1861: The Civil War Awakening by Adam Goodheart
Maybe you’re a Civil War geek (like I am). Maybe you’ve read dozens of books about the Civil War (like I have). Maybe you think you know everything there is to know about the Civil War (like I did). If that’s true, it’s only because you haven’t read 1861: The Civil War Awakening. Not just another static list of generals and battles, it’s the story of ordinary Americans living in small towns across the country and coming to the realization that they are no longer a single people, that their hearts and minds have become wildly divergent and that the violent upheaval of a civil war might be the only way to ave the nation. If you’ve ever wondered, “How could people have let the Civil War happen?” here’s your answer.
~Merrilee
BookPeople 
‘ve read a lot of the civil war books out there. It was a horrible time in our history, but I still like reading about it. Being so close to Lincoln’s roots here in Illinois encourages my reading too. Thanks for another great review and recommendation. I am just finishing up the last book you suggested – Pacific Glory. I don’t need to read the bestseller lists for suggestions anymore