Civil War books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Civil War series?"

"There are twelve books in the Civil War series, published between 1914 and 1993."

Q: "What is the first book in the Civil War series?"

"The first book in the Civil War series is Fort Sumter to Perryville, published in 1958."

Q: "What makes Foote's Civil War history different from other accounts?"

"Foote wrote as a novelist rather than an academic historian. His three-volume narrative reads like fiction, with detailed character portraits of generals and ordinary soldiers, dramatic pacing, and vivid descriptions of battles. He did not use footnotes, preferring to let the story flow without academic interruption."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Fort Sumter to Perryville	1958	Shelby Foote	N/A
2	The Civil War, Vol. 1: Fort Sumter to Perryville	1958	Shelby Foote	Buy
3	The Guns of Shiloh	1914	Shelby Foote	N/A
4	The Civil War, Vol. 2: Fredericksburg to Meridian	1963	Shelby Foote	Buy
5	The Civil War, Vol. 3: Red River to Appomattox	1974	Shelby Foote	Buy
6	The Blockade: Runners and Raiders	1983	Shelby Foote	N/A
7	Chickamauga and Other Civil War Stories	1993	Shelby Foote	Buy
8	Forward to Richmond	1983	Shelby Foote	N/A
9	War on the Mississippi: Grant’s Vicksburg Campaign	1985	Shelby Foote	N/A
10	Rebels Resurgent: Fredericksburg to Chancellorsville	1985	Shelby Foote	N/A
11	The Killing Ground: Wilderness to Cold Harbor	1986	Shelby Foote	N/A
12	Pursuit to Appomattox: The Last Battles	1987	Shelby Foote	N/A

Shelby Foote’s Civil War works span his three-volume narrative history and several companion volumes. The main trilogy (Fort Sumter to Perryville, Fredericksburg to Meridian, and Red River to Appomattox) was published between 1958 and 1974 and covers the entire war from start to finish in narrative form.

The companion volumes focus on specific aspects of the conflict. The Blockade: Runners and Raiders (1983), Forward to Richmond (1983), War on the Mississippi (1985), Rebels Resurgent (1985), The Killing Ground (1986), and Pursuit to Appomattox (1987) examine individual campaigns and theaters of the war. Chickamauga and Other Civil War Stories (1993) collects his Civil War fiction and shorter pieces. Together, these works represent the bulk of Foote’s literary output and his life’s work.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Civil War series?

There are twelve books in the Civil War series, published between 1914 and 1993.

What is the first book in the Civil War series?

The first book in the Civil War series is Fort Sumter to Perryville, published in 1958.

What makes Foote's Civil War history different from other accounts?

Foote wrote as a novelist rather than an academic historian. His three-volume narrative reads like fiction, with detailed character portraits of generals and ordinary soldiers, dramatic pacing, and vivid descriptions of battles. He did not use footnotes, preferring to let the story flow without academic interruption.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order