As the second World War comes to an end; Pence Mefford returns from active duty to New Castle; his small hometown in north central Kentucky. Now armed with his typewriter; Pence writes columns for the local paper; commenting on everything from rural life to world affairs. When war breaks out in Korea; Pence finds himself back on the battlefield; far away from home. He continues to write for the paper; reporting his first-hand perspective on a conflict that threatens to begin another world war. From Kentucky to Korea and back again; Pence's columns chronicle the path of a growing; booming America through the 1950s.
#3528484 in Books Tighe Adrian 2011-03-14Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.02 x 1.31 x 5.98l; 2.06 #File Name: 1456888692516 pagesThe Bristoe Campaign
Review
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful. Sad but True: More errataBy Benjamin C. WorksI hate to come down on Mr. Tighe's labor of love; but other reviewers are correct in that the book's text needs very serious editorial rework to make it publishable to stand a fair test of time. I'd frankly like to see a second edition; so I offer these observations.Sadly; along with the text; many of his maps are also in need of re-work; especially towards the beginning and end. But before that; I would observe that the November 7 battle of Rapahannock Station deserves more than one sentance in epilogue when it serves as the capstone of the Bristoe Campaign. I would also make a segue into the Mine Run Campaign of late November; since it represents a continuity for Meade and Lee and takes place "just down the street."I have been a resident of Culpeper County for the last four years and had been poking around the back roads for much of that time. I ordered up a copy of Mr. Tighe's book four weeks back; having begun my own exploration of the Bristoe operations in the last couple of months; and also; related operations in Orange; Madison; Rapahannock; Fauquier and Prince William counties.So about many of the maps between pp 24 159 as well as maps on pp 386 434:1. James City (now Leon)is in Madison County at the junction of US 29 and local Rte 631; not in Culpeper County. Tighe has it way too far east.2. Thoroughfare Mountain is in Madison County just behind James City-Leon. Tighe's maps have it too close to Culpeper and to the real Cedar Mountain.3. What Tighe's maps label Cedar Mountain is really Mount Pony; at the Junction of US 522 (Zachary Taylor Highway) and VA Rte 3 (Germanna Highway).4. What he labels "Pony Mountain" is really Buzzard Mountain; just NE of Rapidan Station and the Rapidan River east of Rapidan Road (Culpeper local Rte 615).5. The real Cedar Mountain is not labeled though shown just east of his siting of Thoroughfare Mountain. In reality Cedar Mountain (site of Stonewall Jackson's Aug. 9 1862 victory) lies just east of US Rte 15 (Orange Road) and just west of US 522 and the Orange Alexandria (OA)railway line near Mitchell's Station and Winston.6. Buzzard Mountain (Tighe's Pony Mountain) is a bit further west than his plot and is just east of Rapidan Road in Culpeper (local Rte 615).7. Tighe has Stonehouse Mountain (west of Culpeper town) and Fleetwood Hill (near Brandy Station) "just right."8. Other maps of operations from Auburn to Bristoe and back down to Brandy Station are about right; with no critical errors that I saw.Tighe's book (warts and all) could be helpful to the Virginia Civil War Commission; The Civil War Trust and others seeking to improve the marking of battle and maneuver sites in the area of this campaign. In particular; the site of the Jeffersonton cavalry engagement could use some official site marking. Auburn/Coffee Hill; Bristoe/Bristow and Rapahannock Station (now Remington) are well marked; but other sites (present day Catlett's; Calverton; Casanova; Bealeton;Greenwich and Buckland) could use some official attention.Benjamin WorksCulpeper; VA1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Excellent Civil War Operational HistoryBy WALThis is a detailed yet readable Civil War history at the operational level. I would highly recommend it to readers interested in gaining a better understanding the generalship of George Meade and RE Lee and of how military campaigns were planned; developed; and then evolved during the Civil War.Three aspects are of special note. First; the narrative provide an excellent example of how to present operations as they appeared to the commanders at the time; while minimizing the influence of the unerring judgment of hindsight. Also; the author has not chosen to pick a side from which to tell the story of the Bristoe campaign. This combination is relatively rare in Civil War history; where advocacy of some kind usually seems to be present. Finally; also relatively rare; the book includes a full set of maps; important for a campaign that featured mainly maneuvering by the two armies.The plans and operations involved in the Bristoe campaign provide insight into why George Meade was able to effectively neutralize RE Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia: he refused to allow Lee to flank him. Although it is not often emphasized; when the Army of Northern Virginia had the operational initiative; i.e. was fighting offensively; it achieved its greatest successes when able to attack a flank of the Army of the Potomac. In contrast to McClellan; Pope; and Hooker; Meade would not give battle if he perceived himself vulnerable to having his flanks turned; this was true at Gettysburg and in the Bristoe campaign. Since Lee did not have the numbers for an attritional approach; he needed to be able to maneuver against the flanks of the Army of the Potomac to force them to fight on unfavorable terms. When Meade himself maneuvered to avoid this situation; Lee did not have a viable alternative. (Interestingly; Lee appeared to recognize this potential; when he made the comment that Meade "would commit no blunder in my front.....")"The Bristoe Campaign" also provides a deeper understanding of Meade's direction of the Army of the Potomac. He is often described as being "cautious" or "timid"; especially by the politicians; who felt an imperative to press for decisive action. This is not really accurate; as Meade's operations in the Bristoe campaign show that while he was careful; his basic approach was the same as that of RE Lee; that is; he thought of offensive action as maneuvering to threaten the flanks or supply line of his opponent. In the campaign; he twice attempted offensive actions to gain Lee's flank or attack what was perceived as isolated parts of Lee's army; only to learn that Lee had already moved. It took Grant coming east in 1864 to introduce an attritional approach to break the stalemate that had developed between these two armies.It should be noted that this book is not a particularly easy read and is not in the romanticized tradition common to Civil war battle history; and contains only minimal amounts of the personality descriptions and vignettes about campaigning. This has a positive side; as it allows the reader to draw their own conclusions about the judgment and actions of characters like AP Hill; Stuart; Kilpatrick; and Warren. There are a few typos and grammatical errors.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. From a laymens perspective.By Steven P MorinI enjoyed the book. Not the smoothest and could use some grammatical review but a very good overall coverage of these actions. I thought the maps; in spite of some questionable accuracy; were very helpful in visualization. In the scheme; for me; the inaccuracies are not a big deal. I did enjoy the Appendices sections; thought for me; some were a tad tedious. It is the most detailed information I've found on the infantry actions. I admit to a connection and my reason to seek this book out. I knew my home county 125th NY was there and I enjoy researching their exploits. I have also previously read of Gen Custer during this period and so had some knowledge of the campaign from a cavalry perspective.
