The Wilderness Campaign (Military Campaigns of the Civil War) [Hardcover]

Gary W. (ed.) Gallagher (Author)

Book Description

Series: Military Campaigns of the Civil War | Publication Date: May 26, 1997

In the spring of 1864, in the vast Virginia scrub forest known as the Wilderness, Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee first met in battle. The Wilderness campaign of May 5-6 initiated an epic confrontation between these two Civil War commanders—one that would finally end, eleven months later, with Lee's surrender at Appomattox.

The eight essays here assembled explore aspects of the background, conduct, and repercussions of the fighting in the Wilderness. Through an often-revisionist lens, contributors to this volume focus on topics such as civilian expectations for the campaign, morale in the two armies, and the generalship of Lee, Grant, Philip H. Sheridan, Richard S. Ewell, A. P. Hill, James Longstreet, and Lewis A. Grant. Taken together, these essays revise and enhance existing work on the battle, highlighting ways in which the military and nonmilitary spheres of war intersected in the Wilderness.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA?In 1864, Ulysses S. Grant's Union troops collided with Robert E. Lee's vaunted Army of Northern Virginia in the densely wooded area known as the Wilderness. The ensuing battle was the opening salvo in a campaign that ended 11 months later with Lee's surrender at Appomatox Courthouse and the virtual end of the war. This title presents eight essays by noted Civil War scholars that examine the many aspects of this crucial battle including the leadership, the composition of each army, why the soldiers fought, critical events, legends that arose in the decades following the event, the individual heroics, and how this battle set the tone for what was to follow. The essays are well written and organized chronologically, which makes the ebb and flow of this encounter easy to follow.?Robert Burnham, R. E. Lee High School, Springfield, VA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Those interested in the Wilderness campaign, or in the Civil War in general, will find much of interest here."
— Military History of the West

This book offers detailed, in-depth analyses of key events or overlooked aspects of an important campaign.

Journal of Southern History

This book is an excellent addition to the Civil War student•s shelf.

Blue & Gray Magazine

Well conceived and well presented.

Richmond Times Dispatch

An important contribution to our understanding of this complex campaign.

The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Va.)

Overall, these essays . . . tend to intrigue and enlighten the serious student of the Civil War.

H-Net Reviews

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 283 pages
• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press; First printing edition (May 26, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807823341
• ISBN-13: 978-0807823347
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,114,470 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Wilderness Campaign, July 6, 2000

By 

ncs (nc) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wilderness Campaign (Military Campaigns of the Civil War) (Hardcover)

This is the first book I have purchased in his "Military Campaigns of the Civil War" series and I assure you this will not be the last! The essays are fantastic. They are crisp and well written.

He has picked his scholars well and each one has a great in-depth analysis of their topic. Each article has enlightened me about aspects of this battle I never thought about before; most notably that of the other General Grant and his Vermont regiment and the mental states of both armies as they began the Overland Campaign of 1864.

The articles concerning the historical accuracy of the Lee's advance with the Texans in Widow Tapp's field and the success of Longstreet's hammering flank attack of Hancock's II Corps, on May 6th, has me hooked and excited about reading other volumes in this series as well.

These essays also provide additional help in examining these events in greater detail and providing the reader an opportunity to obtain greater knowledge as to how events developed and progressed in the choas we have come to know as the Battle of the Wilderness.

I highly recommend this book as an addition to any other texts you may own concerning this first battle between the armies of Lee and Grant.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Confederate and Union high morale clash together in May 1864, July 6, 2002

By 

Todd E. Newman (Valparaiso, IN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Wilderness Campaign (Military Campaigns of the Civil War) (Hardcover)

The thrill of finally putting an end to the war and the enemy raced through many soldier's minds as both armies had high hopes of victory in early May of 1864. Though facing serious defeats in 1863, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia is ready to tackle the newly appointed former western campaign leader U.S. Grant and his Army of the Potomac. Author and historian Gary Gallagher builds the awareness of such great expectations from both sides which sets the stage for a great conflict. His writing captures the flavor of northern morale and the polictical situation around Washington. The frustration with former Union commanders and a long and brutal war have dampened spirits in the north and this book is great at building the reasons for why and how the spring campaign of 1864 began. This book is written by a multiple of great Civil War authors that enhance this great battle.

Foiled Union Cavalry movements of Sheridan start the season off as Ewell and AP Hill come to meet and fight the approaching Grant. Writer Peter Carmichael and Gordon Rhea bring these actions to the front with great detail. Movements and maps are easy to follow.

The famous, "Lee to the rear!" episode of the Wilderness is brought forth by Robert Krick which certainly explains the situation of Lee wanting to lead his men. Many personal soldier accounts are brought into the fold to dispell doubts or conflicting stories about this great event in Civil War history. Carol Reardon and Robert Krick bring together the struggle famous Vermont Brigade battle and Longstreet's flank attack on May the 6th. Longstreet's fall from friendly fire and the confusion faced by Mahone's men is covered well. To understand the Wilderness campaign this is an essential 'must have' for anyone trying to understand the thoughts, plans, tactics and outcomes of the battle.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gems of Information: The Unappreciated Wilderness Battle, February 17, 2001

By 

Daniel Hurley (Chesapeake, VA.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Wilderness Campaign (Military Campaigns of the Civil War) (Hardcover)

Gallagher and company always add an extra dimension to previous books on their subject matter that are not normally mainstream but important events and they give you the full detail. Fascinating highlights are (Carmichael) the controversy of Hill's corps on the second day, who was at fault for not digging in or straightening the lines? Who delayed Gordon's attack on Grants exposed right flank and how effective was it? The true story of the "Lee to the Rear Event" by R. K. Krick as well as an excellent description of Sheridan's first full blown attempt to use the Calvary in full force doing it "his way" that contributed to Meade's (with Grant) blind march through the Wilderness by Rhea. Another gem is R.E.L. Kick's description of Longstreet's and the First Corps' finest hour, stopping the hemorrhage on the confederate right and the storied shock flank attack by R.E.L. Krick. Reardon write a remarkable history of the Vermont Brigade that stood in the eye of the storm first against Hill and then Longstreet. The first few essays discuss Grant and the health and description of the two armies. Gallagher's sounds familiar to his book "The Confederate War" and the others are written well enough (Hennessy shines on the Army of the Potomac); however, I would have preferred more gems on the battle itself. More detail on the rest of the command such as Burnsides' unique role as a semi-detached corps commander and his whereabouts during the battle, why the Union forces could not exploit the gap between confederate units between the Orange Plank Road and the Orange Turnpike and a larger overview map of the battle to see virtually all the units on the field to get a better feel for distance, time and terrain. Always interesting to read R. K. Krick's comments on Longstreet, he does say a few things positive about his march. Hope he writes a book on Longstreet, possible title "Longstreet and his Thorns".