From Booklist
The most recent entry in Almanacs of the
American Wars series is the
Civil War Almanac, by Fredriksen, author of Revolutionary War Almanac (2006). The first section is a minutely detailed day-by-day chronology that covers nearly 600 pages and includes all the events pertinent to the war. Fredriksen starts the chronology on February 1, 1860, when Democrat William F. Pennington is elected after 44 ballots, noting, “This contest highlights growing factionalism within the Democratic Party.” The chronology concludes in December 1865. Events for each day are grouped under such topics as “Diplomacy,” “Politics,” “North,” “South,” “Southwest,” and “West,” with the geographic groupings primarily referring to military movements or engagements. Following the chronology are more than 100 biographies of important military and political leaders, focusing on their contributions during the Civil War. The biographies are brief, most less than two pages, and many include black-and-white photos of the subject. A short appendix contains a selection of statistics. A final section of maps is an excellent addition and one of the strengths of this volume. A wide variety of maps, all in black and white, range from large-scale maps showing the entire Confederacy to detailed maps of all the key military engagements. The maps detailing the troop movements are particularly well done, clear, and easy to read. The volume concludes with an extensive bibliography and a thorough index. The information in this volume is both accessible and of high quality, making it an outstanding resource for any history researcher or Civil War buff. Highly recommended for academic and public library collections as a complement to resources such as Encyclopedia of the American Civil War: A Political, Social, and Military History (ABC-CLIO, 2000). --Jessica Moyer
