Reviews for Billy the Kid

The average rating for Billy the Kid based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2019-03-04 00:00:00 Tim Makinli 4 stars out of 5 - I read a download from The Guttenberg Project on my iPad Mini during rare downtime in Key Largo and then on the flight back home. It's an excellent brief retelling of the events during the few months before South Carolina Secessionists started the Civil War by firing on Fort Sumter, told by an army captain who was the second most senior line officer in the minimal garrison of Fort Moultrie which became the garrison of Fort Sumter - they moved over because Sumter was marginally more defensible. Doubleday is best known for inventing baseball, which he didn't. But he's also known for having risen to the rank of Major General during the Civil War, which he did. Well worth reading if you're interested in the Civil War. I plan to download Doubleday's other book, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, one of these days so as to have it ready for some future trip.

Review # 2 was written on 2011-07-31 00:00:00 Gary Johnson Published in 1876, fifteen years after the fact, Reminiscences of Forts Sumter and Moultrie by Abner Doubleday is a rare look at the preamble to the war that would cost so many American lives during five years of hell. This account has an advantage over others compiled and written by historians in the years since the Civil War. I say this because I give more credence to an eye witness's report over that of scholars. The commencement of hostilities took much longer than one would imagine. The numerous battles and campaigns of that conflict has pushed this, rather minor but oh so significant engagement, into the position of footnote. The unwillingness from both sides to fire the first shot is described by the author, one of the officers stationed first at Fort Moultrie and later of Fort Sumter. All lovers of American history….or history of anywhere should read this book. You won't regret it!