The Parent's Pharmacy: Preventing and Treating Childhood Illnesses

Book Description

When Confederate troops surrendered Vicksburg on July 4, 1863--the day after the Union victory at Gettysburg--a crucial port and rail depot for the South was lost. The Union gained control of the Mississippi River, and the Confederate territory was split in two. In a thorough yet concise study of the longest single military campaign of the Civil War, Michael B. Ballard brings new depth to our understanding of the Vicksburg campaign by considering its human as well as its military aspects.

Ballard examines soldier attitudes, guerrilla warfare, and the effects of the campaign and siege on civilians in and around Vicksburg. He also analyzes the leadership and interaction of such key figures as U.S. Grant, William T. Sherman, John Pemberton, and Joseph E. Johnston, among others. Blending strategy and tactics with the human element, Ballard reminds us that while Gettysburg has become the focal point of the history and memory of the Civil War, the outcome at Vicksburg was met with as much celebration and relief in the North as was the Gettysburg victory, and he argues that it should be viewed as equally important today.

Customer Reviews:

A popular history.......2007-01-11

Mr.Ballard's book is another popular history,it contains little if any new information excepting a defense/excuse of the CS commander Gen. Pemberton.

US Gen.Grant is given considerable credit and deservedly so. The various Union naval commanders; Farragut, Porter etc get much attention also. Mr. Ballard does do a fair job of placing credit on both side's better commanders and lambasts CS Gen. Joe Johnston constantly. He lists the manuevering and prior failures of Union forces throughout the Mississippi region but successfully does so without losing the reader.

However, detail is lacking and the writing style itself is tepid and uninspiring. Contrary to some of the other reviewers, I found the maps poorly drawn and overly cluttered. Done in one color, roads and streams litter the maps; competing with arrows listing advances and retreats and unit markers do not differ between CS/US, infantry or cavalry...an attempt to clarify this on this small maps lists various brigade/division unit commanders but without listing what side is what. Numerous misspellings imply either poor editors or poor research. He consistently describes units as "crack" outfits to the point of the reader wondering, were there any "normal" units present? Any force smaller than a battalion or regiment is listed as a patrol or roadblock. His handling of first person history, the best aspect of recent military writings, is slipshod and often generalised. Few regiments are listed and in general, brigades get the most mention in combat descriptions.

A bright spot was the emphasis on the various naval movements in and about the Vicksburg area. Union naval ability and the Confederate lack of, gets serious and well deserved attention.

Mr. Ballard's theme of the Western Theater being the war winner is well supported by many other current works. Overall, this book is no masterpiece nor is Ballard a Pfanz as a writer. Well read students of this theater will not be well served by purchase of the book but it is a fair one for general or new readers to the subject.

A good start to an important history.......2006-12-14

The newer research on the Civil War suggests that it was won in the west and that the action in the east is not what caused the end of the war. Vicksburg was the crucial campaign in the west and while this book can get bogged down in details it does a very good job of providing information. The challenge of taking this city on a hill and the importance of the navy are all well explained here. A look at what happened to the south as the war progressed is not readily apparent but if read in between the lines it is easy to see what happened. The analysis about the importance of opening up the Mississippi to union forces is very good and brings new light on a subject that needs a lot more exploring and debate.

Honest and sincere account of an inmensely important campaign.......2005-07-14

I like this book for several reasons.Number one, Mr Ballard is very sincere and called everything by its name.When it comes to describing generals and soldiers on either side of the conflict,he tells it like it is.Number two, the way Mr Ballard describes the military campaign in all its details it's terrific which helped me understand the imporatnce of every battle and the strategies involved.The only flaw in the book is really a minor one which is that sometimes the author gives too many details in things that i dont think are not that important.BUt ,in general, it's a very good book!

Excellent book on the key Civil War Battle of Vicksburg.......2005-06-24

Dr, Michael Ballard has written an excellent book on the Vicksburg Campaign. Ballard has had good mentors in his study of the Mississippi River City which fell to US Grant in July, 1863
He is has been guided by Terry Wenschel the National Park Chief Historian; read the massive three volume work by Mr. Civil
War Ed Bearss on the campaign and is a lifelong native of Mississipi who has visited Vicksburg since his youth.
Vicksburg was a complex campaign pitting the inept Northern Born Confederate General John Pemberton against the aggressive and brilliant US Grant. Grant's Union Army worked well as a team.
Even though Grant did not like McClernand he used him well in launching the blue horde against the city on the bluffs. Grant
worked well with Sherman and McPherson, Logan and others as they tried many ideas to conquer Vicksburg. Grant and David Dixon Porter worked well on coordinating army-navy operations.
Grant succeeded when his forces crossed the Mississippi to
Bruinsburg, Ms. Union victories at Port Gibson, Jackson and
most importantly Champion Hill (May 16, 1863) led to a 47 day
siege of Vicksburg which fell to Federal forces on July 4, 1863
Vicksburge the key to victory in the Western Theatre was then
put into Mr. Lincoln's pocket. The fate of the Western Confederacy was sealed.
I am surprised how little many Civil War buffs seem to know little about the Western Theatre of the War. Those whose approach has been "Virginia-centric" will find much to explore as they gaze at the Western Theatre.
Grant emerges as a tough, imaginative, never say never commander while the Confederates Pemberton and Joe Johnston wee weak and indecisive leaders. Grant's star rose in the West as Lincoln discovered the man who could beat Lee and win the war!
Ballard's book is well illustrated; the maps are clear and
easy to follow. Ballard has done his homework as the many pages of bibliography attest to his acumen. While dealing with the battles he also quotes the thoughts of civilians of Vicksburg and Misssippi who saw their society rent asunder by the blue
hordes from the north.
Ed Bearss is still the dean of Vicksburg scholars but Michael Ballard has also contributed greatly to our understanding of this vital, complex, too often overlooked campaign. This book
can be read by the buff or the neophyte with equal pleasure. Thank you Dr. Ballard for your work!

Good Book for the Libary of a Civil War Buff.......2005-02-18

This is a good book for anyone interested in studying on the Civil War. As the author mentions, this campaign to capture Vicksburg is a rather unknown period of the war and this is a good book on this campaign. It has its plusses and its minuses. On the positive side, it covers the campaign in detail with a number of human interest stories. The experiences of the citizens and soldiers who lived in Vicksburg, e.g. living in caves, the casualties, the experiences of soldiers in the hospitals (for example, he goes through the procedure that a doctor used to remove a leg - interesting although somewhat gruesome but it highlights the suffering). He is an apparent fan of Pemberton (although he recognizes his mistakes well) and not a fan of Joe Johnston (but I haven't found a Civil War writer who is...). He covers them well and also the top Union generals: Grant, Sherman and McClernand, including Grant's supposed bouts with alcohol and the feud between McClernand and Grant. This is a balanced coverage. On the minuses side, I found myself getting confused at times about what was really happening. For example, the coverage of the battles including the maps which are very confusing, which ramble about this unit and that unit going this way and that. The early book with this Confederate general and that Confederate general doing this and that is also confusing and may cause you to get you to get frustrated with the book, but stick with it. At one point, he has Pemberton in Vicksburg and needing to go to Vicksburg in the same paragraph. So, I read it again, and... huh. But then the story picks up when Grant tries one approach versus another to reach Vicksburg and decides on approaching it from the South. This is very interesting showing the chess moves between Grant, Pemberton and Johnston which Grant ultimately won. This is a good book, on a period that should be covered more. It may be confusing because unlike Gettysburg, where each writer can read the other books and build on them, there are few sources. So, I recommend it.

Vicksburg 1863: Grant clears the Mississippi (Campaign)

Average customer rating:

Vicksburg 1863: Grant clears the Mississippi (Campaign)
Alan Hankinson
Manufacturer: Osprey Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Strategy | Military | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1855323532
Release Date: 1993-09-30

Book Description

The 1863 Vicksburg campaign was to prove decisive to the outcome of the American Civil War. Known as the 'Gibraltar of the West', Vicksburg was the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River. In a masterly campaign Grant used riverboats and steamers to land his army south of the city. He then defeated the armies of Generals 'Joe' Johnston and John C. Pemberton. Pemberton allowed his force to become bottled up in Vicksburg and after an epic 47-day siege he was forced to surrender the remnants of his force to Grant on 4 July 1863, one day after Lee's defeat at Gettysburg.

The Darkest Days of the War: The Battles of Iuka and Corinth (Civil War America)

Average customer rating:

Very Good Book, But Caveat Emptor
excellent
The BEST on the Iuka-Corinth campaign!
Another Winner from Cozzens
This Guy Should Write More Books....!

The Darkest Days of the War: The Battles of Iuka and Corinth (Civil War America)
Peter Cozzens
Manufacturer: The University of North Carolina Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0807857831
Release Date: 2006-07-05

Book Description

During the late summer of 1862, Confederate forces attempted a three-pronged strategic advance into the North. The outcome of this offensive—the only coordinated Confederate attempt to carry the conflict to the enemy—was disastrous. The results at Antietam and in Kentucky are well known; the third offensive, the northern Mississippi campaign, led to the devastating and little-studied defeats at Iuka and Corinth, defeats that would open the way for Grant's attack on Vicksburg.

Peter Cozzens here presents the first book-length study of these two complex and vicious battles. Drawing on extensive primary research, he details the tactical stories of Iuka—where nearly one-third of those engaged fell—and Corinth—fought under brutally oppressive conditions—analyzing troop movements down to the regimental level. He also provides compelling portraits of Generals Grant, Rosecrans, Van Dorn, and Price, exposing the ways in which their clashing ambitions and antipathies affected the outcome of the campaign. Finally, he draws out the larger, strategic implications of the battles of Iuka and Corinth, exploring their impact on the fate of the northern Mississippi campaign, and by extension, the fate of the Confederacy.

Customer Reviews:

Very Good Book, But Caveat Emptor.......2007-05-30

This is a very good battle study of three key battles in one of the war's most overlooked theatres of operations. Cozzens has produced an excellent study of Corinth, Iuka, and Davis' Bridge, and by the end of the book has made a good case for this being a minor turning point of the war in the west.

However, there's a major caveat emptor: Cozzen's is looking to take potshots at Ulysses S. Grant, and often times covers over the mistakes or even outright malfeasance of others to make his points in that regard. Two examples come to mind. First, Cozzens ignores good evidence that Rosecrans attempted to smear Grant by having a staff member claim that Grant was drunk at Iuka. Secondly, Cozzens gives credence to Rosecrans' claim that he could have marched to Vicksburg in 6 days and easily destroyed Van Dorn's army in the process, when in reality Vicksburg was a months' march away and reinforcements were already on the way to Van Dorn.

Without the egregious Grant bashing, this book gets five stars.

excellent.......2007-03-26

I was very pleased with the purchase and the time it took to reach me. The condition of the book was excellent.

The BEST on the Iuka-Corinth campaign!.......2005-06-21

In 1862, Jefferson Davis proclaimed that there were two crucial places that the Confederacy must hold if it was to survive - Richmond, VA and Corinth, MS. While Richmond is a major focal point of the American Civil War, Corinth and Iuka, Mississippi have had little if any attention, except by those who study the western and Trans-Mississippi armies of the war.

Peter Cozzens has written THE definitive work on the battles at Iuka and Corinth in the fall of 1862. The writing is full of the facts and research that are a hallmark of Mr. Cozzen's previous efforts, and the descriptions are so vibrant that one can almost smell the gunpowder and feel the earth shake to the rumble of cannons.

Not only does Mr. Cozzens provide great detail on the battles themselves along with the Battle of Davis Bridge (Hatchie River) that followed the fight at Corinth; he provides an understanding of the importance of these battles, how they fit into the scheme of things (Van Dorn / Price were defeated at Corinth during the same week that Bragg was defeated at Perryville). We see one of the few attempts at a Confederate "Grand Strategy," but like many of the Confederate operations, this one is beset by political intrigue between Van Dorn and Price with Richmond; nebulous orders, rank insubordination and a failure to follow through on opportunities earned on the battlefield. In downtown Corinth and at Batteries Robinette and Powell, some of the bloodiest fighting of the war occurred.

Winning at Corinth allowed the Federals to control the extremely valuable north-south and east-west rail roads that crossed in downtown Corinth and set the stage for Grant's victory at Vicksburg the next summer. It deprived the Confederacy of the means to ship food, men and supplies from the Mississippi to the East by rail.

Mr. Cozzen's book served as the "bible" for the planning and execution of the huge re-enactment of the Battle of Corinth staged Oct. 1-2, 2005 near Corinth, MS.

Another Winner from Cozzens.......2004-06-17

Cozzens has written many fine books about the less well known Western Theater campaigns. The Darkest Days of the War: The Battles of Iuka and Corinth is perhaps the finest yet. It goes into great detail about 2 obscure, but ultimately important battles in the western theater. It manages to describe the battles in clear terms, set out convincing portraits of the key players and place these campaigns in context. At the same time, Cozzens avoids the pitfalls common to many Civil War books. (No, not everyone who dreams that they are going to die, dies. Its just that those dreams, when related to others, are the ones that are remembered. Cozzens doesn't treat us to the umpteenth take on this old saw).

Highly recommended.

This Guy Should Write More Books....!.......2004-04-28

Peter Cozzens is, arguably, the greatest writer today of the Western Theatre of the Civil War. I live 90 miles from Corinth and have been to many of the sites related to the Battle of Corinth of fall-1862 (and some sites from the April-May 1862 siege of the city), but never knew even the basic series of events of this battle. Not so after reading Mr. Cozzens' great book.

Of course, Cozzens brings back his great writing style and research, then adds the maps by one George Skoch, one of the best mapmakers of military history today. Along with all this, many good illustrations are spread across the book.

But this book does not only cover the Battle of Corinth; it covers the Battle of Iuka, the engagement precipitating the much larger battle at Corinth, and the Battle of Davis Bridge, which followed the Battle of Corinth.

On my most recent trip to Shiloh and Corinth in early-April, on the way home I decided to stop by the Davis Bridge Battlefield, and happily found it to be in pristine condition, and interpreted. I never would have visited the battlefield had it not been for this book.

Customer Reviews:

Another good book from Time-Life.......1999-03-16

Time-Life is dependable. This installment is readable and has great illustrations. What it lacks in detail, it makes up for in sheer entertainment and overall scope. Good introduction to the topic.

The Campaign for Vicksburg: Grant Strikes a Fatal Blow (Vicksburg Campaign)

Average customer rating:

The Campaign for Vicksburg: Grant Strikes a Fatal Blow (Vicksburg Campaign)
Edwin C. Bearss
Manufacturer: American Society for Training & Development
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

ASIN: 0890293139

Mississippi Fortress: Grant's Campaign Against Vicksburg, April - July 1863 (Boxed Wargame, Civil War Campaign Series Vol. V)

Average customer rating:

Mississippi Fortress: Grant's Campaign Against Vicksburg, April - July 1863 (Boxed Wargame, Civil War Campaign Series Vol. V)
Clash of Arms Games
Manufacturer: Clash of Arms Games
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RLSXTC

Product Description

Boxed historical game. 0990-22

Logistics during Grant's Vicksburg campaign (USAWC Military Studies Program paper)

Average customer rating:

Logistics during Grant's Vicksburg campaign (USAWC Military Studies Program paper)
Edwin L Buffington
Manufacturer: U.S. Army War College
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Average customer rating:

The Vicksburg campaign trail
Michael F Beard
Manufacturer: Historic Preservation Forum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Book Description

Who's Who in World Politics examines the careers of those individuals who have shaped the political world since 1860. Coverage is truly global; the 700-plus entries cover the most important figures of African, Australasian, European and Latin, North and South American politics. Contemporary leaders as well as historical figures are discussed, including Konrad Adenauer, Idi Amin, Ben Gurion, Winston Churchill, Bill Clinton, Ugarte Pinochet, Mother Theresa, and Emiliano Zapata.

Presented in an easily-accessible, alphabetical layout, this book will be of interest to the general reader as well as proving to be an essential guide for students and researchers alike. Who's Who in World Politics is a completely revised version of Who's Who in Modern History, with over 200 new and 50 revised entries.

Customer Reviews:

Good book for research........2000-09-15

This book was a good help for researching the history of VIPs in US and European history. However sometimes not all the information which is provided is absolutly correct within the hole Who's Who series. But it is certainly a good starting point and I would definitly recommend it.

Who's Who in World Politics: From 1860 to the Present Day.

Average customer rating:

Who's Who in World Politics: From 1860 to the Present Day.
Alan Palmer
Manufacturer: See notes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000V0L06W

Book Description

"Golf courses and course design ate for more than golfers; good courses attract birds for the enjoyment of all. Scott Gillihan shows how to effectively create and manage courses that contribute to bird conservation."— Richard M. DeGraaf, Chief Research Wildlife Biologists, USDA Forest Service

"Golf courses are habitat for birds. Scott Gillihan does a superb job describing the bird management possibilities for managers of golf courses and other habitats. May the day come when golfers in conference at the 19th hole talk about two kinds of birdies that added to the day's enjoyment."— Jack Ward Thomas, Boone and Crockett Professor of Wildlife Conservation, University of Montana

"The book will be an important reference for golf course management professionals who wish to be good stewards of birds and other wildlife on their property. The conservation philosophy and guidance that you offer should allow conscientious superintendents to establish a sound approach to bird conservation on their courses."— Thomas M. Franklin, Wildlife Policy Directory, The Wildlife Society

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books