Receding Tide: Vicksburg and Gettysburg- The Campaigns That Changed the Civil War - Book Review

It has been 150 years since the end of the American Civil War. But time does not diminish the fascination thousands upon thousands have for this war. The Civil War was fought between the north and south, the Union and the Confederacy, brother and brother, cousins, friends. Many times soldiers who fought together as Union soldiers before the Civil War fought against each other in the Civil War.

The Civil War started in 1861 and ended in 1865. There were over a hundred battles and skirmishes of varying sizes and intensities. Two campaigns during the Civil War happened roughly during the same time period; the Vicksburg Campaign and the Gettysburg Campaign. Receding Tide: Vicksburg and Gettysburg - The Campaigns That Changed the Civil War, written by Edwin C. Bearss and Parker Wills, tells the story of these two campaigns.

Bearss and Wills do a wonderful job of telling the story of these two campaigns. However, or probably fortunately, Bearss and Wills spend a significant amount of the book delving into the campaign of Vicksburg. More than half of the book covers the campaign of Vicksburg.

The different skirmishes and small battles that make up these two campaigns are described in detail.

The different names that each side were called throughout the Civil war were used extensively.

I, however, found fault with one thing. When Bearss and Wills tell of the Gettysburg it seems quick. At least in the first few chapters the Gettysburg Campaign is described at a glance. It wasn't until the last two chapters that Gettysburg takes a starring role.

For an avid reader of history, especially Civil War history, and a historian I applaud the authors for writing this book in this manner. Of the two campaigns the one that almost always gets the majority of the press is Gettysburg. Vicksburg is almost always talked about as an after thought.

For that matter, all battles fought in the east, especially Virginia, get more coverage than any other battles. The west gets some coverage but not as much. Battles in the south, in Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia are hardly talked about.

On a scale of 1 to 5 Stars, based on the Shelfari.com ranking, I give this 4 Stars.