Fields of Honor: Pivotal Battles of the Civil War

By Edwin C. Bearss

Few historians have ever captured the drama, excitement, and tragedy of the Civil War with the headlong elan of Edwin Bearss, who has won a huge, devoted following with his extraordinary battlefield tours and eloquent soliloquies about the heroes, scoundrels, and little-known moments of a conflict that still fascinates America. Antietam, Shiloh, Gettysburg: these hallowed battles and more than a dozen more come alive as never before, rich with human interest and colorful detail culled from a lifetime of study.

Illustrated with detailed maps and archival images, this 448-page volume presents a unique narrative of the Civil War's most critical battles, translating Bearss' inimitable delivery into print. As he guides readers from the first shots at Fort Sumter to Gettysburg's bloody fields to the dignified surrender at Appomattox, his engagingly plainspoken but expert account demonstrates why he stands beside Shelby Foote, James McPherson, and Ken Burns in the front rank of modern chroniclers of the Civil War, as the Pulitzer Prize-winning McPherson himself points out in his admiring Introduction.

A must for every one of America's countless Civil War buffs, this major work will stand as an important reference and enduring legacy of a great historian for generations to come.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Sep 30, 2009
• ISBN: 9781426206207

Edwin C. Bearss

Edwin C. Bearss was a world-renowned military historian, author, preservationist, and tour guide best known for his work on the Civil War. The grievously wounded World War II Marine served as the Chief Historian for both Vicksburg National Military Park and the National Park Service, authored dozens of books and articles, and led scores of tours each year. Ed helped discover and raise the Union gunboat USS Cairo from the Yazoo River, now on display at Vicksburg National Military Park. Ed passed away at the age of 97.

Reviews for Fields of Honor

[dogberryjr · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I have had the pleasure of hearing the venerable Mr. Bearss speak on Civil War battles, and his in-depth knowledge of and passion for Civil War history is a wonder. He has a certain cadence and pattern to his speaking which actually shows up in his book Fields of Honor: Pivotal Battles of the Civil War. This is a mixed bag, though. It is good, because the reader can feel his passion and his knowledge of even the most minute details of these encounters and the bigger history around them. It is bad, however, because reading is not listening. Where a tour audience might follow from one point to the next, the reader struggles to shift so quickly between the battle at hand and some minor- yet interesting- point being made.The book is written in a conversational tone, almost as if someone followed Mr. Bearss around recording his lectures. It's rather like trying to understand a topic by reading from lecture notes. I would recommend this book as a companion to those who will be touring any of the battlefields Bearss describes.

[tzyuhas · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed my time in Edwin C. Bearss's "Fields of Honor". It reminded me of the Spring Break I spent with my grandparents touring the major Civil War battlefields of Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Bearss provides new insight into some of the most important battles in not only Civil War history but military history itself. His own experience in World War II lends itself to a wonderful narrative of how a battlefield, as he states, "feels, sounds, and smells". Throughout the work the reader can feel his own arguments and perspectives on why things happened the way they did, what decisions were made because of particular actions, and overall military engagements that changed the course of history. Though I have read several books about the Civil War, Bearss offered something new, a very rare occurrence when it comes to the overly studied subject of the war between the north and the south.The work contains wonderful maps and informative breakdowns of the major actions of battles between 1861 and 1865. Bearss also takes the time to set the stage for the conflict in analyzing events such as Harper's Ferry and the state of the Regular Army before Fort Sumter was attacked. These factors not only support his future arguments but give the reader a better sense of why things happened the way they did through the first years of the war. He explores the engagements at Fort Sumter, First Manassas (Bull Run), Shiloh, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Sherman's March through the Carolinas, and Appamattox. Each in depth look examines all aspects of the battles and analyzes the actions and outcomes on both sides, a huge commitment on the part of Bearss. I particularly enjoyed his look at Gettysburg and his thoughts on why the Army of Northern Virginia lost the most important battle in the war itself. It is no small feat to examine the inner workings of several commanders, why they make the decisions they do and how it effects the overall picture. All in all it is an interesting work that I will be referencing again and again. It would be a perfect companion to any tour of a major Civil War battlefield. Beautifully composed, I know I will be recommending it to fellow Civil War Buffs.

[sergerca · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book means well, but falls short. I've heard that Ed Bearss' tours are something not to be missed. However, reading his narration versus being with him as he walks the ground is a completely different experience. Having not been to many battlefields, it was very hard to follow just what was happening and where. The only luck I had was with the Gettysburg chapter, but that's because I've been there and have a fairly good knowledge of the battle. The below average maps are also an issue with this book. Bearss talk about minor locations in each battlefield, but most of them don't appear on the map so you have no idea where he's talking about. Bearss deep knowledge and interesting asides about the various players of each battle are great, but it's not enough to make up for the things I've already mentioned. Someone with no knowledge of the ACW, thinking this is a primer on the most important battles, would be wholly lost I'm afraid.

[csl_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've heard of Ed Bearss a few times before as a great battlefield tour guide, so I was tempted enough to grab it when I was over in England. Together he gives essentially an account of ten or so of the most critical battles during the American Civil War such as First Bull Run, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. All told he does this rather well, not from a rather good academic standpoint - as his examination is more of a popular one - but I enjoyed that enough as I liked Bearss' ample anecdotes.

[alincolnnut · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

There are countless battlefields across the American landscape, including dozens from the Civil War era. Over the years, markers have been erected on many of these battlefields to identify them and to inform people of the military significance of the location. For most people, though, the battles and events seem lost to history without a guide to tell the story of what happened there. In "Fields of Honor," longtime battlefield tour leader Ed Bearss, now Historian Emeritus of the National Park Service, tells the stories of fourteen such places. Taken from hundreds of hours of audio recordings from countless tours Bearss has led since 1991, the book offers the human drama within many of the most important battles and campaigns in the Civil War, including Gettysburg and Antietam. Bearss' ability to visualize the action and characterize the personalities of generals and privates -- and everyone in between -- is inspiring. For each battle or campaign, he is able to both offer a compelling account of the large scale battle and battle plans while also sharing numerous stories within the battle. Perhaps this appreciation comes from his own experience as a Marine who served during World War II. When coupled with Bearss' engaging storytelling and passion for the people who fought, it is nearly mesmerizing, even in print without the full benefit of hearing his unique voice and energy. The most appealing aspect of the book, particularly for those who have read widely about the Civil War, is unquestionably Bearss' even-handed approach. When describing tactical mistakes, especially the large-scale ones, he carefully explains the underlying plans which led to certain decisions. Unlike so many other authors, he never presents anyone as stupid; instead, he usually offers good context which explains how decisions -- good, bad, and otherwise -- were made by the people who had to make them. With this empathy, he offers realistic portraits of the men who struggled. Overall, the book is a treasure, filled with a lifetime of anecdotes and attention to the ebb and flow of battle. From the beginning it is unexpectedly engaging, even for someone who has visited only about half of the battlefields that Bearss describes. For those who have little interest in such things, but who have loved ones who do, it also can serve as a fine introduction to make battlegrounds seem more than empty fields with the occasional marker.

[hopespringsbiblio · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A simple declarative sentence is a joy forever. To write one is a great achievement. To read one is glorious. To read many is sublime.This is not just another book about the Civil War — that most uncivil war between the states that bled America white to free America's blacks. This is oral narrative. It is stories told by a master story-teller: a man who has gone to war, been shot at, attacked entrenched enemies on foot, been wounded, been carried from the field in shock as his own blood drenched the earth. Edwin Bearss speaks from personal knowledge.And here is the joy of his writing: it comes from his speaking. This superb collection of tales was sieved and sifted from more than 300 hours of taped battlefield tours, transcribed by a host of volunteers, superbly edited and masterfully assembled.This brief volume ought to be required reading for young historians. It will be a splendid read for anyone interested in the narrative art.

[winstonsmithlives · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fields of Honor examines 14 critical battles of the United States’ Civil War as well as John Brown’s October, 1859, raid on Harpers Ferry. Designed for the casual reader and Civil War buff, Bearss’ Fields of Honor mostly succeeds in blending interesting narrative tones with structured factual statements. The conversation tone of the work reflects Bearss years in the U.S. National Park Service and the book reads similar to a guidebook. However, there is enough fact, figures, and other details for hardcore Civil War enthusiasts. The selection of battles, including Antietam, Shiloh, Gettysburg, seems a little obvious and predictable, but Bearss does include the North Anna and Cold Harbor campaign which was a nice change from many “pivotal battle” works. A wider range of battle would have enriched the work, but when dealing with any compilation of important Civil War battles, there are many that will always, by necessity are included. Overall, Bearss’ conversational style works to draw the reader into the drama and tragic splendor of these events and is recommended for all readers.