough on the Battle of Antietam, and good on McClellan as well.

A very positive reference to Sandburg's Lincoln biography has made me decide to revisit that.

Fascinating story and beautifully written, absolutely compelling account of the North's Army of the Potomac and the Civil War up to the terrible battle of Antietam and McClellan’s removal.