Don't Skip the Forward

Although I often skip the forward to books, particularly ones of this length, I'm really glad I decided to read this one. McPherson really makes it clear how many of these men had served together in past conflicts--Mexican-American War and Indian Wars. They had gone through military training together, fought side-by-side, served under, and worked closely together for years. I would have missed this explanation of their involvement if I had skipped the forward. It really brought to home the relationships and explained how these men knew how the others would react that I found in KA.

I found a number of other things that were new to me in the "pre-war" information:

• Dred Scott's master was a military officer and DS married another of their slaves.
• Douglas owned property that would benefit from the transcontinental railroad and McP presents this as motivation for the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
• The F Street Mess

I was also impressed with McPherson's treatment in stressing the importance of the Panic of 1857 and how it effected the mid-term election of 1858, and the decisions that would be made before Bull Run.