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Decisions at Second Manassas: The Fourteen Critical Decisions That Defined the Battle
Many consider the Battle of Chancellorsville to be Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s greatest offensive operation. However, the Battle of Second Manassas may be even more significant. Lee’s victory at Chancellorsville resulted in the status quo. His success at Second Manassas moved the center of the war in the east from Richmond to just outside Washington, DC, and set the stage for Lee’s first incursion onto Northern soil.
Decisions at Second Manassas introduces readers to critical decisions made by Confederate and Union commanders. Matt Spruill III and Matt Spruill IV examine the decisions that shaped the way the campaign and battle unfolded. Rather than offering a history of the Battle of Second Manassas, the Spruills focus on the critical decisions, those decisions that had a major impact on both Federal and Confederate forces in shaping the progression of the battle as we know it today. This account is designed to present the reader with a coherent and manageable blueprint of the battle’s development. Exploring and studying the critical decisions allows the reader to progress from an understanding of “what happened” to “why events happened” as they did.
Complete with maps and a guided tour, Decisions at Second Manassas is an indispensable primer, and readers looking for a digestible introduction to the Battle of Second Manassas can tour this sacred ground—or read about it at their leisure—with key insights into the battle and a deeper understanding of the Civil War itself.
Decisions at Second Manassas is the second in a series of books that will explore the critical decisions of major campaigns and battles of the Civil War.
Decisions at Second Manassas introduces readers to critical decisions made by Confederate and Union commanders. Matt Spruill III and Matt Spruill IV examine the decisions that shaped the way the campaign and battle unfolded. Rather than offering a history of the Battle of Second Manassas, the Spruills focus on the critical decisions, those decisions that had a major impact on both Federal and Confederate forces in shaping the progression of the battle as we know it today. This account is designed to present the reader with a coherent and manageable blueprint of the battle’s development. Exploring and studying the critical decisions allows the reader to progress from an understanding of “what happened” to “why events happened” as they did.
Complete with maps and a guided tour, Decisions at Second Manassas is an indispensable primer, and readers looking for a digestible introduction to the Battle of Second Manassas can tour this sacred ground—or read about it at their leisure—with key insights into the battle and a deeper understanding of the Civil War itself.
Decisions at Second Manassas is the second in a series of books that will explore the critical decisions of major campaigns and battles of the Civil War.
260 pages, Paperback
Published March 19, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 14, 2020
Many of the battles of the Civil War have full books devoted to the entirety of the circumstances, personnel, strategy, and consequences of the conflict. This series bridges a needed gap between brief but wholly insufficient overviews of these battles within 100 pages and the 400-500 page treatments, often that really are directed towards the complete Civil War buff.
This account of Second Manassas reads like an instant replay on sports television or an Choose Your Own Adventure book. The battle and its participants are covered and at the moment of the critical decisions of the title, the authors slow down the action and explain the options, the choice of the commanding officer, and the consequences. The book is amply illustrated with maps (including options that were not taken but theoretically would have led to better consequences) as well as photographs of critical officers. The first half of the book follows this method of telling the battle and the second half is actually a battlefield tour with detailed instructions for driving, orientation, and walking that takes the reader on a chronological tour of the battlefield.
It helps that I have visited the battlefield. I would suspect that this book would not have quite the impact if you are completely unaware of the generals, the importance of the battle, Civil War tactics, or even a cursory idea of the Manassas battlefield. Still, I love the approach, and I will be certain to bring this book along if I visit Manassas again.
This account of Second Manassas reads like an instant replay on sports television or an Choose Your Own Adventure book. The battle and its participants are covered and at the moment of the critical decisions of the title, the authors slow down the action and explain the options, the choice of the commanding officer, and the consequences. The book is amply illustrated with maps (including options that were not taken but theoretically would have led to better consequences) as well as photographs of critical officers. The first half of the book follows this method of telling the battle and the second half is actually a battlefield tour with detailed instructions for driving, orientation, and walking that takes the reader on a chronological tour of the battlefield.
It helps that I have visited the battlefield. I would suspect that this book would not have quite the impact if you are completely unaware of the generals, the importance of the battle, Civil War tactics, or even a cursory idea of the Manassas battlefield. Still, I love the approach, and I will be certain to bring this book along if I visit Manassas again.
July 3, 2018
This is a two-part book. Part I discusses the 14 strategic decisions that determined the form and outcome of the battle. Part II is a guided tour for those who wish to visit the field. Part I is an excellent supplement to books covering the battle and campaign in detail, but is by no means a comprehensive study in itself. Part II provides a nice stop by stop tour and includes additional information to Part I. This book is not the place to start if you are just beginning your interest in the battle or CW in general. However, for the advanced reader, this is a great addition to one's library.
March 1, 2026
I believe this is a very good book for helping new readers understand Second Manassas. The battlefield tour section is excellent and well worth having the book in my collection. I recommend it more for people just starting a study of the Second Manassas Campaign.
August 13, 2021
Bought this to prepare for a staff ride. Book is interesting and well laid out. Appendix 1 is huge as it describes how you can visit the battle field and walk through decisions made.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews