I have read many hundreds of Civil War books and The Fate Of War unquestionably has the most immediacy I have ever encountered. Not only are the personages selected to be extremely representative, but the author has an uncanny talent for identifying questions likely to be in the reader's mind and answering them. Examples would include how many cannon did the Federals have in the bombardment of Fredericksburg, how long did they fie, how many rounds? Schultz discusses the colorful and unusual appearance of the aurora borealis, which uniform Jackson actually wore at the battle and many other questions both major and minor. In discussing the bombardment he stages statistical facts with eyewitness experience to not only tell what happened but to make it very, very real. However, he never surrenders a clear overview of the military situation and its progression throughout he day, never loosing side of causative effects which can sometimes get lost in longer works. I regret I did not have this book in hand when I last toured the Fredericksburg Battlefield. I heartily recommend it for readers of all interest levels and suggest that anyone wishing to interest a high school student in the Civil War consider making it available to them as well. I have read the book once and I am sure that in the coming years I will read it again and again.Read full review
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