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Book Review of Battle at Bull Run: A History of the First Major Campaign of the Civil War

Battle at Bull Run: A History of the First Major Campaign of the Civil War
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While I don't think this is the most exciting book on the American Civil War, respected Civil War historian William Davis gives a full account of the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas). Plus, he explains how the battle went wrong---for both sides---and why some generals deserved more credit then they got and others deserved far less. (Something which occurred in many of our country's wars.)

Unfortunately, Davis still maintains the War wasn't about slavery, but doesn't make a major point of it in his book. This position may help explain why Davis is the only three-time winner of the Jefferson Davis Award for Civil War History.

While there are numerous maps in the books, they are often too detailed with terrain features to be easily understood.