Here rhea examines the maneuvers and battles from may 7, 1864, when grant left the wilderness, through may 12, when his attempt to break lees line by frontal. Gordon rhea was interviewed about his book cold harbor. On to petersburg by gordon rhea emerging civil war. Rhea is an american lawyer and historian, who specializes in the american civil war especially the overland campaign. Marked by the impeccable scholarship, descriptive grace, and analytical acuity of the previous four volumes, it illustrates the rich possibilities when a gifted historian engages with an important and dramatic topic. The battle of spotsylvania courthouse essential civil. Having previously covered the campaign in his magisterial volumes on the battle of the wilderness, the battles for spotsylvania court house and the road to yellow. After years of research, hes just released a new book titled lees army during the overland campaign. Matter, the battle of the wilderness may 56, 1864 b. Lees numbers at the campaigns outset were greater than historians have formerly assumed, and his casualties by its end were considerably larger than anecdotal accounts have led us to believe. His books on the overland campaign are wellresearched and highly readable narratives. Having previously covered the campaign in his magisterial volumes on the battle of the wilderness, the battles for spotsylvania court house. Rhea gives the reader a surprising new interpretation of the famous battle the left 7,000 union casualties and only. Grant in may and june of 1864, and the deep research, lucid analysis, and engaging writing of this last volume in his series only enhances that reputation.
The overland campaign, also known as grants overland campaign and the wilderness campaign, was a series of battles fought in virginia during may and june 1864, in the american civil war. Here rhea examines the maneuvers and battles from may 7, 1864, when grant left the wilderness, through may 12, when his attempt to break lees line by frontal assault reached a chilling climax at what is now called the bloody angle. If youre not counting, thats 2,506 pages by rhea on the most crucial period of the war. He is the author of numerous books and articles on the battles of cold harbor, north anna, spotsylvania court house and the wilderness, as well as a respected attorney in charleston, s. Rhea gordon rhea s gripping fourth volume on the spring 1864 campaign which pitted ulysses s. Peter carmichael and gordon rhea talked about the tactics of generals robert e. Lee for the first time in the civil warvividly recreates the battles and maneuvers from the stalemate on the north anna river through the cold harbor offensive.
Best booksweb materials on the overland campaign the. The sixweek overland campaign in virginia between may 4 and june 15, 1864, was the fiercest sustained period of fighting of the civil war. Winner of the civil war round table of atlantas richard barksdale harwell book award with on to petersburg, gordon rhea completes his muchlauded history of the overland campaign, a series of civil war battles fought between generals ulysses s. Rhea received the civil war regiments book award for his book on the battle. It will include the trevilian raid ive given him material for that, the crossing of the james, and the opening engagements at petersburg. Grant and lee, may 26june3, 1864 is the final volume in gordon rheas brilliant series of four books describing the overland campaign of u. Rhea has written several books on the subject, including those focusing on the battles of the wilderness, spotsylvania, and cold harbor, as well as the north. Rhea is considered a foremost expert on the overland campaign. Lsu press is scheduled to release on to petersburg. Grant during the 1864 overland campaign in virginia, which included the battle of the wilderness.
Army training and doctrine command and for civil war round tables. Rhea has established himself as the undisputed authority on the momentous struggle between robert e. The battle of the wilderness may 56, 1864 by gordon c. Grant and lee may 26 june 3, 1864 written by gordon c. New titles seasonal catalogs series award winners virtual exhibits by author by subject by title. Lee matched wits for the first time in a grueling sixweek battle for precious virginia territory. Lee in southeastern virginia in the spring and summer of 1864. Gordon rhea continues his overland campaign series with cold harbor.
This is the latest entry in the new category of regimentbyregiment. Dont forget earl hess books on field fortifications in the overland campaign. Future accounts of the wilderness will stand on the shoulders of rheas book chicago. The overland campaign, some 40odd days of maneuver and combat between the rapidan and james rivers, pitted the civil wars premier generals lt. Gordon rheas on to petersburg at last finally, some solid information about gordon rheas longawaited fifth and final volume of his acclaimed overland campaign series. Peter carmichael and gordon rhea talked about the tactics of. Apr 12, 2018 the overland campaign of 1864 as described by gordon rhea in the spring 2014 issue of hallowed ground, the overland campaign, some 40odd days of maneuver and combat between the rapidan and james rivers, pitted the civil wars premier generals lt. The overland campaign part 1, with gordon rhea blue and. Gordon rheas on to petersburg maintains the high standards so widely praised in his previous four volumes on the overland campaign. Interview with historian and historical adviser gordon c. His work on the battle of cold harbor, cold harbor, received.
Lee for the first time in the civil war the author vividly recreates the battle and maneuvers from the north anna stalemate through the cold harbor offensive. The battle of the wilderness essential civil war curriculum. Rhea s peerless five book series on the civil wars 1864 overland campaign abounds with rhea s signature detail, innovative analysis, and riveting prose. Oct 10, 2017 gordon rheas latest publication, on to petersburg. Jan 18, 2016 of note is an article by gordon rhea looking at grants disengagement from cold harbor on june 12, 1864. Grant and lee, may 26june 3, 1864, published by louisiana state university. Winner of the austin civil war round tables daniel m. Also, check the biographies of grant, meade, lee, and others involved, as well as microhistories of specific battles. In the november 2017 podcast, the 72yearold historian discussed with host gerald prokopowicz his fifth and final overland campaign book, on to petersburg, grant and lee june 415, 1864. Grant, generalinchief of all union armies, directed the actions of the army of the potomac, commanded by maj.
May 23, 2018 undoubtedly, the great majority of readers who will find a campaign of giants appealing are already familiar with gordon rhea s much celebrated overland campaign series. Rhea received the civil war regiments book award for his book on the battle of the wilderness, the battle of the wilderness, may 56, 1864. Rhea is the author of four previous books about the overland campaign, including the battle of the wilderness, may 56, 1864, winner of the civil war regiments book award. Rhea, in his exhaustive study the battle of the wilderness. Oct 05, 2011 interview with historian and historical adviser gordon c. Rhea posted on october 5, 2011 by steven hancock considered the foremost authority on the overland campaign, historian gordon c. On to petersburg brings to a triumphant close gordon rheas authoritative treatment of the overland campaign between ulysses s. The title of this book is lees army during the overland campaign and it was written by alfred c.
Rhea completes his muchlauded history of the overland campaign, a series of civil war battles fought between generals ulysses s. Gordon rhea in the annals of classic military confrontations, the overland campaign stands out as a clash of the titans. Of gordon rhea s five overland campaign books, his cold harbor work is the only one mia in my library. When we did a program together last june, he told me that it will end with the repulse of grants attacks at petersburg on june 16, 1864.
Rhea is a wellresearched and written account of what really happened in this part of the overland campaign as for the first time ulysses s. The overland campaign of 1864 american battlefield trust. Lee for the first time in the civil war gordon rhea vividly recreates the battles and maneuvers from the north anna stalemate through the cold harbor offensive. On to petersburg is the final book in gordon rheas fivevolume history of the overland campaign, a series of civil war battles fought between generals ulysses. Sep 30, 2017 on to petersburg brings to a triumphant close gordon rhea s authoritative treatment of the overland campaign between ulysses s. He is the author of numerous books and articles on the battles of cold harbor. In gordon rheas gripping fourth volume on the spring 1864 overland campaign which pitted ulysses s. Grant during the 1864 overland campaign in virginia, read more. His work on the battle of cold harbor, cold harbor, received the austin civil war round tables laney prize. In his gripping fourth volume on the spring 1864 overland campaign which pitted ulysses s. At a dinner with a civil war expert last summer, i asked him for a scouting report on gordon rhea, whose excellent book on the battle of the. It was published by lsu press and has a total of 472 pages in the book.
That evening, the army of the potomac started south, opening the next chapter in grants campaign of maneuver in the overland campaign. Rhea esq this particular edition is in a hardcover format. May 10, 20 like me, im sure many of you are fans of gordon rhea. Grant during the 1864 overland campaign in virginia, which included the. Gordon rheas on to petersburg at last civil war books. Not so with gordon rhea s final volume of the overland campaign. The title of this book is on to petersburg and it was written by gordon c. Spanning an incredible distance of 23 years between the first volume on the wilderness 1994 and the concluding volume, on to petersburg, including a frustrating time lapse of 15 years since the fourth volume on cold harbor, patient and still alive. Rhea is the author of four previous books about the overland. Grant and lee, june 415, 1864 lsu press, 2017 nevertheless demands a reaction piece here on the emerging civil war blog, so were going to tackle the last phase of the overland campaign with good old bullet points.
Lee for the confederacy against one another in a grueling contest of endurance and guile. Review of greene a campaign of giants civil war books. Those who have finished rhea s recently published final volume in the series will find in this book content overlap regarding midjune events placed at the end of the overland. In october, my colleague edward alexander posted his thoughts about the book, situating it the larger historiography of the overland campaign. The overland campaign of 1864 tennessee valley civil war. Rheas peerless fivebook series on the civil wars 1864 overland campaign abounds with rheas signature detail, innovative analysis, and riveting prose. Apr 24, 2018 back in september, i mentioned how excited i was about the arrival of gordon rheas book on to petersburg. This is his fourth volume on the spring 1864 overland campaign. Grant and lee, may 26june 3, 1864, winner of the austin civil war round tables. See also noah andre trudeaus bloody roads south, mark grimsleys and keep moving on. The second major engagement in grants overland campaign against lee may 5june 24, 1864. Lee in southeastern virginia in the spring of 1864.
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