Recommended Books: One Set in Louisiana and the Other in New York City

The Day the War Stopped

The Civil War is remembered in many ways across the country, but one of the most unusual commemorations is “The Day the War Stopped,” held each year in St. Francisville, La. It honors a June day in 1863 when a federal gunboat crew, a paroled Confederate captain, and local townspeople set aside the conflict and paused to bury a deceased officer under the banner and with the rites of Masonic brotherhood. This poignant episode forms the heart of James Linden Hogg’s A Day the War Stopped: The Story of a Civil War Truce. Hogg—a singer, songwriter, and historian educated at Louisiana State University—offers a well-researched and accessible account of the tragic death of Lt. Comdr. John Hart of the Albatross by his own hand during operations along the Mississippi River. Recommended reading.

A Day the War Stopped: The story of a Civil War truce
By James Linden Hogg
163 pages
Baker Printing
Softcover

Wartime New York City

New York City’s place in Civil War history is often overlooked. Distant from the battlefields that define the war in public memory, the city played a critical role in its prosecution. It was the site of defining moments—Lincoln’s address at Cooper Union, the Draft Riots of 1863—and served as a powerful engine of commerce, manpower, and material support for the Union cause. These connections come into sharp focus in New York City in the Civil War, a new volume in the Images of America series. Historians Jonathan W. White (a MI contributor) and Timothy J. Orr assemble a rich selection of photographs, engravings, broadsides, and paintings that illuminate the city’s wartime experience. With a foreword by Harold Holzer, the book offers compelling visuals and informative captions, making it a valuable resource for researchers and enthusiasts alike.

New York City in the Civil War
By Jonathan W. White and Timothy J. Orr
160 pages
Arcadia Publishing
Softcover