Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era

James M. McPherson

Dec 2003 · Oxford University Press

About this ebook

Filled with fresh interpretations and information, puncturing old myths and challenging new ones, Battle Cry of Freedom will unquestionably become the standard one-volume history of the Civil War. James McPherson's fast-paced narrative fully integrates the political, social, and military events that crowded the two decades from the outbreak of one war in Mexico to the ending of another at Appomattox. Packed with drama and analytical insight, the book vividly recounts the momentous episodes that preceded the Civil War--the Dred Scott decision, the Lincoln-Douglas debates, John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry--and then moves into a masterful chronicle of the war itself--the battles, the strategic maneuvering on both sides, the politics, and the personalities. Particularly notable are McPherson's new views on such matters as the slavery expansion issue in the 1850s, the origins of the Republican Party, the causes of secession, internal dissent and anti-war opposition in the North and the South, and the reasons for the Union's victory. The book's title refers to the sentiments that informed both the Northern and Southern views of the conflict: the South seceded in the name of that freedom of self-determination and self-government for which their fathers had fought in 1776, while the North stood fast in defense of the Union founded by those fathers as the bulwark of American liberty. Eventually, the North had to grapple with the underlying cause of the war--slavery--and adopt a policy of emancipation as a second war aim. This "new birth of freedom," as Lincoln called it, constitutes the proudest legacy of America's bloodiest conflict. This authoritative volume makes sense of that vast and confusing "second American Revolution" we call the Civil War, a war that transformed a nation and expanded our heritage of liberty.

Ratings and reviews

This is probably the best one-volume Civil War book a reader can find. James McPherson was absolutely masterful in depicting Civil War from many prospective, e.g. economics- why extending the slave trade was so important to the South; why the ending of slavery was so important to the core economic philosophy to the North. James McPherson also did an outstanding job outlining the key personalities of the war. After reading this masterpiece, it is easy to understand why the North won the war under the leadership of Lincoln and why the South lost the war under Davis. This is a must read book for those who enjoy American history.

I have read it in paper back but now I wish to own the hard copy. It is not quite the same reading experience on phone or tablet as it is in its original version, with pictures and battle layouts. It is unprecedented as a one volume, in depth civil war analysis.

The mistake many an author makes in relating history is to treat it as facts, as a logical progression of this-caused-that. What McPherson does here, to staggering effect, is to relate the material in a narrative fashion, bringing the era and the personages within it to life. Themes are introduced and developed, conflicts explained and expanded, historical figures speak passionately and unironically about their beliefs so that the reader almost wishes they didn't already know how the story ends--and sometimes even gets caught up enough to forget. The facts and dates are all still there, but Battle Cry of Freedom feels closer to a novel than a history text. In short, while not slacking on detail or oversimplifying for the sake of convenience, McPherson breathes such vitality into the great epic of American history. Some have compared the Civil War to the Illiad, likening the exploits of Lee and Grant to those of Achilles and Hector. If such a telling appeals to you, give this book a try.

About the author

James M. McPherson is Edwards Professor of American History at Princeton University. His books include The Struggle for Equality, Marching Toward Freedom, and Ordeal by Fire.