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BCR's Shelf2Life American Civil War Collection is a unique and exciting collection of pre-1923 titles focusing on the American Civil War and the people and events surrounding it. From memoirs and biographies of notable military figures to firsthand accounts of famous battles and in-depth discussions of slavery, this collection is a remarkable opportunity for scholars and historians to rediscover the experience and impact of the Civil War. The volumes contained in the collection were all written within 60 years of the end of the war, which means that most authors had living memory of it and were facing the effects of the war while writing. These firsthand accounts allow the modern reader to more fully understand the culture of both the Union and Confederacy, the politics that governed the escalation and end of the war, the personal experience of life during the Civil War, and the most difficult and polarizing question in the history of the United States: slavery. The American Civil War Collection allows new readers access to the contemporary arguments and accounts surrounding the war, and is a vital new tool in understanding this important and pivotal chapter in American history.… (more)
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The one real weakness of the memoirs in terms of historical accuracy, as pointed out in the Introduction, is the extensive quoting of Grant and others. Porter kept extensive and careful notes, but it seems questionable that he did so, for example, on horseback. Yet several times, he quotes Grant and conversations with Grant that took place on horseback or in the field under conditions that were too active to allow Porter to stop and record conversations! But even if not precisely accurate, they do give the flavor of the way Grant thought and talked. The same is true of those conversation and quotes attributed to Lincoln, although in this case it may be assumed that Porter would have had ample time to record the conversations either as they occured or right afterward.
Porter's descriptions of Lincoln are touching; his memoirs describe Lincoln as other saw him at the time as well--a man burdened by responsibility and sadness, but with a shrewd judgement of people and situations. Clearly, Porter revered Lincoln and portrays Grant and other officers as having tremendous esteem and personal affection for the President. So did the soldiers of the Army of the Potomac; Porter describes (as did others) the enthusiasm with which the rank and file greeted Lincoln on every occasion.
Porter minimized Grant's reverses and defeats; reading his account of the Battle of the Wilderness, you would think it was a Union victory. His defence of Grant's disastrous assault at Cold Harbor is nothing short of patheticly feeble, that of someone grasping at straws to save the reputation of an idolized commander who made a disastrous mistake.
Shortcomings aside, these memoirs are valuable and interesting for the portrayal of Grant as a human being, as well as a detailed and fascinating account of the day-to-day life of Grant and his staff in the field.