Civil War Battlefields and Landmarks: A Guide to the National Park Sites (review)

BOOK reviewsi6i Civil War Battlefields and Landmarks: A Guide to the National Park Sites. Edited by Frank E. Vandiver. (New York: Random House, 1996. Pp. 160. $25.00.) Anyone seeking evidence ofAmerica's continued fascination with the Civil War need only look at the crowds that flock to the numerous battlefields maintained by the National Parks Service (NPS) or to the public's seemingly insatiable appetite for generously illustrated "coffee-table" books on the war. With Civil War Battlefields and Landmarks, Random House has produced a volume that will appeal to patrons of both. The focus of the book is Michael Golay and Elizabeth Miles Montgomery's essays on battles associated with twenty historic sites maintained by the National Parks Service. These informative and well-written narratives are enhanced by approximately 150 illustrations and photographs; sidebars containing "eyewitness " accounts, visitor information, and discussion of topics ranging from the Emancipation Proclamation to volunteer nurses; and graphs illustrating the size of the armies involved and number of casualties at each battle. Editor Frank E. Vandiver, in his general essay on the war and the factors that shaped its conduct and outcome, does an excellentjob giving the reader a broader context within which to place Golay and Montgomery's essays. The book's "Reference Section" includes general maps of the eastern and western theaters, a chronology of events, essays on "Civil War Soldiers" and "Strategy, Tactics, Weapons, and Innovations," statistics related to the featured battles, and a series of brief biographies of prominent generals. Although the book is, on the whole, successful in providing an accurate and entertaining survey ofthe war, as well as a first-rate guide to these twenty sites, there are some problems. The essay on Tupelo begins on page 132, not 130, as listed in the table of contents. In fifteen of the twenty essays, the reader is only provided with official NPS tour maps. Although of value in touring the sites, these maps are often of limited assistance to readers attempting to follow the sometimes complicated tactical and strategic movements described in the text. In addition, the book's scope is limited to sites under the management of the NPS, which means that battles such as Mill Springs and Nashville are either neglected altogether or do not receive the treatment they deserve. One may also quibble with the inclusion of Nathaniel P. Banks and Earl Van Dom, but not Henry W. Halleck or Kirby Smith, in the section of mini biographies of prominent generals. Despite these problems, Civil War Battles and Landmarks should have wide appeal to general readers, and particularly to new students ofthe war. Although clearly written for a popular market, serious scholars will also find this a delightful addition to Civil War literature. Ethan S. Rafuse University of Missouri-Kansas City ...