In his gripping fourth volume on the spring 1864 Overland campaign -- which pitted Ulysses S. Grant against Robert E. Lee for the first time in the Civil War -- Gordon Rhea vividly re-creates the battles and maneuvers from the North Anna stalemate through the Cold Harbor offensive. Once again Rhea's tenacious research elicits stunning new facts from the records of a phase oddly ignored or mythologized by historians. The Cold Harbor of these pages differs sharply from the Cold Harbor of popular lore. We see Grant; in one of his most brilliant moves; pull his army across the North Anna River and steal a march on Lee. In response; Lee sets up a strong defensive line along Totopotomoy Creek; and the battles spark across woods and fields northeast of Richmond. Their back to the Chickahominy River and on their last legs; the rebel troops defiantly face an army-wide assault ordered by Grant that extends over three days. Rhea gives a surprising new interpretation of the famous battle that left seven thousand Union casualties and only fifteen hundred Confederate dead or wounded. Here; Grant is not a callous butcher; and Lee does not wage a perfect fight. Every imaginable primary source has been exhausted to unravel the strategies; mistakes; gambles; and problems with subordinates that preoccupied two exquisitely matched minds. In Cold Harbor; Rhea separates fact from fiction in a charged; evocative narrative. He leaves readers under a moonless sky; Grant pondering the eastward course of the James River fifteen miles south of the encamped armies.
#646949 in Books Louisiana State University Press 1997-06-01 1997-06-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.16 x .39 x 7.33l; .57 #File Name: 0807122343151 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Just rightBy Lucas HarvieThis book has just the right amount of photos versus information. The writing is textbook style but without all the quizzes at the end of the sections. A great reference for your library. (and a surprising good gift for the history buff)1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Good for the basicsBy Janet HerringThe content was good just not as in depth as I had hoped. I have read a great deal on Reconstruction and this was limited in new info for me.10 of 12 people found the following review helpful. I purchased this book to help me in my American History classBy D. KiemerI purchased this book to help me in my American History class; and I am glad that I did!This book provides detailed accounts about the Reconstruction Period during the Civil War. It is an easy read. It is not only loaded with interesting facts; it is packed with tons of pictures for the visual learner.
