Never Call Retreat

The Centennial History of the Civil War, Volume 3

By: Bruce Catton

Narrated by: Nelson Runger

The final work in this series begins in December of 1862. Four months before, the Union Army tasted long-awaited victory at the bloody battle of Antietam. Grant continued on towards Vicksburg, Mississippi. The grim battles that lay ahead would be costly: the Vicksburg campaign, Chattanooga, the Battle of the Wilderness, the Battle of Atlanta and the March to the Sea, the siege of Petersburg. There would be two and a half more years of war before Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, followed by Lincoln’s death just six days later.

©1965 Bruce Catton (P)1990 Recorded Books, LLC

The Final Phase and What It Means

This is the third volume of Bruce Catton's centennial history of the Civil War. Starting in December of 1862 with the Union disaster at Fredricksberg to Lee's surrender at Appomatox Courthouse and Lincoln's assassination 6 days later, Mr. Catton weaves together the threads of all the different theaters of the war.

Mr. Catton was actually born in 1899 and as he was growing up he talk to people who had actually served in the war. He has a deep understanding of the sacrifices that the war placed on those who served and those who were at home. He combines this with a masterful skill at story telling to produce a wonderful history of the defining moment of 19th century America.

And his focus is not just on the tremendous battles of the time, but also how President Lincoln had to deal with the politics of winning the war and putting together plans for reconstructing the country once it was apparent that the Union was going to prevail.

You will be astonished at how quickly this book is finished. I highly recommend it.

Civil War Classes Should Require this Book

This book provides a balanced history of the American Civil War. It should be the first go-to text for anyone wanting to understand the conflict. If there was any complaint I have at all, it would be that in describing military operations, sometimes, soldiers become statistics. Other than that, this/these is the best (3) CW book(s) I have read.

It's Message Still Relevant Today, Perhaps More-so

This 3 volume work is a masterpiece. Given today's political climate, it should be required reading for high school every student. We must never forget the sacrifice and waste caused by political zealots. Catton's masterwork brings the reality of war and its consequences to life in a way few authors have been able to duplicate. Read just after the presidential election of 2016, it reinforced the notion that those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them.

the details

the best history of the Civil War I have read. it should be required reading for history classes.

Excellent

Excellent series this 3rd of Cotton's series beginning with the Coming Fury. Listening gives a whole new meaning and context of the Civil War.