​Richmond Shall Not Be Given Up: The Seven Days’ Battles, June 25 – July 1, 1862
Doug Crenshaw
Savas Beatie, 2017, 192 pp., $14.95
ISBN: 978-1-61121-355-3
Image courtesy of amazon.com
 
The Emerging Civil War Series has introduced many readers across the country to specific cites of the American Civil War.  For all of the writing which has been done, I was surprised that the Seven Day’s Battles had not yet been covered.  Thanks to Doug Crenshaw, Richmond Shall Not Be Given Up is the book from that series which strives to bring an introductory treatment to the Seven Day’s Battles.  Personally, I don’t think those battles get enough attention as it is, but that is only myself as a Civil War reader.  While we focus greatly on the Battles of Antietam and Second Manassas, this book gives us some much needed information regarding the actions between the dates of June 25 to July 1, 1862
                Doug Crenshaw is a volunteer historic interpreter at the Richmond National Battlefield Park.  As a member of the Richmond Civil War Roundtable, Doug is a speaker, presenter, tour guide, and author of books on both Glendale and Fort Harrison.  He is a descendant of the Sydnor family from Beaver Dam Creek during that battle, and the Binford family, who lived in the area of Malvern Hill.  He has also written Fort Harrison and the Battle of Chaffin’s Farm,  and The Battle of Glendale: Robert E. Lee’s Lost Opportunity.
                As it is with all of the Emerging Civil War Series books, there is great appreciation for the photographs, maps, and even drawings placed on every page.  As an introductory to these engagements, they are greatly needed for those who know little.  For myself, one of the most interesting parts about the Seven Day’s Battles as a whole was when Lee took command before the conflicts.  That portion of the work was handled quite well as the narrative places a great emphasis on his leadership.  The other portion which was also handled well was the subject of General McClellan and how his own ego would be bruised in these fights.  In my own personal studies, I have found many mentions of the Seven Days Battles and I enjoyed the narrative and explanations of them more so than other parts of the book.  I felt that the narrative written by Crenshaw brought more light to the subject at hand.  As usual in the Emerging Civil War Series, there are appendices which fall into the book, only three for this installment, and also driving instructions for the reader if they were to take this volume with them to the battlefield. 
                Once again, the Emerging Civil War Series hits it out of the park with this one.  I highly recommend this book to students who wish to gain a deeper understanding of the Seven Day’s Battles and the events which would lead the fall of 1862.  There are not enough books about these engagements and I thank Crenshaw for bringing this introductory study to light here.  After reading this book, I know I will personally seek out his other works on these conflicts, hoping to gain a deeper understanding myself.  Highly Recommended!
 

​Discovering Gettysburg: An Unconventional Introduction to the Greatest Little Town in American and the Monumental Battle that Made It Famous
W. Stephan Coleman, Ill. Tim Hartman
Savas Beatie, 2017, 264 pp., $25
ISBN: 978-1-61121-353-9
Image courtesy of amazon.com
 
While something can be said for the realm of Civil War academia, there seems to be this massive subgenre which continues to fill with every year.  The books surrounding those epic three days in July, and the weeks surrounding them, are many and there is good reason for it.  No other battle has received such an epic scale of analysis, devotion, and research in the American Civil War.  Discovering Gettysburg strives to bring something different to the study surrounding it.  Not only does the book take a look at the battle, but also looks at the town, and some of the other major areas surrounding the battlefield. 
                W. Stephen Coleman is a professor of theater at the University of Pittsburg and is a specialist in Shakespeare, acting, directing, and stage combat.  He has taught for more than thirty years and has starred in such films as Silence of the Lambs.  Another role of his was of General Braddock in The War That Made American.  After his retirement, he discovered a new interest in his life: the Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg.  This book is also illustrated by Tim Hartman who is a native of Pittsburg and has been professionally acting, singing, writing, cartooning, and storytelling since 1982.  He is also an award winning political cartoonists and illustrator whose work has been widely published in newspapers.
                Discovering Gettysburg is a different book in many ways.  One of the points in the narrative which I enjoyed was the first person account of the author himself, in which he takes you along his journey, almost as if he is telling you his stories through the battle.  The book often felt as though the reader was on a personal tour with Coleman who had such passion upon pointing things out of interest.  The book also deals with the town before and after the battle, including other towns such as Cashtown.  One thing which stood out to me is that Coleman also takes a look at the Eisenhower National Historic Site which I’m not sure I’ve seen covered in other Gettysburg related works.  And possibly one of the most personal chapters which I connected with was the work on reenactors and what they do for the public involving education and the like.  Overall, this book felt very personal which I cannot say for many other books.  Coleman’s passion for this project comes through clearly in the writing and is aided by some well done illustrations.  The illustrations almost made me feel like I was reading a political cartoon in Harper’s Weekly.
                I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Gettysburg.  The way in which the narrative was written was quite unique to the brand of scholarship which is usually brought to the craft.  You can feel why Gettysburg is not only important to the author, but important to all whom it surrounds.  Through this, you can see why there are so many visitors to this pivotal site in American History.  Highly Recommended!