Historical Dictionary of the Civil War
By (author) Terry L. Jones
Publication date:
15 July 2011Length of book:
1816 pagesPublisher
Scarecrow PressISBN-13: 9780810878112
The Civil War was the most traumatic event in American history, pitting Americans against one another, rending the national fabric, leaving death and devastation in its wake, and instilling an anger that has not entirely dissipated even to this day, 150 years later.
This updated and expanded two-volume second edition of the Historical Dictionary of the Civil War relates the history of this war through a chronology, an introductory essay, an extensive bibliography, and hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries on persons, places, events, institutions, battles, and campaigns. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the Civil War.
This updated and expanded two-volume second edition of the Historical Dictionary of the Civil War relates the history of this war through a chronology, an introductory essay, an extensive bibliography, and hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries on persons, places, events, institutions, battles, and campaigns. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the Civil War.
With the sesquicentennial of the War between the States at hand, it is an appropriate time for the release of the second edition of the Historical Dictionary of the Civil War, authored by Jones, a veteran Civil War scholar and professor of history at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
Jones’ work follows the general pattern of other titles in the Historical Dictionaries of War, Revolution, and Civil Unrest series. A detailed, 39-page chronology begins with the acceptance by Congress of the Missouri Compromise in 1820 and ends with the surrender of the Confederate ship Shenandoah in fall 1865. The introduction offers a concise overview of the subject, ending with a 3-page discussion of the legacy of the war. The 1,700 entries in the dictionary section are well chosen and clearly and accurately defined. From the obvious inclusions, such as Gettysburg and Robert E. Lee, to those that are more obscure, such as the ill-fated Mud March and the Quaker guns, Jones does a fine job in choosing appropriate and interesting terms to discuss. Cross-referencing is made simple by the inclusion of boldface type for terms that are mentioned within the definition of entries. For those seeking quality works regarding the war and its many facets, a splendid bibliography is available.
With approximately 50,000 books and counting and innumerable articles on various aspects of the Civil War, there is no sign that interest in the subject is waning. This reference work will appeal to both the casual reader and the advanced Civil War scholar.
Jones’ work follows the general pattern of other titles in the Historical Dictionaries of War, Revolution, and Civil Unrest series. A detailed, 39-page chronology begins with the acceptance by Congress of the Missouri Compromise in 1820 and ends with the surrender of the Confederate ship Shenandoah in fall 1865. The introduction offers a concise overview of the subject, ending with a 3-page discussion of the legacy of the war. The 1,700 entries in the dictionary section are well chosen and clearly and accurately defined. From the obvious inclusions, such as Gettysburg and Robert E. Lee, to those that are more obscure, such as the ill-fated Mud March and the Quaker guns, Jones does a fine job in choosing appropriate and interesting terms to discuss. Cross-referencing is made simple by the inclusion of boldface type for terms that are mentioned within the definition of entries. For those seeking quality works regarding the war and its many facets, a splendid bibliography is available.
With approximately 50,000 books and counting and innumerable articles on various aspects of the Civil War, there is no sign that interest in the subject is waning. This reference work will appeal to both the casual reader and the advanced Civil War scholar.