Civil War Command And Strategy: The Process Of Victory And Defeat by Archer Jones

Civil War Command And Strategy: The Process Of Victory And Defeat by Archer Jones is an attempt to analyze the strategy of the American Civil War. Jones breaks up the narrative of the war into several thematic sections. This strikes me as being a little simplistic but it does make the task of analysis easier.

The commanders of both the Union and Confederate forces were indebted to Napoleon for much of their strategic thought. Particularly the idea of turning the opposition out of an advantageous position. Much is also made of interior lines and concentration.

The one minor annoyance I have is that Jones will occasionally state something as fact without providing the evidence for the assumption. For example much is made of the myth of pursuit but it's never really explained why this is a myth.

The book contains a further reading section as well as diagrams of both civil war as well as other illuminating battles from the 19th century.

Recommended.