Customer Reviews

Official Virginia Civil War Battlefield Guide

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This is one of the most useful guides I've ever read. Virginia was host to nearly 1/3rd of all Civil War engagements, and this guide covers them all like a mini-history of the war. Unlike travel books that are organized geographically, this guide organizes them chronologically. Each campaign is prefaced by a detailed overview, followed by concise (from 1 to 4 pages, depending on the battle's importance) but engrossing descriptions of the individual engagements. These descriptions make this a great book to browse through when you're not in the car. Most sites' summaries touch on their condition--whether they're threatened by development (as too many are) and whether they're in private hands or protected by the park service.

But the maps are where this book really stands out. Each battle features a very clear map designating army positions and historical roads, as well as historical markers (the author also wrote the /A Guidebook to Virginia's Historical Markers/), parking, and visitors' centers. Best of all, though, many battles are illustrated with paintings or photographs of the sites, and the point-of-view of these pictures is marked on each map!

If you are familiar with either or both of the two editions of the excellent "Civil War Battlefield Guide", then you should add "The Official Virginia Civil War Guide" to your collection. This book has the advantage than in focusing on about 1/3rd as much of the war, it can do so in far greater depth.

Many small conflicts that don't receive more than a mention in the other guides are prominently and competently presented here. This makes the work a handy reference tool and an interesting read in its own right.

The layout is an improvement over the previously mentioned guides in several ways. Not only is there increased depth, but tactical maps are included for every event covered--rather than just the major ones. In addition, simple campaign maps are also included (something missing in many battle monographs even.) One weakness is that the tactical maps are not overlaid onto topographical maps, so in cases where the guides both have maps the general work is preferable in most instances.

The information on visitor centers, directions, and interesting background is very helpful as well. Also of note, the introduction states that all royalties from the book will go towards preservation efforts in Virginia.

One can only hope that similar works will be produced for other regions. This guide sets a fine standard for others to follow.

This handbook is very well done with many cross references, photos, and other keys to locating and visiting historic Civil War sites in Virginia. It includes great notes on sites that are not open to the public so you don't end up driving a long distance to a dead end trip. Used with a current map of Virginia you can plan day trips to historic sites that are near towns offering food, lodging, and other local sites worth visiting. It far exceeds the value of the cost of the book.

This is a great book to go on a self-guided driving tour or even an excellent group tour. The book has an endless supply of battle descriptions categorized by geographic location and period. Each battle description gives a brief run up on the situation and very reasonable, easy to follow descriptions of the battles that include accurate and relatively simply maps that quickly orient the reader to the site. The book includes major battles like Cold Harbor, Spotsylvania to the obscure like the Staunton River Bridge fight (Wilson-Kautz Raid 1864) to Cloyds Mountain (outside of Dublin, VA.). I just took this book on my 1864 Cavalry Raids group tour with Pamplin Park and it was a great single book for the knap sack with binoculars, camera and raincoat. We received great maps with the outstanding tour but this book gave me a great profile with maps that held their own quite well. The writing is excellent although compact and it is professionally written and historically accurate. The author even includes excellent overviews of the broader campaigns like the overland campaign. The author even includes detailed directions to each battle site. You will be delighted to have this outstanding companion as you travel the main or back roads.

This book is an absolute must for even a novice civil war historian. My hobby is to visit WW 1 and 2 battlesites around the world. This book is in the class of the "Stand Where They Fought" guide series.

Excellent campaign background descriptions, location directions, maps, and battle tactics with the significant charaters included.