Encyclopedia of the American Civil War: A Political, Social, and Military History (review)

It is a pleasure to be able to comment on this Civil War encyclopedia. Consisting of over 1,600 entries (with appropriate bibliographical information for each one), written by over 300 authors, with 500 appropriate illustrations, 75 newly created clearly readable maps, 250 primary source documents, a chronology of the war, a glossary, a bibliography, and a thorough index and an excellent cross-referencing system, this encyclopedia is a model for what a reference book should be.

David and Jeanne Heidler, already accomplished historians before they tackled this task, have done an excellent job of organizing this project, eliciting the aid of a competent corps of contributors and making sure the job was completed in a reasonable time. They had to write a large number of the essays themselves, no doubt to make up for delinquent authors. This encyclopedia is a monument to their talents and dedication.

The entries cover a full range of Civil War topics from the first entry, Union officer Henry Larcom Abbot, to the last entry, the Zouaves. In between are essays on a variety of battles and skirmishes, a host of Union and Confederate individuals, and such varied topics as: African-American Sailors, Decorations, Fortifications, Homestead Act, Mud March, Old Capitol Prison, Prigg v. Pennsylvania (1842), Southern Unionism, and Women Soldiers.

When this encyclopedia was first published, it appeared in five volumes and was expensive to purchase. Its publication in this thick one volume format at an amazingly low price (by today's book price standards) means that it will be available to a much broader audience than the original five volumes ever were.

Any professional historian or Civil War history enthusiast who owns this reference book will find, as I have, that it will be constantly at his or her fingertips. Whenever I come across a Civil War individual, event, or issue that I need quick information on or I have to refresh my memory about, I always seem to find what I need in this encyclopedia.

Interest in the American Civil War shows no signs of abating, and the publication of this important reference book will only make it easier for those wanting to learn more about these fateful four years to get about that task. This is a publication that will be helpful to the professional and the amateur, the dedicated and the casual. All of us are fortunate to have such a source available to us.