I’m working out a big part of my 2010 reading list. A while back I determined to work up a presentation on the members of the West Point classes of 1861 at Bull Run and, while I’ve had no takers, I’ve decided to move ahead with that. So far, this is the list I have – if you have any other recommendations, let me know:
- Ambrose, Stephen E., Duty, Honor, Country: A History of West Point
- Hsieh, Wayne Wei-siang, West Pointers in the Civil War: The Old Army in War and Peace
- Kirshner, Ralph, The Class of 1861: Custer, Ames, and Their Classmates after West Point (I already read this one)
- McDonald, Robert M. S., Ed, Thomas Jefferson’s Military Academy: Founding West Point
- Morrison, James L., Jr., The Best School in the World: West Point, the Pre-Civil War Years, 1833-1866
- Patterson, Gerard A., Rebels from West Point: The 306 U. S. U.S. Military Academy Graduates Who Fought for the Confederacy
- Robbins, James S., Last in Their Class: Custer, Pickett, and the Goats of West Point
- Sergent, Mary Elizabeth, They Lie Forgotten: The United States Military Academy 1856-1861 Together with a Class Album for The Class of May, 1861 (Ms. Sergent also wrote a companion volume on the June class, An Unremaining Glory, but I can’t find it at a reasonable price)
- Waugh, John C., The Class of 1846: From West Point to Appomattox: Stonewall Jackson, George McClellan and their Brothers
I’ve finished up Jim Schmidt’s Lincoln’s Labels, and will start Joan Waugh’s U. S. Grant, American Hero, American Myth tonight, and then dive into the above list.
Harry Smeltzer
Bull Runnings 
Harry – It’s a shame there isn’t a theme to that reading list! Personally, I’d put “Best School…” at the top of that list…it’s terrific. Not listed, but also highly recommended are the two volumes of the “Centennial of the United States Military Academy at West Point.” A reprint is available and the originals are avaikable on archive.org. Although he is no longer there, Alan C. Aimone (http://www.thegrayduck.com/aimone/) was once a key person at the USMA archives (he helped me a lot with my own research several years ago) and I’m sure he’d be happy to help you out! Good reading to you! Jim
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Thanks for the tip, Jim. Maybe I can take this little seed you have planted and water it with cash in anticipation of a Kindle sprouting in the spring!
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Since West Point seems to be a subject of interest, I’ll recommend “West Point: A Bicentennial History” by Theodore Crackel, published by the University Press of Kansas as part of their “Modern War Studies” series. Ted is an historian who is extremely knowledgeable on the subject, having taught history there himself. He is now editor-in-chief of the “Papers of George Washington” project at the University of Virginia.
A couple of further items – he also wrote an “Illustrated History of West Point” (now out of print) back in the 90’s, and has also written the excellent “Mr. Jefferson’s Army” – a study of Jefferson’s reform of the military.
Enjoy your reading!
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Nice list. After you have read all the Civil War books on West Point a very moving read about latter day 20th Century West Point is ‘The Long Gray Line: The American Journey of West Point’s Class of 1966’ by Rick Atkinson. Very engaging and excellent book.
Chris
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Looks like a great list Harry. Have to concur with Chris in recommending Atkinson’s book.
Rene
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If “The Long Gray Line,” by Atkinson is anything like his WW2 titles, the reader is in for a treat. They are excellent!
Mike Peters
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I read “The Long Gray Line” years ago and yes, it was a good one. A bit off topic when it comes to the classes of 1861, though.
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Yes, I realized after I posted you were just reading about the class of ’61 not the entire of West Point’s history.
By the way, do you remember the TV movie about the class of ’61 made in 1993 that ended with battle scenes at First Manassas? Steven Spielberg was one of the producers and Clive Owen was one of the stars in it. It was suppose to be the launch of a weekly Civil War TV show that could have been interesting. Custer was also depicted and I thought the battle scenes were decent. It ended with a pretty good battle scene on Henry House Hill. Rose Greenhow was depicted, too. I would like to see that show again.
Chris
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Harry, i have both of Mary betty Sergent’s books. Will oan you either if you like. She is/was? a very nice lady.
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