I have finished a couple of books lately and have a few in-progress, so it seems like a good time to post some very brief remarks. The first book that I completed is Hess' Field Armies and Fortifications in the Civil War The Eastern Campaigns, 1861-1864. Though I looked forward to this book, I didn't enjoy it near as much as I thought that I would. I don't feel that Hess very effectively established his various theses in the text (regarding the evolution of the use of entrenchments and field fortifications in the East, prior to Grant's overland campaign). The text seemed to degenerate to a recap of the various campaigns and battles, followed by brief remarks on what fortifications/breastworks were present and to what degree they may have influenced the outcome; i.e., it felt a bit like a cursory summary. I don't know that even this information is easily found in other sources, so if fortifications is your interest this book may be satisfying (though it is in no way a technical examination of fortifications or their construction). The one chapter that I found to be of great interest was the description of the investment and reduction of battery Wagner in Charleston harbor, where the Union employed offensive use of entrenchments.
The second book was Hyde's Following the Greek Cross; or, Memories of the Sixth Army Corps. This book describes the personal experiences of Thomas Hyde in the Civil War, first with the 7th Maine and then on the staff of the Sixth Army Corps. Though details of any engagement are sparse (he wrote his memoir almost thirty years after the war), I found this book to be an enjoyable read, as it offers great insights into the people and life that they led during the war – it fleshes out more substantial historical or military accounts. If you already have a basic familiarity with the campaigns/battles of the Eastern theater, then this book is a great way to make the events come alive (if you aren't already familiar, then it might be hard to piece together a coherent picture of events from this book).
The final two reviews are in-progress, so will be more brief. The first is Robert Tanner's Stonewall in the Valley: Thomas J. Stonewall Jackson's Shenandoah Valley Campaign, Spring 1862. I am only about 150 pages into this book, but so far find it to be some of the best Civil War history that I have yet read. The account is only from the CSA perspective (not surprising, given the title), but it is not a Stonewall adoration piece - the insights and analysis of the the campaigns and organization and people are keen and balanced/dispassionate. If you have an interest in the 1862 Shenandoah campaign, I can recommend this book very highly. The final book is S. L. A. Marshal's The River and the Gauntlet: Defeat of the Eighth Army by the Chinese Communist Forces, November, 1950 in the Battle of Chongchon River. I have this book to be a fascinating read, though the ineptness and ill-preparedness of the Army will make you feel sick or angry, alternately (the young soldiers deserved much better training and leadership that they were given). Though there were obviously numerous acts of heroism and sacrifice, you can't read this without seeing just how ill-prepared the Army was for war in 1950 (failure to patrol, failure to tie-in with adjacent units, failure to establish communication with headquarters, allowing warming fires for the soldiers,... - it goes on and on). With Chosin getting so much attention, I am finding this account of what happened in the West to be very interesting.