Vicksburg, 1863

Readable

I found this History to be both very readable, and from what i know, historically accurate. A very good read for someone who is interested in the saga, and doesn't want to get bogged down in the trivia.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Best book on any major Civil War campaign I've read

in the last 45 years. The book includes every major and minor battle and/or action on land and river during the campaign lasting well over a year (if one starts the action with the fall of Fort Donaldson Feb 1962) culminating in the capture of Vicksburg.

Also included is biographical information on those people who are involved including political, newspaper, military, and civilian figures.
This lengthy campaign is placed in context to what is happening in the eastern theater such as why re-enforcements of Calvary were not sent to Pemberton even though his lack of cavalry rendered him blind to Union troop movements.

Ten detailed maps are provided as supplements to assist in understanding the tactical situation and movements. Maps are absolutely necessary, in my opinion, in following most military history and the reader will not be disappointed.

Finally, personal accounts of those on the ground and witnessing the events are interwoven with the strategic and tactical events to give personal and human perspective to the campaign.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Inaccurate but written well

I am halfway through the hardcover version and I have come across glaring inaccuracies. Groom has written that Mississippi called a convention on whether to secede or not after the firing on Fort Sumter. Mississippi seceded January 9, 1861 well before the firing on Fort Sumter in April 1861. He writes on page 136 that Baton Rouge is on the west bank of the Mississippi River. It is on the east bank. He writes that the South¿s Maryland Campaign of 1862 ended at the village of Antietam. The village of Antietam hardly saw any fighting. It was around the town of Sharpsburg and along Antietam Creek that most of the fighting occurred. On page 176 he writes about the Jefferson Barracks in New Orleans. The Jefferson Barracks are in St. Louis, Jackson Barracks is in New Orleans. As an avid reader of history, these inaccuracies have almost made me stop reading the book. However, there are two diarist who lived near or in Vicksburg that give a detailed first person account that isn¿t found in any Civil War books that I have read. Also, Groom is a good story teller so the book is easy to read. I gave it one star because the mistakes are so egregious and I expect more out of a non-fiction book and a historian.

Compelling

This narrative is easy to read and follow. Some good stories on Grant that were not placed in the public domain at the time. Though Mr Groom delves into areas not talked about in other works he doesn't dwell too much on the "in the weeds trivia" type of stuff. It is good however for whetting the appettite of those who wish to go for that. For example, Gen Pemberton had a perplexing situation trying to decide whether to follow orders from Jeff Davis and defend Vicksburg or Joe Johnston and combine forces. Which leads to wondering as to why Johnston made the decisions he did. Overall a good companion read to other works on the topic.

Good "battle book"

I hope Winston Groom will write more civil war books. Vicksburg 1863 is a fast paced and entertaining account of the siege and surrender of the "Gibralter of the West". I had never read an account of the bender that Grant went on during the siege and that the newspapermen with the army declined to report it. Amazing!

Good but not up to his standards

The author of "Forrest Gump" takes another crack at Civil War history but comes up short of his "Shrouds of Glory," which explained how Gen. John Bell Hood, who had already lost an arm and a leg, managed to lose the Confederacy's Army of Tennessee in the last year of the war.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Very good story of a very bloody time in Americas Civil War

Groom style of writing has always been an easy read. He weaves history and fiction together in a wonderful prose of literature. I have enjoyed all his other historical novels. He has always said the his hit made him able to write history which is his true love. If you read "Vicksburg 1863" you will see that love in this work.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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