Classic trilogy by the well respected authority.

A caution for this time

This three volume series has long been a standard Civil War history as seen by the victors. It is probably more accurate and more compassionate than opposing accounts written by the losing side.

Now, in recent times much of this history is being rewritten and reevaluated by political and economic powers looking for establishment of their own political and economic power.

The history will not be destroyed or cease to exist. The concern is that it will be ignored or more probably never read or studied.

Never Call Retreat is the third volume of The Centennial History of the Civil War and covers the period from 1862 through the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Using deep research Catton details the battles of the Civil War and with wry humor expounds upon the leaders and their strategies as they wage their campaigns. He examines both governments and the political climate facing both Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davies. Catton's prose is wonderful as he describes the various settings of the book. Highly recommended.

I absolutely loved this series by Catton. He focused more on the political side of the Civil War than on battles, but this perspective explains the big picture better.

This series is one of the very best Civil War histories. I was more disappointed with this book. It was too fast and skipped much. It should have been a tetralogy. The lost cause myth was mentioned almost romantically instead of squarely squashed. The writing is superbly engaging and the analysis mostly spot on , though modern scholarship has overridden certain conclusions. Catton is a master historian.

Bruce Catton’s volume 3 centennial Civil War history book “Never Call Retreat” was published by Doubleday & Company in 1965. The book covers the Civil War battles of Murfreesboro, Stone’s River Tennessee; Vicksburg Mississippi , to the ironclads battles at Charleston,and the stunning battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. Catton’s book ends with the battles that led to the fall of Richmond, Lee’s legendary retreat, and his surrender to Grant at Appomattox. Catton’s discussion of the Confederate Commission March 1865 meeting with President Lincoln; Lee’s refusal to extend the war using bushwhacking strategies, and the final reconciliations between Northern and Southern combatants are very insightful. (P)

Only the Gettysburg portion, in preparation for an upcoming trip and because my husband the historian criticized the movie "Gettysburg" as superficial and misleading. However it seemed to me that the film took much of its dialogue straight from Catton.

This trilogy is wonderful. Catton is a fantastic writer. I really enjoyed reading these books.

This took me much longer to finish than I anticipated, but was absolutely worth it. Catton provides a lot of information that I did not know previously, and some really trenchant insight into the problems facing reconstruction after the war. These challenges, in my mind, account for many of the issues that we still have today in regards to equality for everyone.

Part of the reason it took me so long to read was because I had the mass market edition. I found it at a Goodwill bookstore, and I'm glad to give them my money, but I would not recommend reading this version. The print is very small, it is printed inconsistently (sometimes the words were so far into the binding that they were tough to read), and the battle maps are pretty much unreadable. If you can find another edition, I recommend it.

Early on, Catton points out how the South was doomed from the start. He says, "The Confederacy could have an adequate army, or it could supply the army adequately; it could not conceivably do both because it did not have the resources to do both." I found this a new thought to what I have read previously. Basically, the South had to recruit so many men to be soldiers, that there were not enough left to farm the land for food to feed the soldiers (and not enough men to work in foundries to make weapons, ammunition, etc.). Knowing this, it makes it more frustrating that the war lasted as long as it did.

Catton points this out too. He says that about 2/3 of the way through the war, before Grant took over the Army of the Potomac, the war could have been ended because, for the reasons above, the South could not fight on multiple fronts. If only the North knew they should press the advantage. Jefferson Davis, Lee, and Joe Johnston, were furiously moving troops back and forth among multiple fronts (Longstreet is the hero here for the Confederates). With Hooker's troops in VA, Grant's in MS, and troops in North Carolina/GA, The North had an advantage they could not exploit, mostly because of lack of efficient means of communication. If those forces had all attacked somewhat simultaneously, the south would not have the resources to defend all three at once.

Catton spends only a few paragraphs on Lincoln's assassination, but I sense that he credits that event for why Reconstruction did not progress more than it did. Lincoln wanted nothing short than full equality for everyone. After his death, everyone was free to interpret emancipation in their own way. Some felt that slaves should be educated but not given the right to vote. Others felt that the newly free should be given assistance, others thought that freedom was more than enough for them and that those families should have to scratch out a living however they could. Reading Catton's words, and between the lines, it seems that had Lincoln lived, Reconstruction might have been fairer to the freed slaves. If it had, one wonders the impact that would have today.

Overall, brilliantly done and well told. The third of an award-winning trilogy.

A fine book but not as outstanding as his prior work, "Terrible Swift Sword", as this titles spends more time discussing politics and cabinet 'intrigues'.

Any recommendations about good books about the U.S. Civil War? I just finished reading Bruce Catton's Centennial History of the Civil War, a popular history of the war and its impact on the nation and the world. Catton shows how the North and the South diverged due to economic, social, and political changes, and how slavery triggered the war after Lincoln's election. He argues that the Union won mainly because of its superior resources and manpower, and the skill and courage of its soldiers. He uses the letters, diaries, memoirs, and reports of the soldiers and their commanders to give a personal and human perspective on the war. He also reminds us of the horrors and costs of the war, which killed more than 600,000 Americans, preserving the American Experiment.

I disagree with Catton's portrayal of Lincoln's generals as more concerned with rank and reputation than with winning the war. Catton paints Lincoln as a frustrated and helpless leader who had to deal with incompetent and insubordinate commanders. However, Lincoln was a shrewd and decisive leader who exercised his authority and shaped the strategy and direction of the war. His generals were a diverse and talented group of men who faced enormous challenges and difficulties in the war, such as logistics, terrain, weather, intelligence, politics, and morale.

Furthermore, they fought against a determined and skilled enemy who had the home advantage. They also coped with the pressure and scrutiny of the public, the press, and the government. Moreover, they faced Southern armies led by Robert E. Lee, a brilliant soldier and strategist. After four years of fighting, U.S. Grant’s relentless and coordinated attacks on multiple fronts, with an effective naval blockade, destroyed Lee’s army and ended the war.

The Centennial Trilogy was first published during the centenary, 1961-65: "The Coming Fury" covers from April 1860 through July 1861. "Terrible Swift Sword" covers August 1861 through September 1862. "Never Call Retreat" covers October 1862 through April 1865.

For my next read…Kathryn gave me “Captured Freedom” by Steve Procko, a true story of nine Union officers who escaped from a Confederate prison and their journey to the Union lines. The book reveals the hardships, dangers, and heroism of the escapees, and the kindness and courage of the enslaved people and Southern sympathizers who helped them. Kathryn’s Uncle Lee recommended “Gettysburg: The Last Invasion” by Allen C. Guelzo. I’m open to suggestions. Thanks!