Customer Reviews

Battle of Monroe's Crossroads and the Civil War's Final Campaign

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Those familiar with the works of cavalry historian Eric Wittenberg know that each is the product of thorough research & sound analysis. He continues those traits in "The Battle of Monroe's Crossroads & the Civil War's Final Campaign." Previously unpublished primary sources & manuscripts make up a nice chunk of the book's 22-page bibliography. There are some 30 maps included. The footnotes, not the standard bland citations, are loaded with extra information & should be read after each corresponding chapter. The appendices are much more than filler copy. Included is a casualty list & 2 essays of which I am especially fond -- "Who was Judson Kilpatrick's Female Companion in March 1865?" & "What was Joseph Wheeler's Rank in March 1865?."

Nicknamed "Kilpatrick's Shirt-tail Skedaddle," the battle is so much more than the towering Hampton catching the diminutive Kilpatrick with his pants down. Wittenberg has corrected that perception with an in-depth tactical study which both the casual student & learned scholar will find educational & entertaining.

Because of its location, among the secure confines of Fort Bragg, Monroe's Crossroads is the most pristine, yet least visited of CW battlefields. Therefore, few will ever get the opportunity to walk the terrain. There is an alternative -- a hammock, a pitcher of sweet tea & a weekend reading "The Battle of Monroe's Crossroads & the Civil War's Final Campaign."

Eric Wittenberg solidifies his standing as our best Civil War Cavalry author by continuing to produce high quality, well-researched, readable histories that are both informative and fun. Using Savas Beatie as his publisher is a "Dream Team" for enthusiasts. Maps, maps and more maps ensure that you will never be lost and will instantly understand what retaking the guns means. The list of illustrations is one and a half pages; the list of maps is two and a half pages. Clearly stating that both the author and publisher understand what is nice, illustrations and what is necessary, maps. Since most of us will never get into Fort Bragg to walk the battle field, the maps substitute nicely keeping us orientated and in position.

The book is well researched, footnoted and complete within the time we are considering. The confrontation between Hampton and Kilpatrick outside the Bennett home, capture the men, their feelings and the time. It provides a logical beginning to the story, even if it occurs at the end. While presenting the reader with clear concise portraits of the major figures, the supporting cast is not ignored. The strengths and weakness of each Cavalry force is clearly described. This introduction gives us the needed background to understand the depth of feeling and desperation that contributes to the battle.

Weather and terrain conspire to hinder both sides building a waterlogged hell for man and beast. This produces a major impact on the campaign and the battle, becoming a story within the story. J.E. Johnston's army must cross over the Cape Fear River, Hampton's cavalry is trying to screen this movement and delay Sherman's army. Judson Kilpatrick, commanding Sherman's cavalry almost by default, is trying to get around Hampton while protecting Sherman's foraging parties and supply trains.

Kilpatrick allows his cavalry to spread out, become badly separated and fails to protect the approaches to the camps. Wade Hampton and Joe Wheeler size an opportunity and attack a portion of Kilpatrick's command. The resulting battle is at close quarters, fought by veterans is a stand up fight with neither side stepping back. Eric Wittenberg details what the commanders do right; wrong and where they lose control. This results in an understandable sew-saw battle narrative as first one side and than the other attacks. Here the detailed maps are as valuable as the writing. Working together, the reader never gets lost always using one to support the other.

This is more than a battle book as the battle is placed within the context of the campaign and the war. This placement, allows us the answer the very complex question; "Who won?" The last chapters cover the aftermath of the battle, what it did to and for Johnston & Sherman and give us a glimpse of the participant's later life. An Order of battle and detailed list of causalities complete the history of the battle.
Appendix C & D, answer a couple of questions that are not technically part of the battle but relate to it. Both provide us with Human Interests items and make the story personal and complete. One deals with who was the woman in Kilpatrick's HQ and the other with "Fighting" Joe Wheeler's rank.

A terrific book on a long-forgotten battle that has deserved such a scholarly treatment for a long time. Nestled among the artillery drop zones of Ft. Bragg, and all but inaccessible to the general public, the Monroe's Crossroads battlefield is a great lesson in cavalry tactics. For those who enjoy treatments of actions during the last few weeks of the war, and especially one on a segment of Sherman's final campaign that has not been told before, you must get this book. Written by Wittenberg, one of today's best scholars of Civil War cavalry actions and personalities, this book is written extremely well. It's as thorough as it can get, and will long stand as the definitive tome on this battle. And if you want to see another aspect of the career of Judson Kilpatrick, one of the war's most controversial figures, this book is the answer. Lots of terrific maps, photos of every major player, completely footnoted, and a full bibliography replete with obscure primary sources round out this work. I also see that the book is an alternate selection for the History Book Club, and has received a glowing endorsement by none other than William C. "Jack" Davis. Get it, read it, and enjoy. This is the way history should be written and analyzed.

THis is an original topic and Mr. Wittenberg has done a fine job. His knowledge,writing and presentation are excellant. This book can be read and enjoyed by a novice or scholar alike. This book made me wish I could view the actual battlesite. I own five of the authors books and he is without a doubt one of the best Civil War writers today.

Typical of Eric J. Wittenberg's other books this is a remarkably fine work. Fought 14 miles west of Fayetteville, North Carolina, the Battle at Monroe's Crossroads was the last large scale cavalry engagement of the American Civil War.

At dawn of March 9th 1865, Wade Hampton and Joe Wheeler's men attack Judson Kilpatrick's unguarded, sleeping camp and completely rout the Federals. But the Confederates fail to follow up on their initial success, stopping instead to loot the Federal encampment of the captured food, weapons, horses and equipage. This gives Kilpatrick time to form a line of battle which increasingly rallies the disorganized Federal troops. With the aid of recaptured Federal guns and dismounted cavalry who are mistaken for infantry support, the Union subsequently succeeds in driving their attackers from the field.

As all battles go it was a very close thing, embarrassing to Kilpatrick, and frustrating to Hampton and Wheeler. Pitting 4,000 Confederates against 3,000 Federals, the Confederate cavalry give their infantry one additional day of time to withdraw from Fayetteville, avoiding entanglement with left wing of Sherman's Army commanded by Henry Slocum. It was one of the last battles fought by General Sherman in his march through the Carolinas, setting up the final engagement with Joe Johnston at Bentonville a few weeks later.

This is a wonderfully researched book and Eric Wittenberg is at his absolute best in describing the battle, the backgrounds of the primary participants and the meaning of this engagement in what turned out to be the final campaign for the Confederacy. Very well done.

Excellent account of the battle and people involved. I knew virtually nothing of this action and bought the book based on the strength of E Wittenburg's other books - most specifically "One continuous Fight" - and was not disappointed.

The Battle Of Monroe's Crossroads and the Civil War's Final Campaign is an in-depth study of one of the most critical cavalry battles of the American Civil War. Waged at dawn on March 10, 1865, the battle of Monroe's Crossroads was a vicious affair, waged mostly at close quarters with swords, pistols, carbines, and bare hands. Renowned cavalry historian Eric J. Wittenberg vividly describes the fierce life-and-death struggle from beginning to bitter end, with appendices clarifying such data as the order of battle an the identification of casualties. Black-and- white illustrations and an index round out this superb addition to Civil War military history shelves.

"Battle of Monroe's Crossroads and the Civil War's Final Campaign" is the work of an author who had done a great deal of indepth research. Unfortunately, he needs a new publisher. The book has a suprising number of typos and, in one place, has a whole paragraph that definitely seems out of place. The maps are detailed to the point that they are difficult to read. (We don't need to see every stream in a black/white map.) Overall, the book has a lot of good sections but seemed somewhat disjointed to me. However, I would still recommend it for info on a battle that is typically overlooked.