The War Lectures 1861-1865

This book is the first of three volumes that I have planned to write over the next few years. Since this book is a part of a larger project I feel compelled to explain some of the idiosyncrasies that exist, particularly in Lecture I because the principles, theories and corollaries of war explained in this lecture are applied to the follow-on lectures. In essence, Lecture I provides the foundation for all of the other lectures. During this first discussion I reference not only the American Civil War, but also later American wars through the Gulf Wars of 1991 and 2003. Also, within the text of the lectures of this volume, I refer to incidents that I will cover in the future. If the reader wishes to move on to the other wars, the bibliography for supplemental reading includes the sources that I will use when I discuss these future wars. However, this volume stands alone nicely, as will the others.At the beginning of each battle and campaign that I discuss in this volume, I have suggested that the readers supplement their reading with biographical sketches of some of the significant participants in the events. From my studies I have found that wars and battles are not impersonal but reflect the thinking and backgrounds of those individuals directly involved in the action. I feel that these supplemental assignments will enhance the reader's understanding of the complexities of armed conflict.Finally, this book is neither pro-war nor anti-war. Without question, war is a horrible human experience. The suffering in war is beyond the wildest imagination of the non-participant. Because of the horror and suffering, war must be reserved for only those events that threaten the vital national interests of our country. This series is a discussion to help the reader understand that war is not a romantic adventure but scars the very element of human existence. War is not an amateur's game.