Petersburg to Appomattox: The End of the War in Virginia

by Caroline E. Janney (Editor)

Overview

The last days of fighting in the Civil War’s eastern theater have been wrapped in mythology since the moment of Lee’s surrender to Grant at Appomattox Court House. War veterans and generations of historians alike have focused on the seemingly inevitable defeat of the Confederacy after Lee’s flight from Petersburg and recalled the generous surrender terms set forth by Grant, thought to facilitate peace and to establish the groundwork for sectional reconciliation. But this volume of essays by leading scholars of the Civil War era offers a fresh and nuanced view of the eastern war’s closing chapter. Assessing events from the siege of Petersburg to the immediate aftermath of Lee’s surrender, Petersburg to Appomattox blends military, social, cultural, and political history to reassess the ways in which the war ended and examines anew the meanings attached to one of the Civil War’s most significant sites, Appomattox.

Contributors are Peter S. Carmichael, William W. Bergen, Susannah J. Ural, Wayne Wei-Siang Hsieh, William C. Davis, Keith Bohannon, Caroline E. Janney, Stephen Cushman, and Elizabeth R. Varon.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781469640761
Publisher:	The University of North Carolina Press
Publication date:	04/09/2018
Series:	Military Campaigns of the Civil War
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Caroline E. Janney is the John L. Nau III Professor in the History of the American Civil War and Director of the John L. Nau III Center for Civil War History at the University of Virginia.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“A fine collection of essays written by experienced and knowledgeable scholars.” —Daniel E. Sutherland, author of A Savage Conflict

“This volume admirably mixes traditional military history with social and cultural history to offer valuable insights on the battles and events of the Appomattox campaign.” —Earl J. Hess, author of The Battle of Peach Tree Creek

Editorial Reviews

“Effectively mediates between the rank and file and the high command, while demonstrating refreshing methodological breadth.”—Journal of Southern History

“Offers a fresh and nuanced view of the eastern war’s closing chapter.”—McCormick Messenger

“An impressive collection of essays that touch upon many important aspects of the war in the Eastern Theater.”—America’s Civil War

“With fresh insights and an expanded list of contributors, Petersburg to Appomatox is one of the strongest entries in the resurrected series.”—Journal of the Civil War Era

From the Publisher