The Richmond-Petersburg Campaign, 1864-65

The Richmond-Petersburg Campaign, 1864-65

by Charles R. Bowery Jr.
The Richmond-Petersburg Campaign, 1864-65

The Richmond-Petersburg Campaign, 1864-65

by Charles R. Bowery Jr.

Hardcover

$65.00 
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Overview

A compelling narrative of one of the Civil War's most pivotal campaigns in which Federal armies drove Robert E. Lee's army to the brink of defeat in April 1865.

The Richmond-Petersburg Campaign lasted for ten months, the longest in any theater of the war, and dwarfed all of the war's other campaigns for length of sustained combat, distances covered by the opposing forces, number of troops deployed, and number of battles and engagements. Yet this military operation has traditionally received little attention from scholars, considering its importance in bringing the war to an end. This concise reference analyzes the grueling 1864–65 campaign, particularly its strategic, operational, and tactical decisions, which shaped the course and outcome of the war.

The Richmond-Petersburg Campaign affected every segment of American society, bringing the impact of the war home to soldiers and civilians alike. General Ulysses S. Grant's armies employed more African Americans than in any other Civil War campaign, and their contributions were critical to Union victory. In an indication of the decisive importance of the campaign, the Confederacy took the unimaginable step of attempting to arm slaves for military service.

A historian and lifelong resident of Virginia, Charles R. Bowery Jr. combines a vivid narrative, in-depth character study, and technical aspects of warfare to describe the human drama of one of the Civil War's most complex, decisive, and fascinating conflicts. This riveting account reveals how, in spite of the exceptional commands of leaders Grant and Lee, both sides suffered from personal rivalries, questions of honor, ineffective organization, and poor communication. The book concludes with an assessment of the mixed performances of both armies, the factors that influenced the outcome, and the campaign's role in ending the Civil War.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781440800436
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date: 07/29/2014
Series: Battles and Leaders of the American Civil War
Pages: 240
Product dimensions: 6.20(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Charles R. Bowery Jr. is a career Army officer and military historian.

Table of Contents

Illustrations ix

Maps xi

Series Foreword xiii

Preface xv

Acknowledgments xix

1 To the James River: Battles, Leaders, and Armies in the East, 1864 1

2 The First Battle of Petersburg, June 15-18, 1864 23

3 Roads, Railroads, and a Crater, June-July 1864 39

4 The Fight for the Weldon Railroad, August 1864 61

5 Autumn Offensives: Grant Pushes West, September-October 1864 73

6 Societies at War, Winter 1864-1865 91

7 Endgame: The Fall of Richmond and Petersburg 123

Epilogue 149

The Battlefields Today 161

Notes 165

Bibliographical Essay 179

Index 189

What People are Saying About This

Chris Calkins

"The Siege of Petersburg has received little attention until recently by scholars of the American Civil War. Synthesizing these newly available sources, Charles Bowery provides a clear understanding of the events that took place at the Richmond-Petersburg fronts from June 1864 until April 1865. His book is a must-read for students of the most important campaign of the closing days of the war."

A. Wilson Greene

"Bowery's masterful treatment of the complex events around Petersburg, Virginia, in 1864–1865 fills an important gap in the literature of the Civil War. His solid research, lively prose, and insightful analysis explain how the Petersburg Campaign brought the war in Virginia to a close."

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