The nine-month siege of Petersburg was the longest continuous operation of the American Civil War. A series of large-scale Union “offensives;†grand maneuvers that triggered some of the fiercest battles of the war; broke the monotony of static trench warfare. Grant’s Fourth Offensive; August 14-25; the longest and bloodiest operation of the campaign; is the subject of John Horn’s revised and updated Sesquicentennial edition of The Siege of Petersburg: The Battles for the Weldon Railroad; August 1864.Frustrated by his inability to break through the Southern front; General Grant devised a two punch combination strategy in an effort to sever the crucial Weldon Railroad and stretch General Lee’s lines. The plan called for General Hancock’s II Corps (with the X Corps) to move against Deep Bottom north of the James River to occupy Confederate attention while General Warren’s V Corps; supported by elements of the IX Corps; marched south and west below Petersburg toward Globe Tavern on the Weldon Railroad. The plan triggered the battles of Second Deep Bottom; Globe Tavern; and Second Reams Station; bitter fighting that witnessed fierce Confederate counterattacks and additional Union operations against the railroad before Grant’s troops dug in and secured their hold on Globe Tavern. The end result was nearly 15;000 killed; wounded; and missing; the severing of the railroad; and the jump-off point for what would be Grant’s Fifth Offensive in late September.Revised and updated for this special edition; Horn’s outstanding tactical battle study; which emphasizes the context and consequences of every action; is supported by numerous maps and grounded in hundreds of primary sources. Horn puts Grant’s Fourth Offensive into its proper perspective not only in the context of the Petersburg Campaign and the war; but in the context of the history of warfare.
#143739 in Books 2014-07-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 11.22 x .26 x 8.23l; .0 #File Name: 1610351967160 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. This is a good book for a person who has woodworking skillsBy Hilary F. SchwarzThis is a good book for a person who has woodworking skills. Second you need to have carpentry/cabinet maker type tools. Basic woodworking tools will not get you there. A supply of lumber of the right thickness or a planer. Good luck if you don't live in a city with specialty stores that have the types of wood needed to complete the projects. If you can meet these standards this is the book for you. I have the tools; the skills but have difficulty getting the hardwoods. Another choice is to do as I do. Buy old barn boards and plane them down to size. I have a planer.I gave the book five stars as I have the needed tools and material.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Another worthwhile project book even if you aren't a re enactor!By A. Burchfield13 items to make this time around; 17 in vol. 1; with the same level of detail to achieving the "look" of a historically correct item (the author is still using modern power tools so if you want "the look" but don't have the time/skill/tools for handwork- you're OK).Any good woodworker will want to do some of these projects; see the websites at book's end for suppliers of some parts and other info.A lot of people will want some of these things even if they aren't re enactors- I want three off the front cover myself- so get these books!2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Interesting For Civil War Buffs and Useful for Civil War Re-enactorsBy C. D. WhiteA great new book for Civil War re-enactors and history buffs. The author provides clear advice and images to help any minimally knowledgeable woodworker to build period-pieces for soldiers and camp followers; soldiers' families; sutlers; and others. The project designs are well supported by Civil War photographs and explanations and help a craftsperson's efforts to reproduce reasonably authentic and useful furnishings. The accompanying discussions will also be of interest to those who study the history of the period but never plan to join in re-enacting it.
