Britains ACW releases for 2014 (2 Viewers)

[Brother Jonathan]

George, in comparison to Gettysburg, there are relatively few studies on the Franklin campaign. The best, IMO, is the 2006 book called "For Cause and For Country: A Study of the Affair at Spring Hill and the Battle of Franklin", written by Eric Jacobson & Richard Rupp. It is a very well done and even handed history. Also well done, and more widely known, is Wiley Sword's "Embrace an Angry Wind, The Confederacy's Last Hurrah: Spring Hill, Franklin, and Nashville", done in 1992. It is a lively read, as Sword is quite a good writer, but it is very anti-Hood in tone, which colors Sword's view on the why's and how's of the campaign. Still, it is worth the read. A third, but briefer book, is called "Five Tragic Hours: The Battle of Franklin" by James Lee McDonough and Thomas Connelly, done in 1983. Well written and reasonably accurate, also has the anti-Hood tone. There are some older works but these 3 are the most modern and complete works. I think all are available in paperback. Sword's book was published in hardcover under the 'Embrace an Angry Wind' title, but in paperback under 'The Confederacy's Last Hurrah'. -- Al

Ditto to lancer's picks. I also found Eyewitnesses at the Battle of Franklin (ed. David Logsdon) very helpful. It's a collection of first person accounts. http://www.midtneyewitnesses.com/eyewitness-book-series

There is a forthcoming anthology on Franklin-Nashville in Steven Woodworth's "Civil War Campaigns in the Heartland" series. Probably will be published in 2015.

 

[7th OVI]

Ditto to all of the book recommendations, best contemporary book is by J. Cox which seems to be the most accurate and complete. You can read it on line. Franklin does seem to get over looked probably because of the lack of preservation over the years. There has been a lot of progress to preserve the battlefield the recent years. Jacobson and Cartwright are 2 of my favorite Franklin historians who are both very active today around the battlefield. Franklin would be a great subject for WB for 1864 Western Theater. One of my favorite Troiani's prints is of Opdyke's Tigers on the Carter grounds. There would be a lot of great subject potential, the Carter buildings, the earthworks, the retrenchment line, Carnton hospital, Cleburne, Opdyke, Casement, Granbury, Gist, Tod Carter, Wagner, Gordon, all of the hand to hand fighting, massive charge, counter attacks and so on. We would need the 3inch ordnance rifle released as an individual piece to substitute in the older artillery sets to complete some of the Federal batteriess.

As far as wants this year from WB, most have already been said, caissons for the artillery, 3 inch ordinance rifle, mounted officers, western subjects, more casualties such as dead bodies, especially Federals, Confederate hospital similar to the Federal set. We need to save something for 2015.

7th OVI Chris

 

[NeverEnough]

Speaking of Book's I've just begun a long overdue read of " Lee's Lieutenants". Good read so far.

 

[marco55]

I read that years ago and really enjoyed it.
Mark

 

[UKReb]

George

I also concur with Al's suggestions for quality tomes on Bloody Franklin and would also add When the Devil Had Full Possession of the Earth by James Knight which I found to be a very exacting as well as a moving account of this Confederate disaster.

As for ACW figures...well... one must admit we civil war collectors have had more than a glass full this year, in fact I cannot remember a time where my glass was so over-flowing with choices. But borrowing NeverEnough's forum name (what an apt moniker that is ^&grin) I too would like a few more.

Horse drawn artillery (with a choice of either running or falling horses) and Yankee/Reb camp figures are on the way. That is according to Ken during my long discussion with him at December's London show. I too align with Chris's choice of mounted staff figures. I cannot believe we do not yet have either mounted or standing figures of Lee's main aide-de-camps- Charles Marshall (wearing those steel rimmed glasses) and Walter Taylor- who was glued to Lee's right side throughout the war. I would also like a mounted Longstreet preferably with his staff of John Fairfax; Moxley Sorrel; Tom Goree etc. All of these staff figures I could see as generic Reb officers rather than specific individuals enabling ACW dio builders to include them in either a Eastern or Western scenario. A bunch of 19th century civilians- men women and kids would be handy for town scenes especially Cashtown.

Finally a must for me.........a mounted Barksdale figure with those long flowing white locks..... as that Troiani painting of him and his Mississipian's is just crying out for an ACW dio depiction

Bob

 

[lancer]

Glad to see there are others who are aware of and appreciate the Western Theater, especially Franklin. And thanks for the additional reading suggestions. I read the Cox book many years ago but I haven't read the other 2 books. -- Al

 

[colmanor]

George

I also concur with Al's suggestions for quality tomes on Bloody Franklin and would also add When the Devil Had Full Possession of the Earth by James Knight which I found to be a very exacting as well as a moving account of this Confederate disaster.

As for ACW figures...well... one must admit we civil war collectors have had more than a glass full this year, in fact I cannot remember a time where my glass was so over-flowing with choices. But borrowing NeverEnough's forum name (what an apt moniker that is ^&grin) I too would like a few more.

Horse drawn artillery (with a choice of either running or falling horses) and Yankee/Reb camp figures are on the way. That is according to Ken during my long discussion with him at December's London show. I too align with Chris's choice of mounted staff figures. I cannot believe we do not yet have either mounted or standing figures of Lee's main aide-de-camps- Charles Marshall (wearing those steel rimmed glasses) and Walter Taylor- who was glued to Lee's right side throughout the war. I would also like a mounted Longstreet preferably with his staff of John Fairfax; Moxley Sorrel; Tom Goree etc. All of these staff figures I could see as generic Reb officers rather than specific individuals enabling ACW dio builders to include them in either a Eastern or Western scenario. A bunch of 19th century civilians- men women and kids would be handy for town scenes especially Cashtown.

Finally a must for me.........a mounted Barksdale figure with those long flowing white locks..... as that Troiani painting of him and his Mississipian's is just crying out for an ACW dio depiction

Bob

I agree Bob re Marshall and Taylor. I had the extraordinary experience of having Marshall's great-grandson arrive at my house in the West of Ireland in August of 2012. He was with an old friend of mine from Virginia and had absolutely no idea I was an ACW buff or had a TS collection. Suffice to say that once this unlikely connection became apparent we had one hell of a great chat! I intend to go back to Virginia some time to see all the ACW sites/sights! As for "horse drawn artillery (with a choice of either running or falling horses)"...

 

[mr colt 45]

A day late and a dollar short. Am I to late to jump in here?^&confuse I would like to see more wagons and dismounted cavalry, but not in a battle mode. I have a CSA supply wagon and the detail is just great. Now I need a federal supply wagon for My dio. Lets hope for all kinds of ACW figures. Thanks all.

 

[Terp152]

George


Finally a must for me.........a mounted Barksdale figure with those long flowing white locks..... as that Troiani painting of him and his Mississipian's is just crying out for an ACW dio depiction

Bob

Second the nomination for a Barksdale fig, but then we MUST have a 1st Minnesota color set! :smile2: Chris

 

[6th Wisconsin]

A lot of good ideas. I especially want to see wagons, more mounted cavalry, more mounted officers, marching soldiers, casualties, and a set of 69th PA flag bearers. And while it might be more of a niche item, a few period civilians would be very nice.