Gary Gallagher Discusses Civil War Historian, Bruce Catton, and the Army of the Potomac Trilogy 

I'm 90 pages into "Mr Lincoln's Army", and it's an absolute joy to read.

Please keep capturing Gary's knowledge. He is a national treasure.

Feel like me and gary grew old together.i watched history channel and cspan in the 90s and listened to civil war roundtables.

Fantastic interview it is full of knowledge, tidbits and great stories. 😂

I just ordered a used copy of the "Army of the Potomac" 3 volume set, hardcover, ( printed by Doubleday early 1960s ?) by Bruce Catton for $25, including postage at ebay. So, the copies are out there for a reasonable price.

Such a Great interview with Professor Gallagher. I so enjoy his Teachings and Writings. His vast Knowledge is certainly a treasure. Something that should never be taken for granted. So thank you All who were involved.

Along with the story of the Iron Brigade going into it's last great fight (T'aint no militia...it's them damned black hat fellers" a Confederate was heard to say) Catton also made me a fan of it's original commander, John Gibbon, who as a career officer understood how important incessant drilling and creating espirit de corps was. Gibbon really made these already tough Midwesterners into the soldiers they became. In the same book a really touching story was a unit was marching into the fighting at dusk on the second day at Gettysburg and heard the Rebel yell. It really spooked them and an old lady on the side of the road (as Catton noted the regimental history 'unceremoniously called an old crone') saw how scared the men were and told the men "Don't be afraid-they're just men like you." That simple statement helped the regiment regain their nerve. Catton's innumerable little stories like this are all woven together to where you feel like you almost know the soldiers of the Army of the Potomac.

I just found your channel and I must say you and Gary have a great rapport with one another. And it’s great to see you again we both were in Purcell’s together in the mid to late 90’s . Thanks for this great content you’re doing and I hope you keep having Gary on your channel.

It just so happens that I'm reading Bruce Catton's "Mr. Lincolns Army" at this time. I agree that his narrative and evocative style are very appealing. I also remember receiving as a gift his "American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War" when I was a teenager during the 1970s. It was truly an inspirational book for me. I loved the illustrations as well as the well written prose.

As a young boy in the 1970’s I would browse a small book store every Saturday, waiting for my grandmother to finish her shopping. One day I picked up a small paperback by Bruce Catton titled A Concise History of the Civil War. I was hooked and, along with Douglas Southall Freeman, I had my favorite Civil War writers. Later, I added Gary Gallagher to my list.

Great interview. I had some reservations about re-reading the trilogy as I am admittedly a "drum and bugles" type, but having recently finished "Mr. Lincoln's Army", the writing is just extraordinary, something I didn't really appreciate 45 years ago. And the trilogy is useful as while it's lacking in tactical detail, it does capture the mood of the common soldiers who made up the Army of the Potomac. Also found myself nodding my head when Coddington was mentioned. His book is no doubt essential for anyone interested in Gettysburg, but to recommend it to someone brand new to the subject is beyond silly.

I am a bit younger than Gary, but my father was a Civil War buff before it was cool, and he got that one of the first editions of the American Heritage Centennial History of the Civil War, which led me of course to his other books, including the closest thing to an American Iliad, the Army of the Potomac Trilogy. Reading some of Catton's other civil war books, I think by the end of his Centennial History he had developed almost as much fondness for the Army of the Cumberland and its last Commander, George Thomas, as he had for the Potomac Army. As writer with a dramatic sense, I think he found the Union Army of the Tennessee, which although had setbacks, basically went from triumph to triumph under Grant & Sherman, without the tragic romance of defeat.

It was the American Heritage book AND those fantastic maps that I poured over as a kid that made me love history. My Dad paid me a penny a page to read it. That book and seeing Tora, Tora, Tora with Dad really influenced/formed my love of history.

This was an awesome interview w Gary. I most certainly enjoy what I learn from his approach to sharing history. Well done!

The American Heritage book was also my inspiration as a very young child. I then read the Army of the Potomac trilogy when I was about 12 or 13 in the 1970s. When I glance through the books now after reading much that came out later, I am still astonished at how good they remain.

I have Catton and its been sitting on my shelf for years. I am now inspired to read the Trilogy. thanks.

Dr, Gallagher the best civil war historian without question!

GG! He's a real Civil War G!

Loved this interview. I too back in 1962 bought Cantons trilogy from the book club. Still have it amongst by Civil War book collection. I also have Gary's " The Confederate War". My Mother got me hooked on the Civil War in the 60s. My great great grandfather died at Andersonville. I enjoyed the Olde Colony Civil War Roundtable for many years and we had talks by many authors and trips to battlefields. Such great memories.

The two of you appeared to enjoy expressing your opinions back and forth with each other. I read most of Catton's books. Started when I was in 6th grade in 1959, A Stillness at Appromat...you mentioned in another interview about how "tragic" the war was.....so many dead. And they were using single shot muskets! A little surprised you did not mention Ambrose. He like Catton grew up surrounded by WWII vets.

I think Catton's Centennial History was an extended reply to Edmund Wilson's "Patriotic Gore."

They are in Kindle in Overdrive / Libby

Excellent! Great interview

Are you two related?

I have at least three books by Bruce Catton which I have read. They are great. However, historical commentators in T-shirts, I have a difficult time getting past their T-shirts to really hear what these talking heads are saying. It is a cultural bias (SOB). ( have no idea why the system will not let me remove the the spaces from my last statement.

Gallagher, in a speech that is on RU-vid, not only was dismissive of Shelby Foote's Civil War trilogy, and his celebrity from the Ken Burns doc, but actually mocked him by imitating Foote's accent and implying it was put on and not genuine. The immaturity shown by that conduct indicates Gallagher isn't capable of balanced scholarship. Had he spoken in fialect in quoting others, he would have been rightly assailed for it. Commenting was not allowed on that speech video, of course.