THE CIVIL WAR DICTIONARY, by Mark...

THE CIVIL WAR DICTIONARY, by Mark M. Boatman III (Vintage: $18, illustrated) and HISTORICAL TIMES ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE CIVIL WAR, edited by Patricia L. Faust (HarperPerennial: $20). Although the Civil War remains one of the most popular subjects for American authors, the recent TV series has triggered a spate of books on the nation’s most destructive war, including these complementary reference works. Boatman’s highly technical “Dictionary” is structured around a complicated system of cross-references that will confuse the casual reader. Although the accounts of the campaigns and battles are remarkably clear and meticulously documented, this weighty tome is intended for historians or serious buffs. An exceptional collection of archival photographs enhances the less technical, more approachable “Encyclopedia.” The straightforward, easy-to-read text makes it an excellent supplement to popular literature and films on the subject.