Like many of you, my interest in the history of the American Civil War spans decades. I read my first book about the conflict—or rather, about one of its most significant personalities, Abraham Lincoln—when I wasn’t yet 10 years old. Since then, the titles have piled up: battle studies, biographies, social and political histories, collections of soldiers’ and civilians’ letters—you name it. And, as I’m sure is true for you, through all of this reading I’ve developed a particular interest in certain events and participants, some prominent and others more obscure. My own reading list is heavy on presidents Lincoln and Jefferson Davis, as well as Union and Confederate generals like Isaac Stevens and James Longstreet. I also have a special affection for the fighting Scotsmen of the 79th New York Infantry and the largely foreign-born Union Light Infantry of Charleston, South Carolina. And I’ve always been intrigued by the daring work of Union and Confederate spies and the ways in which African Americans helped support the war effort and secure their own freedom.

In short, we all seem to have our favorites when it comes to the history of the Civil War—and, as I’ve learned over the years, Civil War enthusiasts are not hesitant to share and even debate their choices. Which brings me to this issue’s cover story. What if you could put together your ideal Civil War fighting force? Whose skills or character have you come to admire over your years of learning about the conflict, and would they make your army’s roster?

We asked five Civil War historians for their picks, and then assembled a panel of three experts to evaluate the results. In “Building the Perfect Army” (page 30), you can see their selections and the judges’ opinions. Care to share your thoughts about the exercise—whether about the armies or the judgments? Send us an email at [email protected] or post them on our Facebook page: facebook.com/CivilWarMonitor.