We have an ongoing video series on our YouTube Channel called From Cover to Cover where we read a book on a subject and then pair that with a discussion of the book while covering a few games also on the subject. In this tenth entry in the series, Alexander takes a look at The Civil War: A Narrative Volume I written by Shelby Foote. He then discusses a few games including Great Campaigns of the American Civil War: On To Richmond The Union Strikes South from Multi-Man Publishing, GCACW: Stonewall Jackson’s Way II: Battles of Bull Run from Multi-Man Publishing, For the People from GMT Games and Battle Hymn: Volume I – Gettysburg & Pea Ridge from Compass Games.
-Grant
The Players' Aid 
Alexander,
Welcome to your journey!
I realize you have started with Shelby Foote, but, I always preferred Bruce Catton finding him a better story teller. I own and have enjoyed reading his This Hallowed Ground (Gettysburg), the 3 volume The Centennial History of the Civil War, the 3 volume The Army of the Potomac and the incredible The American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War. As much of his work was done in the 1960s, they might be hard to locate. If you can find any of them, I know you will enjoy his work.
Also, for gaming enjoyment, check out the website for Revolution Games and click the tag at the top of the page for the announcement of Gettysburg: the First Day due to publish in June 2025.
Enjoy!
Rich Jennings
LikeLiked by 1 person
Note that the free-to-use American Battlefield Trust site has tons of great battle maps: https://www.battlefields.org/
Even the smaller battle of Malvern Hill has 4 battle maps: an overview map, a 2:30 – 4pm map, a 4 – 6pm map, and a 6:30 – 7:30pm map.
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/maps/malvern-hill-july-1-1862-730pm-830pm
I’m reading the Foote trilogy along with the Southall Freeman’s “Lee’s Lieutenants” trilogy (A fun writer to read but obviously limited to the Eastern battles and strictly told from the CSA point of view.)
Cheers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A book that very much needs to be an audio book read by… Shelby Foote.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Probably correct on that. I think that he has passed though so that would be spooky.
LikeLike
Hi Alexander and Grant
I just wanted to comment on this book. There is some controversy about this book due to the historical line that some historians have criticised that the book supports the myth of the ‘Lost Cause’ which was used to justify the actions of the South and relegates the role of slavery as a cause of The Civil War initially to a war about state’s rights, of which one of them was to maintain slavery.
I wondered why you hadn’t raised the criticisms of these books in your analysis.
Thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have to remember that Alexander is not a natural born American and as such doesn’t necessarily understand these arguments or issues. I explained it to him a few months ago.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I also am British so you will have to tell Alexander that he is letting the side down! Lol!
LikeLiked by 1 person