Donnybrook: The Battle of Bull Run, 1861 - Softcover

Detzer, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0156031434 ISBN 13: 9780156031431

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin, 2005

Synopsis

In April 1861, Confederate artillery blasted Fort Sumter into surrender. Within weeks, the Confederacy had established its capital at Richmond. On May 24, Lincoln ordered troops across the Potomac into Virginia, only a few miles from the Confederate military base near the hamlet of Manassas. A great battle was inevitable; whether this would end the war, as many expected, was the only question. On July 21, near a stream called Bull Run, the two forces fought from early morning until after dark in the first great battle of the Civil War. America would never be quite the same.

Donnybrook is the first major history of Bull Run to detail the battle from its origins through its aftermath. Using copious and remarkably detailed primary source mate-rial-including the recollections of hundreds of average soldiers-David Detzer has created an epic account of a defining moment in American history. This new paperback edition includes additional maps.

About this title

Review:

PRAISE FOR DONNYBROOK

"A far more detailed and thoughtful account of Bull Run than is found in most histories, crafted in an easy-to-read and always entertaining narrative style. This is history as it should be written."--The Seattle Times

"Detzer establishes himself as the premier historian of the war's first months, as Donnybrook follows his thoughtful, much acclaimed Allegiance. Detzer pays much attention to the rhythm of words and the use of language. The result: an elegantly written book that engages from first word to last . . . first-rate history presented with great literary merit."--American Civil War Magazine

"David Detzer is making a distinguished reputation in Civil War history writing about great openings. In Donnybrook, he gives us a marvelous account of the first great battle of the war, at Bull Run. Like his first, this second book is comprehensive, thorough, deeply researched, rich in detail, and highly readable. It is a fine account of a major passage in that great war."--John C. Waugh, author of The Class of 1846

"Detzer establishes himself as the premier historian of the war's first months, as Donnybrook follows his thoughtful, much acclaimed Allegiance."
--American Civil War

"Nearly a model of how a Civil War battle history should be written."
--Booklist

"A marvelous account. Comprehensive, thorough, deeply researched, rich in detail, and highly readable."
--John C. Waugh

"A vibrant narrative history that will appeal to a wide range of readers. Very effective and unfailingly entertaining."

--North & South Magazine

"A lucid narrative of the battle's course. A splendid portrait of the Civil War as the soldiers knew it."
--PW Online

"This is history as it should be written."
--Seattle Times

"A primer on Civil War military organization, training, and experience."
--Library Journal

From the Back Cover:

"David Detzer is making a distinguished reputation in Civil War history writing about great openings. In Donnybrook, he gives us a marvelous account of the first great battle of the war, at Bull Run. Like his first, this second book is comprehensive, thorough, deeply researched, rich in detail, and highly readable. It is a fine account of a major passage in that great war."
--John C. Waugh, author of Reelecting Lincoln
On July 21, 1861, near a stream called Bull Run, the Union and Confederate forces fought from early morning until after dark in the first great battle of the Civil War. America would never be quite the same. The 1st Battle of Bull Run introduced citizens of this country to the draft, the effects of heavy artillery, and the emotional violence of fighting your neighbor for an uncertain cause. It tested the character of men who would later dominate popular memory: Stonewall Jackson, James Longstreet, Irvin McDowell, William T. Sherman. Donnybrook is the first major history of Bull Run to detail the battle from its origins through its aftermath. David Detzer has created an epic account of a defining moment in American history.
"Detzer establishes himself as the premier historian of the war's first months. An elegantly written book that engages from first word to last . . . first-rate history presented with great literary merit." --American Civil War Magazine
"This is history as it should be written."--The Seattle Times
David Detzer is Professor Emeritus of history with Connecticut State University. He is the author of several books, including Allegiance: Fort Sumter, Charleston, and the Beginning of the Civil War. He lives in Connecticut with his wife and several dogs.

About this edition

• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0156031434
• ISBN 13: 9780156031431
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 576