Battle Cry of Freedom by James M. McPherson

I recently bought four volumes of the Oxford History of the United States:
The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763–1789
Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789–1815
What Hath God Wrought: the Transformation of America, 1815–1848
Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era

In a thread in the Folio Society devotees group a poster asked if McPherson is a little zealous in some of his revisionism. I had planned to read the books in order, but because of this comment, among other reasons, I am reading Battle Cry of Freedom first. I am currently two-thirds of the way through it and I am interested in what others think regarding it and whether or not it’s zealous in its revisionism.

Also, I found it interesting that about a quarter of the book is actually pre-Civil War and McPherson goes back as far as the War of 1812 (if I recall correctly) to explore the reasons for the conflict. While I understand why he did this, the book is part of a series, not a standalone title, and therefore I don't think it was necessary to go back further than 1848 (the end of the period covered by What Hath God Wrought). I am interested in what other think of this.

I have read only a few passages from the book, but I do know that it has a very good reputation with professional historians.

I enjoyedBattle Cry of Freedom very much. I think it is accepted as the best one volume history of that era. I have read several volumes of the Oxford History of the United States and except for one thought that they all were very good. My next up is Freedom from Fear The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945.

I highly recommend Gary Gallagher's The Confederate War. He addresses the scholarship behind the idea that the Confederacy did not have the will to fight. He disagrees from a number of perspectives.