Customer Reviews

Fredericksburg 1862: 'Clear The Way' (Campaign)

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

 

 

I hate to nit-pick, but I found Fredericksburg 1862 and Chancellorsville 1863 to be replete with errors, at least the versions I read, both Military Book Club editions. The lists of errors I sent to Osprey went on for a three and six pages respectively. Many of them were relatively minor, but there were enough of them, and some not so minor, to cause me to consider the books greatly flawed. Let me note here that I live near Fredericksburg and volunteer once a month at the Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center, so I am fairly familiar with the battles in question. I also want to point out up front that Osprey was very receptive to my comments and implied that future editions may incorporate some changes. I own more than 75 Osprey titles and that this is certainly not the norm for their products, many of which are excellent.

Some types of problems I noted with the books included:

- spelling errors such as Sedgewick for Sedgwick (not always, but several times), Siegel for Sigel and Hero Van Borke for Heros von Borcke.

- geographic errors such as inaccurate descriptions of the road net, an incorrect locations for geographic features, and faulty relative positions.

- graphical errors such as inaccurate troop dispositions (multiple instances), incorrect unit symbology and faulty depiction of vegetation on maps.

- factual errors such as placing events on the wrong date, incorrectly identifying unit commanders and referring to Chancellorsville as a farmhouse rather than an inn.

I recommend waiting for a revised edition.

The diagrams and orders of battle are very good. Some of the diagrams, including that of the attack on the town, are invaluable. However, if using this as a serious reference, make sure you have a second source. There are a number of disturbing errors. A quote credited to Longstreet was actually by Alexander Porter. The dates on the Mud March are wrong (or perhaps this section is just poorly written). The name of one of the two generals who criticized Burnside in Washington is wrong! These errors throw into serious question the editing and validity of the work.

Smith's is one of the better Osprey volumes, with some evocative Hook 'paintings' (I hesitate to use the word "art")and nicely detailed maps of the fighting in and around the town and Marye's Heights. While the narrative is a bit choppy, in terms of style, it makes its point. The detailed OoB is quite valuable . . .and would be more so if it weren't for the disturbing number of typos (The 22nd Mass regiment with 2100+ men? A battery with 21 Napoleons.) Not definitive, nor is it intended to be, but valuable nonetheless.

Carl Smith's latest book is useful for the military historian, the reenactor, the wargamer and the general public. The book provides a useful order of battle that allows one to determine what units participated in the battle. In a very readable manner, the book covers the famous charges by Union troops against Confederate positions on Marye's heights. More notable is the book's coverage of the savage street fighting that took place prior to these famous charges. The book has three splendid 3-dimension maps as well as a host of smaller ones. The book is also well illustrated by Adam Hook; Hook's best work perhaps being the picture of Sgt. Kirkland giving water to wounded federal soldiers. All in all, I heartily recommend this book.