No study of the Civil War can be complete without this work. The life and letters of the hero of Gettysburg are here masterfully compiled and edited by Meade's own son (Colonel George Meade) and grandson.This first volume presents a narrative and letters from Meade's childhood, through the Mexican War, and to the end of 1863.Though criticized by some after his victory at Gettysburg for not pursuing Lee's army, Grant considered George Meade to be one of the most suited general officers for large commands. Meade remains one of the most important figures of the American Civil War.Embroiled in the politics of the military and harsh with the press, Meade's letters to his wife are extremely valuable and revealing. And he does not hesitate to mention getting horses shot out from under him and minie-balls whistling through his hat.

"It is high time that dispute should cease as to the award due him who won the greatest battle of the war, upon which it turned, saving the nation's capital, and giving to the Rebellion a blow from which it never recovered...it remains for history to record that, from the beginning to the end of the Rebellion, it was only when Meade was chief that Lee was ever met in pitched battle and defeated on equal terms."Called in the dead of night to General Hooker's headquarters, George Meade thought he might be heading to be relieved of command or arrested. Instead, he emerged from Hooker's tent and told his aide "Well, I am in command of the Army of the Potomac." And in three days he met Lee at Gettysburg.Meade spent the rest of his life defending his actions at Gettysburg. His skillful deployment and management of the command at that battlefield was a major Union victory and the turning point of the war.In this second volume of his letters, his son and grandson present a narrative, letters to and from Meade, and letters from other participants in the battle that corroborate Meade's rightful position as the hero of Gettysburg.No study of the American Civil War is complete without this two-volume set.

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

For four decades, Winfield Scott Hancock was a serving officer in the United States Army. In this affectionate memoir by his wife Almira, you learn many details and anecdotes from Hancock's life that appear no where else. Stationed in Los Angeles before the Civil War, southern friends like Armistead, Garnett, Pickett, and a host of other military comrades whom he loved, came to ask his advice. He replied, "I can give you no advice, as I shall not fight upon the principle of State-rights, but for the Union, whole and undivided, as I do not and will not belong to a country formed of principalities. I cannot sympathize with you; you must be guided by your own convictions, and I hope you will make no mistakes.” Known to his Army colleagues as "Hancock the Superb," he was especially lauded for his leadership at the Battle of Gettysburg in the American Civil War. One military historian wrote, "No other Union general at Gettysburg dominated men by the sheer force of their presence more completely than Hancock." He was severely wounded at Gettysburg but recovered to serve again. Widely recognized for his personal integrity, Hancock's name was proffered several times for the presidency of the United States on the Democratic ticket. He ran for president in 1880 but was defeated by James Garfield. For the first time, this long-out-of-print book is available as an affordable, well-formatted book for e-readers and smartphones. Be sure to LOOK INSIDE or download a sample.

No one can read this book without coming away with a more nuanced appreciation of Grant and his abilities. Many will find a new affection for the man. If you want to understand Grant as he appeared to those closest to him, read this masterful first-hand account of Horace Porter's time on Grant's staff during the American Civil War. There is no more intimate and appealing portrait of the great general than that drawn by Porter. A keen observer of all around him and a great admirer of Grant to his dying day, Porter brings Grant to life in struggle and victory. Here we get fully dimensional anecdotes of Grant's humor, poise, anger (rare), and his thoughts on a variety of subjects from swearing to lying to naughty jokes to military tactics and strategy. In addition, Porter provides wonderful stories of the other famous men among whom he served, including William Tecumseh Sherman, Philip H. Sheridan, George Gordon Meade, George Thomas, and many, many others. Long considered one of the most important classics of Civil War literature, this is a book you are assured to read more than once. Every memoir of the American Civil War provides us with another view of the catastrophe that changed the country forever. For the first time, this long out-of-print volume is available as an affordable, well-formatted book for e-readers, tablets, and smartphones. Be sure to LOOK INSIDE by clicking the cover above or download a sample.