Richard Wheeler (1) (1922–2008)

This anthology of eyewitness accounts of the first few months of the War Between the States is a partial success. It does a good job of collecting combat narratives from both journalists and soldiers, though the former are marred by the purple prose favored by the press of the day. However, the book ultimately is unsatisfying because of its perfunctory treatment of the politics of secession--the Congresses and both Presidents are barely mentioned, and the Peace Convention not at all--and the fact that the worm's-eye-view his eyewitnesses offer of the battles are insufficient to describe how the battle as a whole was proceeding. Together with the book's great length and the poor editorial decision to not block out the quotations, including a standard location to identify who is narrating, the book is less than enjoyable reading and far from definitive on an intrinsically intriguing subject.… (meer)

Witness to Appomattox by Richard Wheeler is an unusual history in that it relies on contemporary accounts to reveal the minute details of the conflict. While no substitute for more standard histories, this book (and I assume others he has written such as [book:Witness to Gettysburg] and [book:Sword Over Richmond] does bring a very personal flavor to the account. We see the filth and suffering much more closely than we would otherwise. One touching scene records Lincoln entering Richmond, his escort vessels all running aground, his barge's tug included, and being forced to enlist rowers. They touch ground only to be besieged by blacks who had been slaves only 24 hours earlier. When being told who the man brought ashore was jubilation erupted. Lincoln's visit to General Pickett's wife was particularly poignant. They had been old friends of the Lincoln's; indeed, Lincoln had recommended Pickett's appointment to West Point. The human touch is important to history.… (meer)

This is an unusual history in that it relies on contemporary accounts to reveal the minute details of the conflict. While no substitute for more standard histories, this book (and I assume others he has written such as [book:Witness to Gettysburg] and [book:Sword Over Richmond] does bring a very personal flavor to the account. We see the filth and suffering much more closely than we would otherwise. One touching scene records Lincoln entering Richmond, his escort vessels all running aground, his barge's tug included, and being forced to enlist rowers. They touch ground only to be besieged by blacks who had been slaves only 24 hours earlier. When being told who the man brought ashore was jubilation erupted. Lincoln's visit to General Pickett's wife was particularly poignant. They had been old friends of the Lincoln's; indeed, Lincoln had recommended Pickett's appointment to West Point. The human touch is important to history.

… (meer)