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Bruce Catton Biography

Charles Bruce Catton (October 9, 1899 – August 28, 1978) was an American historian and journalist, known best for his books concerning the American Civil War. Known as a narrative historian, Catton specialized in popular history, featuring interesting characters and historical vignettes, in addition to the basic facts, dates, and analyses. Although his books were researched well and included footnotes, they were not generally presented in a rigorous academic style. He won a Pulitzer Prize during 1954 for A Stillness at Appomattox, his study of the final campaign of the war in Virginia.

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Bruce Catton Quotes

Nathan Bedford Forrest. . . used his horsemen as a modern general would use motorized infantry. He liked horses because he liked fast movement, and his mounted men could get from here to there much faster than any infantry could; but when they reached the field they usually tied their horses to trees and fought on foot, and they were as good as the very best infantry. Not for nothing did Forrest say the essence of strategy was to git thar fust with the most men.

Foot, Horse, Infantry, Men, Use, War

There is a rowdy strain in American life, living close to the surface but running very deep. Like an ape behind a mask, it can display itself suddenly with terrifying effect.

Apes, Deep, Living, Rowdy, Running, Terrifying

Men see things late, and it may be that at times an evil fate drives them on.

Evil, Fate, Men, See, Things

Early youth is a baffling time

Baffling, Early, Time, Youth

What a general could do, Thomas did; no more dependable soldier for a moment of crisis existed on the North American continent, or ever did exist. . . Thomas comes down in history as the Rock of Chickamauga, the great defensive fighter, the man who could never be driven away but who was not much on the offensive. That may be a correct appraisal, Yet it may also be worth making note that just twice in all the war was a major Confederate army driven away from a prepared position in complete rout - at Chattanooga and at Nashville. Each time the blow that routed it was launched by Thomas.

Army, Confederate, Correct, Men, War

A certain combination of incompetence and indifference can cause almost as much suffering as the most acute malevolence.

Acute, Causes, Combination, Indifference, Stupidity, Suffering

Between 1861 and 1865, Americans made war on each other and killed each other in great numbers - if only to become the kind of country that could no longer conceive of how that was possible.

Become, Country, Killed, Numbers, War

Shiloh had as many casualties as Waterloo, and yet there were another 20 Waterloos to come.

Casualties, History, Shiloh, War, Waterloo, Waterloos

I think I was always subconsciously driven by an attempt to restate that faith and to show where it was properly grounded, how it grew out of what a great many young men on both sides felt and believed and were brave enough to do

Bravery, Grounded, Men, Subconsciously, Thinking, Young

Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America.

America, Baseball, League, Question

A singular fact about modern war is that it takes charge. Once begun it has to be carried to its conclusion, and carrying it there sets in motion events that may be beyond men's control. Doing what has to be done to win, men perform acts that alter the very soil in which society's roots are nourished.

Peace, War, Winning, Nourished, Alter, Begun

To learn to get along without, to realize that what the world is going to demand of us may be a good deal more important than what we are entitled to demand of it - this is a hard lesson.

Demand, Important, Knowledge, Learning, Lesson, Realize

It began with one act of madness, and it ended with another. John Brown heard history's clock strike in the night and tried to hurry dawn along with gunfire; now John Wilkes Booth heard the clock strike, and he tried with gunfire to restore the darkness. Each man stood outside the human community, directed by voices the sane do not hear, and each kept history from going logically. . . The line from Harper's Ferry to Ford's Theater is a red thread binding the immense disorder of the Civil War into an irrational sort of coherence.

Civil, Darkness, Men, Night, Stood, War

Soldiers who had been in the army long enough to know what a bloody swindle war really is would begin to feel that army life was really kind of fun, as long as [General Philip] Sheridan was up front.

Army, Fun, Long, Soldiers, War

History does not usually make real sense until long afterward.

Afterward, History, Long, Real, Usually

Like most Rebel soldiers, Sam Watkins owned no slaves.

History, Rebel, Slaves, Soldier, War, Watkins

Even the most painstaking history is a bridge across an eternal mystery.

Across, Bridges, Eternal, History, Mystery, Scrapbooking

Our American heritage is greater than any one of us. It can express itself in very homely truths; in the end it can lift up our eyes beyond the glow in the sunset skies.

Eye, Glow, Glowing, Heritage, Skies, Sunset

The present moment is nice but it does not last. Living in it is like waiting in a junction town for the morning limited; the junction may be interesting but some day you will have to leave it and you do not know where the limited will take you.

Morning, Nice, Interesting, Leave

Yet there is a dignity in the human spirit which can become most clearly visible in the moment of defeat and disaster.

Become, Defeat, Dignity, Spirit

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