American History Told by Contemporaries

Book excerpt: The ground covered by this volume includes many stirring events. It begins with the Mexican War and the consequent renewal of the slavery contest, and it leads through the exciting AFifties. Then comes the Civil War which is treated in detail; on the causes, conditions, and progress of that titanic struggle, the participants, both civil and military, speak with directness and cogency. The troubled and confused Reconstruction period is illustrated by extracts which bring out the main events and scenes; there is no attempt to restate the wearisome debates, or to bring out the details of party and personal controversy. Our forefathers did interesting things and left entertaining records. The story of our nation=s development is clearer for the suggestions made by these writers. They are prejudiced; they see but a part of what is going on; they leave many gaps; but, after all, they tell the story.The collection was selected and edited in 1900 by Albert Bushnell Hart, Professor of History at Harvard University, and a well-respected and published scholar.