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Genealogy is the study of your family's history. I have long maintained the belief that, to understand our ancestors, we need to try and understand the forces that shaped their lives. Without a doubt, the most traumatic event, of the 19th century in America, was the Civil War. Those four years of warfare completely, and permanently, changed the American landscape. More men died in the Civil War than in any other American war except World War 2 and Vietnam. It changed the way people thought of our government, permanently closed the subject of secession, and ended slavery for all time in our nation. Over the last thirty years I have read literally hundreds of books about the Civil War.
This week I finished reading the best book I have ever read on the closing days of that tragic conflict. The book was "April 1865: The Month that Saved America," by Jay Winik. Mr. Winik has done exhaustive research into the events of this fateful month, and into the motivations of the major players involved.
His meticulous attention to every detail, thought provoking look at the decisions made by Lincoln, Grant, Lee, Johnston and Sherman, makes this book a must read for anyone that has any interest in the Civil War. I learned more about the issue of secession, in this book, than I would have ever believed there was to know. I discovered that the Civil War was not the first time that our nation faced the issue of Secession, it was merely the first time a compromise could not be reached.
I learned the thinking that went behind the decisions that preserved our Nation, and prevented the Southern forces from taking to the hills and turning America into another Yugoslavia. The Honor of the Southern Generals that disobeyed direct order from Jefferson Davis, and ended the war instead of tearing our nation apart for generations to come.
I strongly recommend buying, and reading, this book.
Adios and Keep Smiling
Bill Hocutt AKA Uncle Hiram
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