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To the North Anna River: Grant and Lee, May 13-25, 1864
With To the North Anna River, the third book in his outstanding fivebook series, Gordon C. Rhea continues his spectacular narrative of the initial campaign between Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee in the spring of 1864. May 13 through 25 was critical in the clash of the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia. During those thirteen days a game of guile and...more
Paperback, 505 pages
Published
September 1st 2005
by Louisiana State University Press
(first published May 1st 2000)
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The period of time from May 2 to June 9, 1864 is known as the Overland Campaign or Grant� s Overland Campaign, in which Grant and Lee engaged for the first time; it ended with the Confederate retreat to Petersburg. During that time, the armies fought nearly nonstop. Several of the battles are notorious for the some of the worst casualties and vicious fighting: the Wilderness (May 5-6), Spotsylvania Courthouse (May 7-12) and Cold Harbor (May 26-June 3).[return][return]While the engagements were b...more
As U. S. Grant and the Army of the Potomac slugged it out with Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia from the Wilderness to Cold Harbor, one of the least known aspects of the bloody struggle along this line was the end of the battle at Spotsylvania Court House and the race to the North Anna River, before the ghastly battle at Cold Harbor.
This book does a nice job of discussing what happened at the later stages of the battle at Spotsylvania. As the Introduction notes (pages 6-7), ". ....more
This book does a nice job of discussing what happened at the later stages of the battle at Spotsylvania. As the Introduction notes (pages 6-7), ". ....more
Like two dueling grandmasters, Lee and Grant sat down over the 'chess-board' of the northern Virginia landscape that separated Washington, D.C. from Richmond, Virginia. For the first two weeks of May 1864, the two generals have been adroitly maneuvering their armies across the terrain and engaging in some of the most sustained, ferocious and horrific combat seen in the Civil War. It is spring 1864, and the Northern population is wearying of the war, and Lincoln and his administration are up for...more
Rhea’s history of the intermediate phase of the Grant/Lee Overland Campaign of May/June ’64 in Virginia, which took place in army maneuvers after Spotsylvania (Mule Shoe, Bloody Angle) and prior to Cold Harbor
Considering that the entire book only covers 12 days of the Overland Campaign (and not even the most well known or famous phases of it), it probably goes without saying that this book would appeal more to a Civil War junkie than someone looking for an introductory read. I’m not a historian...more
Considering that the entire book only covers 12 days of the Overland Campaign (and not even the most well known or famous phases of it), it probably goes without saying that this book would appeal more to a Civil War junkie than someone looking for an introductory read. I’m not a historian...more
Once again Gordon Rhea has produced another fabulous and insightful account to follow on from his books on Spotsylvania Court House and Yellow Tavern. This is a well-presented and detailed account of the maneuvers and fighting between Lee and Grant during May 13th-25th, 1864. As one previous reviewer noted this is not a period of high drama involving great battles and massive charges but you would not notice that while reading this book.
The narrative moved along at a quick pace and you eagerly...more
The narrative moved along at a quick pace and you eagerly...more
Consistent with the first two books in this series, Rhea provides an excellent narrative of the tactical and strategic decisions and errors made by Grant and Lee in this campaign, while sprinkling in the perspective of the common soldier here and there. He successfully ties in the overall strategic issues confronting both sides at this phase of the war providing context to the choices made by both sides. Grant comes off not quite as much a butcher as he is often depicted (or, at least there are...more
May 06, 2013
Richard Drabik
added it
This is absolutely a must read for people who enjoy the tactics of the Civil War.
It is an aspect of the Overland Campaign that receive little attention.
However, you will be absolutely astounded by the chess match like interplay between Grant and Lee.
It is an aspect of the Overland Campaign that receive little attention.
However, you will be absolutely astounded by the chess match like interplay between Grant and Lee.
Excellent book on the campaign. Each book in the series is doing a great job of covering the whys and wheres of its particular battle.
A good book but ultimately this part of the campaign just is not that interesting. It would have been better if Rhea had divided this work since the later half of the actual Battle of Spotsylvania takes up most of this book.
May 24, 2013
William Welch
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May 23, 2013
Carl
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May 09, 2013
Tom
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May 07, 2013
Joe
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Apr 11, 2013
Kristopher
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Mar 23, 2013
Tim Smith
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Jan 20, 2013
Greg Sumers
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