Osprey's examination of the battle at Chickamagua; one of the decisive campaigns of the American Civil War (1861-1865). By the Autumn of 1863 the Confederacy was in dire straits. In a colossal gamble; Confederate President Jefferson Davis stripped forces from all the major Confederate armies to reinforce the Army of Tennessee in a last ditch attempt to crush the Union. On 19th September the Confederates attacked the Union army along Chickamauga creek south of Chattanooga. On the second day of bloody fighting the entire Union right collapsed and the army retreated headlong for Chattanooga; all except General George H. Thomas' Corps who fought on doggedly until nightfall delaying the confederate advance; saving the Union and earning his fame as the "Rock of Chickamauga".
#2439197 in Books Bloomsbury Academic 2006-06-15 2006-06-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 233.93 x 34.92 x 6.14l; 2.55 #File Name: 1852854588624 pages
Review
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful. One of the best books on the Napoleonic period now in printBy Mike JensenBeautifully written; precisely edited and thoroughly researched. Mr. Adams has achieved what no other British writer has done to date - rendered a completely neutral and fair assessment of the wars precipitated by the French Revolution and the reaction to it by the old monarchies of Europe. As one of the other reviewers mentions; it is an absolutely refreshing experience to read the history and see all sides given a fair and frank analysis of motivations and actions. Adams repeatedly provides intriguing and useful insights to the thought processes of Napoleon and Alexander I.My only disappointment is that I've yet to find an English author willing to censure the British attacks on Denmark (a completely neutral and largely powerless nation). The naval action of Copenhagen in 1801 and the bombardment of that city and confiscation of the Danish fleet in 1807 were nothing less than heinous acts of bald-faced aggression which resulted in the deaths of many innocents. I was pleased; however; that Adams correctly points out that Napoleon had long abandoned his plans to invade England by the time the battle of Trafalgar was fought and that battle was in no wise pivotal to modern history as many claim.I highly recommend this book as one of the best written histories of the period - period!4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Never BoringBy James V. MacleanThe author does a wonderful job reconstructing the relationship between Napoleon and Russia. It is interesting to see the re-evaluation of the role of Alexander I in both this work and Rites of Peace; by Adam Zamoyski. Since the fall of Napoleon there has been this myth that has arisen concerning the role played by England and Russia in achieving Napoleon's fall. It is also interesting to see the mythos that surrounds Alexander I being finally corrected. The one criticism is the author states that Sweden's King Gustav IV was assassinated; rather he fell in a Coup d'etat and then abdicated.Great Read11 of 11 people found the following review helpful. Excellent Refreashing AccountBy Aussie ReaderMichael Adam's new book; "Napoleon and Russia" is an excellent account about the uneasy relationship between Napoleon and Russia from the 1790's through to 1815. It's a great historical account covering the many battles and people involved during this period of time. We not only get to read about Napoleon and Alexander I; but also of the many Napoleonic Marshals and Russian commanders like Ney; Murat; Davout; Suvorov; Kutuzov and Barclay de Tolly who fought some of the greatest battles of the Napoleonic period.The book is refreshing in it's accounts of the many battles fought between France and Russia; offering gripping descriptions of the fighting at Austerlitz; Eylau; Friedland; Borodino; Lutzen; Bautzen; Dresden and Leipzig. For once we have an author who places greater emphasis on these battles rather than Trafalgar; the Peninsular campaign and Waterloo.I found the book very easy to read; thrilling almost in its style. I was gripped by the story till the very end. As the previous review has mentioned (.co.uk); Adam's appears to sometimes go a little easy on Napoleon but in doing so he offers valid reasons for accepting a particular version of events. It's a nice change to read an account of Napoleon without him being blamed for every disaster or being described as an insatiable glory hunting ogre.The author offers valid reasons for accepting one account or reason for Napoleon's actions over another and he is convincing in most cases. Having said that; the author doesn't let Napoleon off the hook for his mistakes and Adam's ensures that he brings those to the reader's attention. The book appears to be a fair and balanced account of the period of relationship between France and Russia during the time of Napoleon's reign.Overall the book is a great historical account; well researched; refreshing in its approach and easy to read. The book has 560 pages of narrative with a number of maps; which are reasonable and allow the reader to follow the course of the battle described. What I found to be a bonus in this book was the bibliographical essay at the end; which gave me a few good ideas on books that I should also consider buying for my library. I would have no hesitation in recommending this book to any Napoleonic buff or anyone interested in military or general European history; it's a damn good book.
