Customer Reviews

The Wilmington Campaign: Last Rays of Departing Hope (Battles and Campaigns of the Carolinas)

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Hundreds of books, papers and thesis have been written by military men in the post-Desert Storm era about Joint Operations, their necessity and the importance of training Jointly to avoid the errors of history. A majority of these, however, focus on 20th century conflicts. Dr. Fonvielle brings to light one of the first combined Army/Navy/Marine Corps operations and details its successes and failures. This campaign, conducted concurrently with Grant's siege of Petersberg and Sherman's capture of Savannah receives very little attention in most Civil War writings, but accomplished a vital objective in closing the last open supply port and lifeline to Lee's starving troops. Dr Fonvielle's meticulous research presents the reader with a day-by-day, hour-by-hour account of this vital campaign. The book is written in an extremely readable style that crescendos through each successive battle. The human treatment of William Lamb, Alfred Terry, David Porter and N.M Curtis evoke the spirit of Michael Shaara. A must-read for any resident of the Cape Fear region and those military afficianados desiring to learn more about a true Joint Operation.

Too many books about Wilmington end with the fall of Fort Fisher. Chris Fonvielle, while dealing fully with those actions, takes that as a beginning, and highlights the entire campaign up the Cape Fear to the fall of Wilmington. (Braxton Bragg fans, if any, take note! Your hero looks very bad here!) Well done, well illustrated, great reading!

An incredible hour by hour account of the fall of Ft. Fisher and the closing of the last port open to the Confederacy. It draws on written statements of those involved on both sides and serves as a guide to those retracing their steps. This event finalized the outcome of the War, even though it was 3 months before Appomatox. No other book comes close to covering the subject.

An incredible hour by hour account of the fall of Ft. Fisher and the closing of the last port open to the Confederacy. It draws on written statements of those involved on both sides and serves as a guide to those retracing their steps. This event finalized the outcome of the War, even though it was 3 months before Appomatox. No existing book comes close to covering the subject.

Very readable account of the Union capture of Fort Fisher and Wilmington, S.C., 1865, the most complex combined operation of the Civil War. Very well written, many high quality maps, many photos. Textbook example of how military history should be done.