This is the fifth; and final, book in the series chronicling the Union army's five week Overland Campaign. Readers of the earlier volumes know the thorough research of the author. This book is no exception. The author captures the importance of field works and how miserable it was to endure in them day after day. Although I have more interest in the Army of the Potomac than their adversaries, he provides a balanced, yet analytical, discussion of events on both sides.
I especially enjoyed the discussion of June 15th assault on the Confederate defenses of Petersburg. I'd had the privilege of being with Will Greene and Jimmy Blankenship as Will prepared for one of his spring tours dealing with the June 15th assault on Petersburg, and then going along on the tour shortly thereafter. The Civil War Fortification Study Group also spent two days walking the terrain of the entire June 15-18 effort. It is obvious that Gordon Rhea has also walked all of the terrain covered in the book; one can tell when an author hasn't.
I was surprised to learn how badly General Grant seems to have "dropped the ball" on ordering coordination of the assault on Petersburg. Grant to me is an interesting person, and his career is fascinating, both during the war and afterwards. Grant, like all the other major participants on both sides, was complicated, multidimensional, and very ambitious. Grant, as did Lee, made his share of mistakes. But overall he seems to have learned from them and I believe he did an overall excellent job throughout his career.
Finally, the maps were well done, clear, and appeared at just the right place.
This book, like its predecessors, is excellent and is an invaluable addition, along with its earlier companion volumes, to the library of any one with a serious interest in the Army of the Potomac and/or the Army of Northern Virginia.
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Reviews with images
Although he goes into great detail backed up by many primary sources I feel ...
Of all the large movements/battles the crossing of the James is probably the least covered. Most books end at Coldwater or begin at Petersburg, but how did Grant get his army there? After four superb volumes on the overland campaign Mr. Rhea finally gives us the final volume: The transition from the Overland Campaign to the first Petersburg battles. Although he goes into great detail backed up by many primary sources I feel even with my small knowledge he could have added a little more from the soilders point of view as in his first four volumes. But he does make up for it with as much movement going on he is very definitive in his writing and it helps that the publisher added many maps that are easy to follow and help follow what could have been a overwhelming read with so many troops involved and all the movements. Pontoons, boats, marching all clearly defined in writing and maps. Overall great book that fills a huge gap.
