The 10 Biggest Civil War Blunders

By: Edward H. Bonekemper III

Narrated by: Peter Berkrot

What makes the Civil War so fascinating is that it presents an endless number of "what if" scenarios - moments when the outcome of the war (and therefore world history) hinged on a single small mistake or omission.

In this audiobook, Civil War historian Edward Bonekemper highlights the 10 biggest Civil War blunders, focusing in on intimate moments of military indecision and inaction involving great generals like Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, and William T. Sherman as well as less effective generals such as George B. McClellan, Benjamin Butler, and Henry W. Halleck. Bonekemper shows how these 10 blunders significantly affected the outcome of the war, and explores how history might easily have been very different if these blunders were avoided.

©2018 Edward H. Bonekemper III (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Fascinating

As a Civil War reenactor this read has been quite a fascinating read. Very informative and engaging. This certainly gives me a lot of extra material to talk to the public about at these events. On top of that the research is great, very knowledgable .

Excellent Analysis

Bonekemper does a great job of analyzing critical errors made by both sides in the American Civil War.

Readers might be surprised to learn of Grant’s and Sherman’s command failures in the final year of the war, and how their blunders extended the war by months and ended up costing needless Union casualties.

Good rehash of major Civil War Events

If you want a good summary of major Civil War events and the prolongation of the war this is your book (audible selection.) There are some gems in this work, and the author, Edward Bonekemper III is good at taking iconic figures of the US Civil War down a notch or two, and for that he gets the credit. The performance seemed more scolding than dramatic.

Lee, Grant and Sherman - far from perfect

Great read and very well researched, with key points corroborated by some of the best historians of the War. So full of mythology, eapecially in the Sourh, in Truth Clausewitz’ “Fog of war” is a general at every turn and campaign in the American Civil War.

The narrator pulls off some good performances with voices North and South when battle reports, speeches etc are read. I enjoyed that and look forward to the next round of blunders.

Excellent analysis!

Excellent facts and analysis of crucial facts in the war. Highly recommended for anyone interested in learning more about different aspects of the Civil War.