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The Road to Bristoe Station: Campaigning With Lee and Meade, August 1 - October 20, 1863
Book by Henderson, W. D.
259 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1987
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December 23, 2009
This is not a book that many people will have run across. It is published by a relatively obscure company (H. E. Howard, Inc.). However, the publisher has done a service to those interested in Civil War history. Many interested in the Civil War have a sense that there was Gettysburg--and then the Wilderness Campaign with Ulysses Grant. In the process, war of maneuver at Bristoe Station and Mine Run tends to be downplayed (if not ignored). However, these two campaigns are useful addenda to our knowledge of the War in the East.
After Gettysburg, both the Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac were staggered by the loss of men and, equally important, the loss of commanders (especially at the brigade level). After Meade moved the northern forces across the Potomac, a game of cat and mouse began. There were cavalry conflicts, such as the second Battle of Brandy Station, with John Buford jousting with the southern mounted force. After maneuvering, the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern faced off at the Rapidan River. At that moment, the disaster at Chickamauga led Lincoln and his advisors to take two corps from the Army of the Potomac to send west, to try to save the day at Chattanooga.
Over time, the union forces began a withdrawal, as Robert E. Lee made a series of moves. The centerpiece of the campaign, though, was A. P. Hill's impetuous advance at Bristoe Station. He thought he could bag substantial Union forces, but he ran into an ambush (one of Gouverneur Warren's few triumphs as a corps commander) and lost quite a few trips. Then, Lee withdrew and the cat and mouse game continues, this time with the Mine Run campaign.
All in all, a useful volume on a generally little known campaign.
After Gettysburg, both the Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac were staggered by the loss of men and, equally important, the loss of commanders (especially at the brigade level). After Meade moved the northern forces across the Potomac, a game of cat and mouse began. There were cavalry conflicts, such as the second Battle of Brandy Station, with John Buford jousting with the southern mounted force. After maneuvering, the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern faced off at the Rapidan River. At that moment, the disaster at Chickamauga led Lincoln and his advisors to take two corps from the Army of the Potomac to send west, to try to save the day at Chattanooga.
Over time, the union forces began a withdrawal, as Robert E. Lee made a series of moves. The centerpiece of the campaign, though, was A. P. Hill's impetuous advance at Bristoe Station. He thought he could bag substantial Union forces, but he ran into an ambush (one of Gouverneur Warren's few triumphs as a corps commander) and lost quite a few trips. Then, Lee withdrew and the cat and mouse game continues, this time with the Mine Run campaign.
All in all, a useful volume on a generally little known campaign.
Displaying 1 of 1 review