Customer Reviews

The Battle of the Wilderness, May 5-6, 1864

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Battle of the Wilderness May 5-6, 1864
Product Details
* Hardcover: 520 pages
* Publisher: Louisiana State University Press (July 1994)
* Language: English
* ISBN: 0807118737

The Battles for Spotsylvania Court House and the Road to Yellow Tavern May 7-12, 1864
Product Details
* Hardcover: 483 pages
* Publisher: Louisiana State University Press (May 1997)
* Language: English
* ISBN: 0807121363

To the North Anna River: Grant and Lee, May 13-25, 1864
Product Details
* Hardcover: 505 pages
* Publisher: Louisiana State University Press (May 2000)
* Language: English
* ISBN: 0807125350

Cold Harbor: Grant and Lee, May 26-June 3, 1864
Product Details
* Hardcover: 552 pages
* Publisher: Louisiana State University Press (September 2002)
* Language: English
* ISBN: 0807128031

I am reviewing the four books a single series although each book is a full stand-alone history. This is a highly detailed military history of Grant's Overland Campaign of 1864. Two of the best generals commanding two of the best armies, in American history, decide the Civil war in the East. Gordon Rhea gives this month the detailed attention it requires and had never received. The 2,000 pages allows for the full story of the campaign, the personalities, failures and success.

The first book covers the major battle of The Wilderness an area Grant wished to clear and Lee hoped to trap him in as he had Hooker in 1863. Through a series of Union miscalculations and command problems, Lee manages to get in Grant's way. What follows is a confused bloody two-day battle that has been termed "Bush whacking on a grand scale". An excellent series of maps, help the reader stay abreast of the battle and understand the confusion of both sides. Lee loses Longstreet and starts to make the hard decisions about personnel that he has avoided since 1862. Grant while testing his relationship with Meade and Burnside, is trying to learn the AOP's generals too. This process dominates the four books as repeatedly Grant is forced to deal with the problems this creates and Lee takes steps that were unthinkable in 1863.

The second book moves the battle from The Wilderness south to Spotsylvania and Yellow Tavern. Grant refuses to "play the game" and retreat behind the Rappahannock but pushes past Lee and continues south. What follows is a race from defensive point to defensive point, which the AOP concedes to the AoNV. Union commanders hesitate at critical moments while the AoNV reinforces the objective. This allows Lee to stay up or ahead producing one of the bloodiest battles in our history at Spotsylvania. In addition, this book covers the critical cavalry operations, Grant's reasoning, and the price paid in taking Sheridan away from Meade. J.E.B. Stuart's death, is well covered. Both in terms of what it means to the AoNV, to Lee and to the Confederacy.

After one of the hardest weeks in their history, the two exhausted bloodied armies eye each other over their entrenchments. Lee understands that he is being trapped and that defensive war can only end in defeat. Grant is trying not to be stuck in a siege and determined to continue south. What follows is a series of forced marches and small battles as Grant and Lee test each other. Each general wins and loses daily as the armies march, counter march and fight. However, at the end of each day, Grant is always closer to Richmond. Lee produces a brilliant trap, Grant takes the bait but circumstances keep lee from springing it. Almost to late, Grant sees the trap pulls back, changes direction and continues south. Book 3, To the North Anna River covers this brilliant and exciting time in detail. Rhea produces some excellent analysis of both commanders and the developing personnel problems they are facing. Neither man is having an easy time of it and both understand they have never faced an enemy like this.

The last book takes us to Cold Harbor, one of the most controversial battles of the war. The detail history and excellent analysis leads us through this battle and produces some startling conclusions. As always, the author provides full support and justification for them. This might be the most important book of the series and the definitive book on the battle of Cold Harbor.

Each book has a full set of maps and illustrations. The writing is uniform and very readable. While detailed, the actions are understandable and you are seldom lost in a sea of names and/or unit numbers. Each book is a stand-alone history and is readable as such. The books were published from 1994 to 2002 and had to be written that way. This is the best account of the Overland Campaign available. It is both an invaluable reference and a great reading experience.

"Battle of the Wilderness", by Gordon C. Rhea, is simply the best treatment of any Civil War battle. Rhea's narrative is as captivating as the best work of fiction, and more so. As a reader, I felt as though the action was un-folding right before my eyes, and I found it exceedingly difficult to put the book down! As for the content, this book was well researched, and presented in a very orderly fashion. Rhea does an excellent job of making clear the tangled mess that was the Wilderness. I had no difficulty in following the ebb and flow of the battle as I have had with other works. Rhea makes the reader realize that this was a major effort by both sides on the scale of the great battles of Gettysburg and Antietam. The Overland Campaign is often overshadowed by these more "glorious" battles from earlier in the war, but after reading this book, I am convinced that the Southern cause was by no means lost in May 1864, and that Grant was not the invincible juggernaut people think. He was very nearly whipped in the Wilderness, and Rhea does a good job of making that clear to the reader. To conclude I gave this book five stars because it touches a subject that not many people know about, it is well researched, and is written so well that some novelists could learn lessons from it. In short, this is a must own for any Civil War or military buff!

This is quite possibly the best book on the battle of the Wilderness particularly since this is one of the most difficult battlefields to visualize with an on site visit since the wilderness, barring suburban encroachment, is still hard to see since much of the growth has or was still there. Rhea does a wonderful job providing the reader the plans that each commander had in mind for the campaign particularly Grant's original plan to move south than west to attack Lee, which was obviously upset by Lee's aggressive move forward. Rhea also does Freeman like bios on the key officer corps of both armies including a well detailed discussion of the complex nature of Grant being present and active with the Army of the Potomac and Meade but not yet taking a firm hand in operations while Burnside's 9th Corps is an independent unit commanded by Grant. Rhea provides outstanding maps with several showing the overall plan of the campaign (Xerox the overall geographic layout map and use it as a book mark for later reference) while also providing several timely spaced close up maps of the various battle developments. Rhea also provides excellent detail on the failure of the Union cavalry to detect Ewell's and Hill's forward movements particularly Wilson's inability to provide reconnaissance as he becomes isolated and virtually cut off on the Catherprin Road entangled with ANV Rosser while the ANV infantry move up the Orange Turnpike colliding with the unsuspecting 5th corps entangling Warren and upsetting Meade's move. Rhea provides tremendous detail on the complicated movements and the interplay of commands while providing a wonderful balance of quotes from participants. Some of the highlights are Ewell's strong defensive performance on the turnpike, Warren's forced dilemma in attacking an entrenched foe without proper support, Hancock's suspended movement to support the union right wing, Longstreet's bulldozer attack and flank move, Burnside's difficulties in positioning for a center attack, and Longstreet's long march and his ordered change of march. Rhea also highlights discussion ion on Hill's failure to secure his lines after the first day of battle where his two divisions held back virtually four union divisions, Longstreet's great march of 32 miles in one day yet with one extensive break, Gordon's late flank attack delayed by Ewell and Early, Burnsides almost piercing of the vulnerable center, Lee's desperate attempts to rally Hill's crushed division, the mysterious lack of cavalry participation by Stuart and Sheridan, Grant's gradual assertion of command and Lee's desperate attempt to break through Hancock's line after Longstreet's wounding and great flank attack. The only mild criticism is that some of the officers are somewhat stereo typed and they do not always have their actions judged by face value in the campaign. For example, Ewell is praised throughout the book because of his staunch command of the initial aspects of the battle and his handling of troops yet at the end he seems criticized a little too much for having a delayed initiative that seemed more hamstrung by Early's reluctance (Gettysburg the first Day again?). The author's descriptions of the difficulty of either army to maneuver in the deep scrub growth woods is so well documented that the reader can appreciate how brigades not less divisions became separated and lost sense of direction and often fought separate battles within a battle. And Rhea describes best why a center attack well conceived but fails by Burnside in the entangled woods between Hill and Ewell as the ANV plugs another gap. How good is Rhea's book? I started the next book of his series on Spotsylvania and I will stay the course for the duration of Rhea's overland campaign.

In my humble opinion, Rhea has written what I believe to be the definitive account of one of the war's most bloody and savage battles. Rhea's writing style is clear and crisp - easy enough for the layperson yet technical enough to challenge the thinking of historians and military professionals.

The author is fair and balanced in his praises and criticisms of Northern and Southern leaders and the many missed opportunities by both sides to deliver a decisive blow. His battle descriptions are clear and interesting, lacking the dry narratives and extremely gory descriptions of other Civil War titles. While Rhea is able to convey the battle's ferocity, he does not get bogged down in numerous decapitations, limbs blown off, etc.

While the maps are of high quality, there could have been at least 5-10 more. I have stated this problem in reviews of other Civil War titles. While deeply interested in the Civil War, I am not a professional historian and believe that having additional maps would have better clarified some of the troop movements and battles. Additionally, most of the maps went down to only the division or brigade-level. Having regimental-level maps would have made it easier to follow the many regimental battle descriptions contained in the title.

Complaint about the maps aside, I heartily recommend Rhea's book as the definitive account of the first encounter between Grant (okay Meade fans, I'll mention him too!)and Lee. The book will be a valuable guide for better understanding the action in the Wilderness on my next battlefield visit. I have a goal to read his other titles and eagerly look forward to reading his book on Spotsylvania.

Read and enjoy!

Rhea has done an excellent job of sorting out fact from friction in this major civil war campaign. I have read several accounts including Grant's own biographical account of the wilderness battle. This is by far the most complete coverage of the two critical days of the conflict. I especially enjoyed reading the account of the medical treatment associated with the fatal wounding of Union General James S. Wadsworth. Wadsworth was a major land holder and statesmen in the Genesse Valley near Rochester NY were I grow up. I had never heard of the unsusal story of the rebel farmer who went to his aid and eventually claimed the General's remains. This kind of detail makes the author's account of the people in the terrible collision of forces so remarkable. This is a classic narrative of the final wilderness tragedy where so many on both sides lost thier life in early 1864 to end the conflict. The beginning of the end of the rebellion by attrition.

This is by far the best book on one of the mose terrifying battles of the war. It's full of details, from indivdual regiments to General's personal thoughts. I read through it in no time, and quickly moved on to the following books in Rhea's series (this being my favorite). Rhea uses a wealth of primary sources and soldier's accounts to add flair to the excellent writing. I would reccomend this book to anyone who has an interest in the American Civil War

4 1/2 stars...this misses my 5 star category for the very reasons that some others give it 5 stars. First, this is a very detailed (sometimes maddingly so) account and the maps, although very well done, are not plentiful enough to accurately follow along. I'd compare this to Noah Trudeau's "Gettysburg" where a detailed military history is presented and the maps in that classic account are plentiful AND placed in the correct context in the book...this detail (to me) is one of the big and important differences between these two books. Secondly, although Rhea gives many "first-person" accounts from diary and journal entries, he fails (in my opinion) to give the "everyday soldier" feel thats so prevelant in recent works by Trudeau, Stephen Sears and Ernust Furgurson. These authors write Civil War history on a grand scale and seem to instinctively know when enough battle tactic detail is enough.

Now, having said all that, this is still an excellent book...one that's well worth reading for it captures the little discussed battle for the Wilderness (May, 1864) in complete and comprehensive detail. U.S. Grant's assumption of command and his initial tentative dealings with former commander George Meade are the framework that starts this book and Rhea shows how that fragmented structure was partly responsible for the Union Armies' disappointing showing in this battle. This unwieldy command structure is at first evident when Grant's plan to get R.E. Lee out in the open is thwarted by the many problems with the Widerness area itself and the lethargy of his many division commanders...they just couldn't get momentum enough to get this Army across the Rapidan River and through the Wilderness to meet Lee on the field of their choice. What resulted was that the Confederate Army was able to attack and hold at bay (indeed, almost defeat) the Federals while being greatly outnumbered.

Rhea then breaks this battle discussion down into two main parts: the "Northern" battle along the Orange Turnpike and the "Southern" battle on and around the Orange Plank Road. Division, Brigade and Company movements are analyzed in excruciating detail and it takes a lot of concentration to follow along here. Rhea does, however, summarize at the end of each chapter fairly well, so understanding the "big picture" is ultimately accomplished.

The second day's battle plan and execution follows this detailed description style, and Rhea deftly describes the apex of the battle when Longstreet's troops make their appearance (later then planned, having marched many miles from the Southwest). The hugely successful flanking attack around the Union's left flank through an unfinished railroad cut and subsequent rollback of the Federals to the Brock Road, along with John B. Gordon's flank attack along the Federal right flank at Saunders Field are the highlights of the battle and the book. The unremitting carnage is ever present throughout and Rhea does a great job in making the point that this was a major Civil War battle with major casualties. Rhea then closes out the book with brilliant conclusions and summaries (i.e. everybody gets some blame and some kudos).

This work is a very schlolarly and detailed military study and justly stands as the definitve account of the Wilderness Battle...this should be read by all Civil War historians, but may be a little much for the general reader. However, I do look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series and I would recommend this to any history buff.

In his initial account of the Overland Campaign, Rhea offers a wonderful account of the horrors of the Wilderness. Rhea takes you into the minds of Lee/Grant and the "others" in an almost "you-are-there" like experience. A bountiful amount of maps helps assist the sometimes mind-numbing movements of "this brigade" and "that regiment". All and all a very user-friendly and certainly scholarly endeavor! I look forward to the next book of the trevails of Spotsylvania and Yellow Tavern. A rare must-read!

Yet Gordon Rhea don't have historical research background (Rhea is partner in lawyer's firm) he have completed an outstanding study of this important military campaign that, de facto, opens the so-called Overland Campaign in the Eastern Theatre in mid 1864.

The author offers not only a vivid description of the experience of the common soldier in the fighting, thanks to deep research in primary sources like letters,diaries et cetera, and a series of micro-tactical analysis of the engagements in the various phases of the battle - two days long - but also, and in my opinion this is the strongest point of this book, a careful, intelligent and objective study of the leadership of the two opponents. And this at various levels of command, from regimentals through corps levels to two principal actors of this dramatic fought, i.e. Lee and Grant. The actions of Generals Ewell and Longtreet - and his genial plan for side attack in the morning of 6th May on the left flank of Unionists - from one side and Generals Warren and Hancock, from other side, are scrutinized like the best performances. The only weak of this exceptional well-written study, is the lacking of really detailed maps. These are compiled by George Skoch, well knowed and appreciated contributor to many CW studies, but his job here is not so good like elsewhere.

Yet, Gordon Rhea offers one of the best military study I have read: a must for every serious student of the civil war.

This is a useful, definitive account of the battle. Rhea writes the sort of book which tells readers where every regiment was at every moment, which is precisely what I find helpful. His maps are clear and he uses plenty of quotes from primary sources, which gives the text excitement and human interest. The book focuses equally on Confederate and Union experiences.

What I found a little strange about this book was Rhea's desire to evaluate the performance of each unit, general and army overall -- not simply in terms of analysis but in terms of making statements as to their quality -- statements to the effect of "Lee made three mistakes here" and "None of Grant's corps commanders performed well on that day". These are bold statements to make, and perhaps an overweening position of judgment for an author who was not present at the battle to take.

This will be a vital text for anyone studying the battle, though as the Wilderness was part of continuous action and Rhea stops before getting to Spotsylvania, it would need to be combined with other works.