Civil War Battlefields: Walking the Trails of History Hardcover – March 14, 2017 by David T. Gilbert (Author), Jeff Shaara (Foreword), Civil War Trust (Contributor) (Rizzoli)

Civil War Battlefields: Walking the Trails of History offers a new viewpoint on this important time in United States history.  Black and white photographs taken during the war are a sharp contrast to the colorful photos taken now.  Both are scattered throughout the book and often give a different perspective to the same landscape, separated by a century and a half.   Showcasing the trails gives you a better idea of the sacrifices made by the soldiers who fought on each side.  Walk the trails and breathe the air, touch the cannons, stare across an open field and imagine a wall of soldiers advancing towards you.  Look at the monuments and put a face to the name.  Walk the trails of history.While those photos are included, and are well done, the author provides more sweeping photographs showing the topography and scenery of the battlefield, giving the reader a better sense of the terrain where the battles took place and how the landscape might have appeared to the armies of the time.

Traveling from the Battle of First Manassas to Appomattox Court House, stopping along the way at nearly three dozen battlefields, the author first sets the scene at each location by laying down in stirring prose the events that took place there. Then, he selects a number of trails that you can follow through these hallowed places to not just gain a feel for the lay of the land, but to practically feel how the battles progressed.From the “First Battle of Bull Run” to Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House four years later, this book celebrates the history and scenic beauty of these hallowed grounds in a large-format, beautifully produced volume.

Explore more than thirty Civil War battlefields— from Antietam to Chancellorsville, Gettysburg to Shiloh—including the first five national battlefield parks preserved by veterans in the 1890s. Each battlefield features extensive photos of the key sites and monuments, as well as beautiful landscapes and historic archival photography. The essays enable the reader to understand each battlefield from a strategic perspective—its topography, geography, and military value—the battle’s seminal moments, and its historical significance, and guide the reader on how best to tour the grounds on foot.

With maps, rarely seen archival photos, and stunning contemporary photography, this photo- and information-packed book is an inspirational bucket list for Civil War and history buffs, as well as those who wish to walk in the literal boot steps of American history. Illustrated with 230 remarkable photographs, a mix of present-day scenics and historic Civil War-era images, this hefty, 336-page hardcover book is certain to hold the attention of those interested in the war for hours