$24.75 (34% off) MARYLAND CAMPAIGN OF $19.77 (34% off) Valley Thunder $25.51 (27% off) Confederate Alamo $23.10 (34% off) The Great Task Remaining $19.77 (34% off) A Small but Spartan

1. MARYLAND CAMPAIGN OF SEPTEMBER 1862, THE: Volume 1, South Mountain by Ezra Carman, Thomas Clemens List Price: Price: You Save: US$37.50 US$24.75 US$12.75 (34%) Category: Hardcover (2010-05-19) Publisher: Savas Beatie ISBN: 1932714812 Sales Rank: 187533 Lowest New Price: $23.51 Lowest Used Price: $29.73 (4 Used Items) Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan Product Description When Robert E. Lee marched his Army of Northern Virginia into Maryland in early September 1862, Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan moved his reorganized and revitalized Army of the Potomac to meet him. The campaign included some of the bloodiest, most dramatic, and influential combat of the entire Civil War. Combined with Southern failures in the Western Theater, the fighting dashed the Confederacy's best hope for independence, convinced President Abraham Lincoln to announce the Emancipation Proclamation, and left America with what is still its bloodiest day in history. One of the campaign's participants was Ezra A. Carman, the colonel of the 13th New Jersey Infantry. Wounded earlier in the war, Carman would achieve brigade command and fight in more than twenty battles before being mustered out as a brevet brigadier general. After the horrific fighting of September 17, 1862, he recorded in his diary that he was preparing "a good map of the Antietam battle and a full account of the action." Unbeknownst to the young officer, the project would become the most significant work of his life. Appointed as the "Historical Expert" to the Antietam Battlefield Board in 1894, Carman and the other members solicited accounts from hundreds of veterans, scoured through thousands of letters and maps, and assimilated the material into the hundreds of cast iron tablets that still mark the field today. Carman also wrote an 1,800-page manuscript on the campaign, from its start in northern Virginia through McClellan's removal from command in November 1862. Although it remained unpublished for more than a century, many historians and students of the war consider it to be the best overall treatment of the campaign ever written. Dr. Thomas G. Clemens (editor), recognized internationally as one of the foremost historians of the Maryland Campaign, has spent more than two decades studying Antietam and editing and richly annotating Carman's exhaustively written manuscript. The result is 'The Maryland Campaign of September 1862', Carman's magisterial account published for the first time in two volumes. Jammed with firsthand accounts, personal anecdotes, maps, photos, a biographical dictionary, and a database of veterans' accounts of the fighting, this long-awaited study will be read and appreciated as battle history at its finest. About the Authors: Ezra Ayres Carman was born in Oak Tree, New Jersey, on February 27, 1834, and educated at Western Military Academy in Kentucky. He fought with New Jersey organizations throughout the Civil War, mustering out as a brevet brigadier general. He was appointed to the Antietam National Cemetery Board of Trustees and later to the Antietam Battlefield Board in 1894. Carman also served on the Chattanooga-Chickamauga Battlefield Commission. He died in 1909 on Christmas day and was buried just below the Custis-Lee mansion in Arlington Cemetery. ... Read more Customer Reviews Average Customer Review: Based on 6 reviews. A Must Have For those wishing to gain a thorough understanding of the consequential September 1862 Maryland Campaign, this book is a must. Expertly edited and annotated by Dr. Thomas Clemens, one of the leading authorities on the campaign, Ezra Carman's exhaustive work provides an in-depth look at the campaign, the leaders, the strategies, and the blow-by-blow action on the field of battle. Simply stated, one's Civil War library is incomplete without this important work. Great Book! This was one of the best civil war books I have read. Is was not full of political bias that I have always run into with other authors. This book demonstrated the enormous tasks, i.e. logistics, communication, obeying orders, etc involved on both sides of any given battle. It also brought to light all the other battles that were fought leading up to the large fight at antiedam. It was made very clear in this book that both sides made plenty of mistakes and one breakdown in communication, logistics, poor leadership could cause an entire battle to drift one way or the other. I can't wait for Vol. 2 to come out. Great Details Very good book; the footnotes alone are worth the price... although I quickly found that Clemens is VERY sympathetic to McClelland, while Carman hated Halleck's guts. Very good history book. Carman would be pleased indeed Until the appearance of Joseph Pierro's book presenting Carman's manuscript, the work was available only to those students who took the effort to examine the original manuscript. Pierro's book was passable, but it contained several drawbacks: it is very expensive, there are absolutely no maps, and Pierro's footnotes are woefully incomplete. Pierro only sourced most of Carman's manuscript, and there's very little discussion or explanation. The reader is left to determine for him/herself the veracity of Carman's conclusions, and the context in which they are made. In addition to all of this, a frontispiece photograph in the book which claims to be that of Carman isn't even him - it's another Federal officer. The editing process truly failed in that respect. Now, we have this first of two volumes of Carman's life's labor by "Mr. Antietam" himself, Tom Clemens. And Tom richly deserves the nickname. Anyone familiar with the Maryland Campaign and scholars of it, know that if Carman himself were to choose an editor, he'd pick Tom. And Carman would have picked this presentation by Savas-Beatie. There are lots of maps, absolutely necessary for such a work. In his copious footnotes, Clemens doesn't just source Carman's work - he explains it. He takes Carman to task when necessary. Hardly anyone knows the Maryland Campaign better than Clemens, and his knowledge base shows - especially when discussing South Mountain and the movements of the armies. I eagerly await Volume 2. These volumes now present Carman's compilation for the masses, in an easy-to-use format, plenty of maps, and explanatory notes. As for Pierro's book, I'm donating mine to the local library once I have Clemens' second volume. Carman would be very proud indeed. An exhaustive accounting, originally assembled from the testimonies of hundreds of veterans The Maryland Campaign of September 1862 Volume 1: South Mountain presents the historical manuscript originally assembled by Ezra A. Carman, once a colonel of the 13th New Jersey Infantry during the American Civil War, and later appointed as the "Historical Expert" to the Antietam Battlefield Board in 1894. Now rendered in a new edition, edited by Dr. Thomas G. Clemens (a historian with particular expertise in the Maryland Campaign), The Maryland Campaign of September 1862 Volume 1 is an exhaustive accounting, originally assembled from the testimonies of hundreds of veterans, as well as thousands of letters and maps. An extensive introduction familiarizes the reader with the origins and importance of the manuscript, as well as the research and presentation processes that Carman used. The Maryland Campaign of September 1862 is an excellent addition to college library and Civil War reference shelves, deserving the highest recommendation. ... Read more Similar Items: 1. Valley Thunder: The Battle of New Market and the Opening of the Shenandoah Campaign, May 1864 2. The Battle of Brandy Station (VA): North America's Largest Cavalry Battle (Civil War Sesquicentennial) 3. The Grand Design: Strategy and the U.S. Civil War 4. Confederate Alamo: Bloodbath at Petersburgs Fort Gregg on April 2, 1865 5. Stoneman's Raid, 1865 .

2. Valley Thunder: The Battle of New Market and the Opening of the Shenandoah Campaign, May 1864 by Charles Knight List Price: Price: You Save: US$29.95 US$19.77 US$10.18 (34%) Category: Hardcover (2010-05-19) Publisher: Savas Beatie ISBN: 1932714804 Sales Rank: 126309 Lowest New Price: $19.23 Lowest Used Price: $15.98 (7 Used Items) Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan Product Description Charles R. Knight's 'Valley Thunder' is the first full-length account in more than three decades to examine the combat at New Market on May 15, 1864-the battle that opened the pivotal 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, who set in motion the wide-ranging operation to subjugate the South in 1864, intended to attack the Confederacy on multiple fronts so it could no longer "take advantage of interior lines." One of the keys to success in the Eastern Theater was control of the Shenandoah Valley, a strategically important and agriculturally abundant region that helped feed Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Grant tasked Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel, a German immigrant with a mixed fighting record, and a motley collection of units numbering some 10,000 men to clear the Valley and threaten Lee's left flank. Opposing Sigel was John C. Breckinridge, a former vice president and now Confederate major general who assembled a scratch command to repulse the invading Federals. Included within the ranks of his 4,500-man army were cadets from the Virginia Military Institute under the direction of VMI Commandant of Cadets Lt. Col. Scott Ship, who had marched eighty miles in just four days to fight Sigel. When the two armies faced off at New Market, Breckinridge boldly announced, "I shall advance on him. We can attack and whip them here and we will do it!" As the general rode by the cadets he shouted, "Gentlemen, I trust I will not need your services today; but if I do, I know you will do your duty." The sharp fighting seesawed back and forth during a drenching rainstorm, and was not concluded until the cadets were dramatically inserted into the battle line to repulse a Federal attack and launch one of their own. The Confederate victory drove Union forces from the Valley, but they would return, reinforced and under new leadership, within a month. Before being repulsed, these Federals would march over the field at New Market and capture Staunton, burn VMI in Lexington (partly in retaliation for the cadets' participation at New Market), and very nearly capture Lynchburg. Operations in the Valley on a much larger scale that summer would permanently sweep the Confederates from the "Bread Basket of the Confederacy." 'Valley Thunder: The Battle of New Market' is based upon years of primary research and a firsthand appreciation of the battlefield terrain. Knight's balanced and objective approach includes a detailed examination of the complex prelude leading up to the day of battle. His entertaining prose introduces a new generation of readers to a wide array of soldiers, civilians, and politicians who found themselves swept up in one of the war's most gripping engagements. About the Author: Charles R. Knight is a native of Richmond, Virginia. He is a former Historical Interpreter at New Market Battlefield State Historical Park, and currently serves as the curator of the Douglas MacArthur Memorial. Charlie has written articles for various Civil War and railroad publications, including Blue and Gray, Classic Trains, and NRHS Bulletin. He lives in Norfolk, Virginia, with his wife and son. REVIEWS "Valley Thunder surely takes its place now among the dozen finest and most complete accounts of any Civil War action, and it would be hard to name any account of a secondary fight of this size that has been better treated. Knight's study is a contribution not just to Virginia or Confederate literature, but a book that will serve the entire Civil War community for generations to come, and probably much longer than my thirty-six years. The only way we will get a better account is if Breckinridge and the others come to life and give it to us from their own lips." -- William C. Davis, former editor of Civil War Times, Illustrated, author of The Batt ... Read more Features: ISBN13: 9781932714807 Condition: New Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed Customer Reviews Average Customer Review: Based on 11 reviews. Echoing the other five star reviews This is an extremely well-researched, unbiased, and detailed account of the 1864 Battle of New Market. I intend to take it with me during my next trip down the Shenandoah. Eminently readable and well worth the cost. A must have for any Civil War enthusiast. Definitely worth the time... As a Cadet at VMI, I spent a lot of time at New Market. I was a member of the VMI Civil War Round Table, and every year we did living history weekends as well as participated in the re-enactment every spring. Naturally, I was delighted to hear that a new book on the battle was forthcoming. I found Valley Thunder to be an excellent history of the battle. The re-telling of the campaign can often become distorted by the fact that the VMI cadets fought in it, and certainly much of the focus from the veterans was in preserving that heritage. While I appreciate the role of the cadets, Knight has gone beyond their story to round out the details of the other participants, integrating primary sources from Union as well as other non-VMI Confederate units. His role as an interpreter and historian at the battlefield park has provided him with an intimate understanding of the terrain as well, which is reflected in his easy, natural narrative of not just how but why things unfolded as they did. I do think there is still room for some additional interpretation of Sigel and his role in the campaign. Sigel was not the only one to face difficulties in the Valley, and the defeat was not solely to Sigel's incompetence. The partisan war in the lower Shenandoah raised a constant threat to Union supply lines, and that struggle effected Sigel's efforts more deeply than is usually credited. I think a more nuanced view is possible, and would like a greater discussion of how that threat effected Union decision-making. That, however, is but a very minor quibble. Valley Thunder is now the state-of-the-art New Market battle study. The next time I'm there, I will definitely have Mr. Knight's Book in hand... Dave Powell Great book! (Updated Review) I've never been a big "reviewer", but this one is worth it! I love traveling to civil war sites, I've been to just about all of the major ones. Two months ago I made my first journey to the New Market Battlefield. It was a beautiful field and walking the grounds I realized out of all of my books I didn't have one on New Market. I got home and ordered this one. I loved it! The battlefield is fairly small, so there was no problem picturing the events I was reading about. Like I said, I'm not big on reviews so I'm keeping this short and sweet. This is a great book describing all of the known generals who fought there, as well as lesser known soldiers and cadets. You don't get bogged down with troop movements and you don't get a ton of unnecessary info like alot of civil war books have. You won't regret buying this one! I received an email asking if I liked this book so much then why only 4 stars. Well, simply because 5 out of 5 stars would be a perfect book. I have over 400 civil war books in my collection and I would only rate maybe 5 or so as 5 star books. Shelby Footes 3 book trilogy had me skipping meals so I could read it over my lunch break. Rod Gragg's Covered With Glory and Wiley Sword's The Confederacy's Last Hurrah both moved me to tears. This book didn't do that. Do I think this book is on the same level as them? No, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a great book. If I could give it 4 1/2 stars I would, but Amazon isn't set up that way. Excellent Account of The Great Small Battle that Gave The Confederacy Heart "There was no hint of cowardice in General Sigel, just as certainly there was none of generalship" is one of many first hand accounts that author Charles Knight supplies in the first retelling of the Battle of New Market since William Davis' history of 40 years ago. Knight knows the ground well as evidenced by his descriptions of the battle and his refreshing multitudes of maps. Knight was a historian and guide at the New Market Battlefield, owned and operated by VMI, and lived in the town itself during his time there. Knight provides the critical over view of Grant's 1864 Virginia strategy of attacking simultaneously at several points that coincided with his overland campaign with Averell, Crook and Sigel attacking with separate commands in the valley and in southeast Virginia. Of particular interest is General Ord, one of Grant's favorites who despised Sigel and opted out of the campaign, which was critical in the loss of a decisive commander. Knight covers well Sigel's odd command structure, disruption of unit authority with odd changes of command, his failure to consolidate his army at New Market and his disastrous use of his cavalry starting off with the annihilation of a 300-man brigade east of New Market by Imboden's cavalry. In contrast, Knight describes Breckenridge's quick movements and utilization of not only VMI cadets but also dismounted cavalry taking an aggressive stance, combined with Imboden's delaying tactics, captures the high ground. Knight provides an excellent detail of this battle that is very compact because of the terrain and the fact that it is framed on by the North Fork of Shenandoah on the west and Smith's Creek on the east. Knight's detail is moving and peppered with first hand accounts from both sides and for all units involved he gives an unbiased account of the battle that gives a true depiction while even challenging myths. He certainly covers the role of the cadets well but does not exaggerate their role as the veterans carried the day with the cadets plugging a gap in the middle as the battle progressed, charging with those veterans at the climax of the Confederate final charge. The other great point made by Knight's description was how the battle went back and forth and for a time, in favor of the Union who had excellent field position until Sigel orders a disastrous cavalry charge reminiscent on a small scale of Farnsworth's charge (ordered by Kilpatrick) at Gettysburg. Knight also discusses the strategic consequences of the impact of the battle in that it allows Breckenridge's forces to move east in time for Cold Harbor. However, the consequences were short lived as Grant replaces Sigel with David Hunter who forever changes campaigns in the valley with destruction. Also of particular interest are Knight's delightful appendices that run down some fascinating questions or myths. The best of which is what describing, or attempting to, describe what Imboden was doing on the opposite side of Smith's Creek when the tide turned to the Confederates and cavalry was needed in pursuit. Another appendix of interest was the role of the 1st Missouri cavalry unit that was virtually the only Missouri unit that fought in the eastern theater. I purchased my book at the MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk, VA. where Knight is the curator and he was kind of enough to autograph. An excellent read "Valley Thunder" is an excellent read for both the Civil War enthusiast and the "layman" alike. This book has been touted as the definitive book on the battle of New Market, a title it richly reserves. Charlie Knight's exhaustive research, his grasp of the physical battlefield and his knowledge of the tactics used by both sides are outstanding. Added to this is his liberal and effective use of first-person accounts throughout the book. The combination of these attributes make for a completely enjoyable and educational reading experience. I recommend this book not only to those who wish to study the tactics and the flow of the battle, but also to those who wish to get the feel of being there on the ground. I agree with a previous reviewer: buy the book, read it and then take it with you when you visit the site - in particular during the annual reenactment held there. Armed with the knowledge Charlie Knight imparts, and with the experience of being on the battlefield watching history re-lived, you may just experience a bit of mental time-travel! ... Read more Similar Items: 1. MARYLAND CAMPAIGN OF SEPTEMBER 1862, THE: Volume 1, South Mountain 2. The Battle of Brandy Station (VA): North America's Largest Cavalry Battle (Civil War Sesquicentennial) 3. Confederate Alamo: Bloodbath at Petersburgs Fort Gregg on April 2, 1865 4. Stoneman's Raid, 1865 5. Battles of New Hope Church, The .

3. Confederate Alamo: Bloodbath at Petersburgs Fort Gregg on April 2, 1865 by John Fox List Price: Price: You Save: US$34.95 US$25.51 US$9.44 (27%) Category: Hardcover (2010-04-03) Publisher: Angle Valley Press ISBN: 0971195005 Sales Rank: 376730 Lowest New Price: $19.95 Lowest Used Price: $25.50 (3 Used Items) Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan Product Description Robert E. Lee faced the most monumental crisis of his military career on the morning of April 2, 1865. By sunrise that morning, the Union 6th Corps had punched a huge hole in Lee's outer line, southwest of Petersburg. He needed time for reinforcements to arrive from Richmond, but how could his depleted army buy that time? Amidst overwhelming odds, this suicide mission fell to a handful of Confederates who made a desperate last stand at Fort Gregg. Famous historian Douglas Southall Freeman called this epic fight "one of the most dramatic incidents of an overwhelming day," and yet it has been overshadowed by all the other historic events of April 1865. Fourteen Union soldiers received the Medal of Honor for their bravery at Fort Gregg. Many battle-scarred veterans from both sides described this clash as the nastiest of their four-year war experience. The Confederate Alamo is the first battle study ever written about this strategic fight. (added by author) ... Read more Features: ISBN13: 9780971195004 Condition: New Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed Customer Reviews Average Customer Review: Based on 6 reviews. You MUST read this book! Theodore C. Mahr, Dayton, OH: former National Park Service ranger / historian at Manassas and Fredericksburg-Spotsylvania National Military Parks. Author of: "Early's Valley Campaign: The Battle Go Cedar Creek: Showdown in the Shenandoah, October 1-30, 1864," 1992. (soon to be released in expanded, revised edition ). ============================================================================================================= In the Fall of 1981, while coaching Track & Field at the University of Maryland, my wife and I took a drive south to see the Civil War sites in an around Richmond-Petersburg area. I had always been interested in the Civil War, and, though from Ohio originally, had focused my reading mostly upon the Eastern Theater of war. This was primarily a result of having numerous ancestors who had fought on both sides on the battlefields of Virginia and West Virginia. I had spent much time already looking at the battlefields in the Shenandoah Valley, as that was where many of them had campaigned. Upon learning, however, that I had one great-grandfather, who had served with Sheridan's 2nd Cavalry Division ( and had been wounded near Petersburg ), I was determined to tour those battlefields south of the Confederate capital of Richmond. I wanted to see where he had been in action and to simply gain a better understanding of "what went on there" in that part of the war. I found the spot near Burgess Mill, where my great-grandfather had been hit, but one place we visited on that gloomy, rainy and altogether eerie day on the National Park Service's standard Petersburg "tour," was a lone, squarish, earthen fort, now overgrown with brush and trees, sitting in the center of a large farm-field just off Interstate-85. It was Fort Gregg, but few would know of it because it was not a "real" stop on the tour. Nor was it in anyway under "preservation" or being interpreted at that time. And, when I got back to Maryland, I couldn't find one decent account of it in the general book collection in the libraries at the university. But, something very sublime had drawn my wife and I to stop the car on that rainy day and slog out through the mushy ground to see this curious tree-covered earthwork standing so silently and alone in the middle of this field. e knew something had occurred here just by the location and feeling one experienced in that forlorn location. Later on, after I retired from coaching, I actually began to work for the NPS as a park ranger / historian at Manassas and later Fredericksburg-Spotsylvania NMP's. In this role, I had opportunity in the very late 1980's to once again visit Fort Gregg. Now there was at least an "unofficial" NPS tour-stop number and brief description of a fight that had taken place there in the last days of the siege of Petersburg. But, the old grass-covered, dirt walls of this fort still lay as they had almost a decade earlier---completely isolated, covered in foliage,and still with no interpretation. I had read-up more on what had occurred at Fort Gregg---what little there was to read---as I was now a NPS historian myself, yet there still was not much to explain in detail what had happened there. I only knew now that some "hard" fight had occurred at that location during Grant's efforts to finally punch through Lee's lines in the Spring of 1865. Curiously, on this second trip, I again experienced that mysterious and foreboding feeling that this, for some reason, was indeed very "hallowed" ground. Family and illness drew me away from Virginia for quite some years, and Fort Gregg's alluring presence vanished from my mind. That is until an advance notice of a new book release coming out in 2010 appeared on the Amazon.com website. It was a new book and was about the Battle at Fort Gregg called: "The Confederate Alamo: Bloodbath at Petersburg's Fort Gregg on April 2, 1865," by John J. Fox III. I had seen a copy of Mr. Fox's previous book, "Red Clay to Richmond..." at our library, and it had been so well researched and written that I just had to read his new book on Fort Gregg. Wow! What a story it turned out to be! Now I knew why I had felt that something very important and very sublime had occurred there on my trips much earlier in time---because something had! Simply put, the Federal assault of Fort Gregg--and its defence--ranks as one of the top ten most exciting tales of the Civil War in my estimation, and one that has gone virtually untold, until now. You simply have got to read this book! Other reviewers in this section of the page take time describing the background enough, so I won't waste my few remaining words there. But it truly was one of the toughest and "nastiest" little "bloodbath" fights of the war---just as the title states. And it was an important one too. For had those 300-odd Mississippians and Georgians defending this part of Robert E. Lee's overstretched lines not given their all--to the very last man--in this "Alamo-like" defense, the Army of Northern Virginia may have come to an abrupt and not so suspenseful end, as it managed to do in the heart-braking chase to Appomattox. It was a "bloodbath" for both assaulting Federals and the Confederates defending this tiny Gibraltar on that fateful day in April, 1865, and John Fox covers it so well, I doubt anyone will ever eclipse his efforts. The book is first very well researched, deeply, into very difficult to find primary sources. ( I know, as I have had much experience of my own trying to research "late-war" campaigns--particularly the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864 ). The materials are simply very hard to find for end-of-the-war battles. But John Fox has done his homework exceedingly well and has left no stone unturned to locate and ferret out a treasure trove of first person accounts and records, long forgotten and unused. The result is a "boots-on-the-ground" minute-by-minute, "you are there" read that, not only keeps you from putting the book down, but which has your heart-rate increasing every chapter you cover. Rifle-butts, bayonets, rammers and fists, mounting the ramparts with bullet-torn flags flying--this actually occurred here in this stunning but all true tale of courage and sacrifice. The Ohio, West Virginia, and Connecticut troops who had to take this island of resistance to get through to block Lee's escape westward, paid dearly for every inch of that earthen impediment sitting out in the open but directly in their path to victory. And most of these Ohio and West Virginia units had just come out of some very famous blood-lettings in the Shenandoah Valley at Third Winchester, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek. Yet, many of them stated that this last great fight of their's was the roughest, meanest scrape of all. The Confederates fought as tenaciously as any Rebels did during the entire war---anywhere, and, although ultimately conquered, they had done their duty well. Lee had gained just the barest amount of time by their Spartan-like defense to get his units, which were farther north and east, moving west in a hurry, just ahead of Grant's pursuit toward Appomattox. In addition to the impeccable research and vivid prose, this book has been produced with top-notch quality in mind--something I personally feel is lacking in many Civil War studies of late. You get your money's worth, that's for sure. Here are some of the clearest, most outstanding maps of a battle I have ever seen come off the pen of master cartographer George Skoch. You fellow buffs who "always" ( like me ) decry the too-often dearth of adequate maps in books? ... well you won't find that here. They are plentiful and great. And Fox goes to great lengths to, not only supplement the research, prose, and cartography with a plethora of illustrations, but also provides in-depth appendices of all statistics any Civil War nut would relish. If that isn't enough, the indexing, book production quality, and editing by the skillful Sylvia Frank Rodrigue are beyond well done--they are superb. No one paid me to write this review, and it is actually a ways outside of my own Shenandoah Valley 1864 interests at that. But, I was so very impressed with the entire scope and quality of this book that I just had to let someone know that, if you miss this book, you will deeply regret it. Wake Island has been called the "Alamo of the Pacific," and, no doubt, many look at the 101st Airborne Division's legendary defense at Bastogne as the "Alamo" of the European Theater. But this--Fort Gregg--was indeed a rue "Alamo" of the Civil War. Go get this book--now! I'm telling you, in an age when there is so little truly new coming out on the Civil War, you will find a magnificent gem of altogether fresh material here. It's worth every penny! Now, if John would only do for Fort Stedman what he has done for Fort Gregg, many of us would be pleased as could be! Theodore C. Mahr Dayton, OH The Confederate Alamo by John Fox is a Great Book John Fox has written another winner! Following his acclaimed first book "Red Clay to Richmond" about the 35th Georgia, Mr. Fox provides a compelling narrative of the heroic deeds of both Union and Confederate soldiers at Petersburg, VA in the waning days of the Civil War. The Confederate Alamo highlights the brave acts of a few hundred Confederates at the Fort Gregg strong point who held off thousands of equally brave Union attackers and provided Robert E. Lee time to evacuate Petersburg on April 2, 1865. Coming just a week before Lee's surrender at Appomattox, this battle has been largely overlooked by historians until now, as almost irrelevant. This is hardly the case! Fox transports us back in time, providing thoroughly researched biographical accounts and first-person narratives from survivors, interleaved with the a cogent presentation of the strategic and operational imperatives that sealed their fate. We share the struggles of the few inside the fort- low on ammunition and facing almost certain death but knowing the criticality of their mission to provide time for Lee's Army to escape. Likewise, we march through shot after shot of artillery fire and a hail of well-aimed bullets with the Army of the James attackers who were determined to end the war then and there. While many of the details of the battle have faded, the honor, bravery, and sheer determination shown by the soldiers on both sides are as relevant today as they were 145 years ago. I highly recommend this book. A choice addition to any history collection, highly recommended There were no shortage of bloody battles in the Civil War, but some were bloodier than others. "The Confederate Alamo: Bloodbath at Petersburg's Fort Gregg on April 2, 1865" tells the story of one of the final battles in the Civil War where a small group of Southerners made their last stand against the Union. Looking into the minds of these southerners who wondered if their efforts even mattered, it's a picture of the thoughts of the South at the end of the Civil War and makes for riveting reading, as well as informative history. "The Confederate Alamo" is a choice addition to any history collection, highly recommended. Very hard to put down Outstanding research and detail. The individual soldiers accounts in this book will put you in the battle and give great insight into the hand to hand fighting and last ditch heroics of vastly outnumbered and surrounded collection of Confederate soldiers from different units and states, fighting to give General Lee time to escape General Grant's on rushing hordes. Very hard to put down. Eric W. Buckland Pickett's debacle at Five Forks has caused irrevocable damage to Lee's ability to hold out around Petersburg. Grant sees the opportunity to strike and perhaps, finally, destroy Lee's army. Grant has been dreading that he will awaken one morning to find that Lee has slipped away from the Petersburg defenses and once again been allowed to gain room to maneuver. He does not hesitate. As blue clad soldiers swarm over and through the Confederate defenses, a motley crew of Southerners are ordered to stem the blue tidal wave. With instructions to hold Fort Gregg for as long as possible (the men were quite clear in their minds about what was being asked of them) against odds of almost 15:1, they prepare to meet the onslaught. What follows in Fox's book is a ground level, gut-wrenching tale of unbelievable courage and ferocity. The author sets the stage for the battle extremely well and then once it begins, he throws you into the middle of it to the extent where you can explicitly imagine the fear, horror, anger and adrenaline felt by the attacking Union soldiers AND imagine the desperation, resolve and rage of the Confederate soldiers. You will read this book and upon completing it, will immediately start planning a trip to Petersburg. ... Read more Similar Items: 1. Valley Thunder: The Battle of New Market and the Opening of the Shenandoah Campaign, May 1864 2. Battles of New Hope Church, The 3. The Battle of Brandy Station (VA): North America's Largest Cavalry Battle (Civil War Sesquicentennial) 4. MARYLAND CAMPAIGN OF SEPTEMBER 1862, THE: Volume 1, South Mountain 5. Stoneman's Raid, 1865 .

4. The Great Task Remaining: The Third Year of Lincoln's War by William Marvel List Price: Price: You Save: US$35.00 US$23.10 US$11.9 (34%) Category: Hardcover (2010-06-22) Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt ISBN: 061899064X Sales Rank: 577368 Lowest New Price: $12.79 Lowest Used Price: $11.50 (11 Used Items) Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan Product Description The Great Task Remaining is a striking, often poignant portrait of people balancing their own values—rather than ours—to determine whether the horrors attending Mr. Lincoln’s war were worth bearing in order to achieve his ultimate goals.    As 1863 unfolds, we see the useless bloodbath at Fredericksburg, the disaster at Chancellorsville, the battle of Gettysburg, and the end of the siege of Vicksburg. Then, astonishingly, the Confederacy springs vigorously back to life after the Union triumphs of the summer, setting the stage for Lincoln’s now famous speech on the Pennsylvania battlefield. Without abandoning the underlying sympathy for Lincoln, Marvel makes a convincing argument for the Gettysburg Address as being less of a paean to liberty than an appeal to stay the course in the face of rampant antiwar sentiment.    The Great Task Remaining offers a provocative history of a dramatic year—a year that saw victory and defeat, doubt and riot—as well as a compelling story of a people who clung to the promise of a much-longed-for end. ... Read more Features: ISBN13: 9780618990641 Condition: New Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed Customer Reviews Average Customer Review: Based on 4 reviews. Not one of his good books William Marvel is a respected historian, an excellent author who has produced some very good books. This is not one of his good books and could be the worst book he will write. The first line inside the dust jacket states "Revisionist history at its' best". This large and disjointed book makes every effort to exceed that sentence. This leads to social history being pushed forward at the expense of political and military history. The thoughts and actions of Grant, Lincoln, Davis and Lee are less important than privates and civilians. Marvel takes a harsh view of the war in which the glass is always half empty. There is little analysis of campaigns or the positive things that are occurring for the North. Being an excellent author, his ideas are very convincing and his positions seem logical. The problem being what he says is often questionable if not wrong. In a wish to write a "Revisionist history", Marvel has produced very little of value. Disjointed and dissapointing follow up Having read William Marvel's previous books on Abraham Lincoln and the U.S. Civil War, I had a great deal of high expectations regarding this book. Sadly, I found it greatly lacking in a number of ways and a poor follow on to the previous works. For one thing, the book lacks the insightful commentary of his previous works and the sharp almost laser like focus he brought to his work. The Great Task Remaining meanders all over the place and it is really hard to tell where one story begins and another ends. The writing left a great deal to be desired as did the structure of the book. Trivial contests that have rightfully been consigned to the ash bin of history are given greater play than the Battle's of Gettysburg and Vicksburg combined. The impact of the Emancipation Proclamation is portrayed as entirely negative, when it is mentioned at all. All in all this was not a good follow up to his previous books. I will say in the positive that the elements were there for this to be a wonderful follow up. He had the same great style of using soldiers correspondence and portraying the war as much from their perspective as that of the generals. Marvel is to be commended for trying to show the anger and desperation of the soldiers with the government as well as the fouled up bounties paid and even worse conscription act. Sadly, he completely ignores the Confederate side except when he has to mention them. All in all this is not a good book by most measures. I would strongly recommend passing on this one and hopefully he will learn the lesson from this book and write a better history of the War's final year. MArvelous from Marvel Author Marvel has done a tremendous job in breaking down the Civil War year by year. This is his third book. I hope he writes many more even when he completes the yearly breakdown. He writes in a style that is engrossing. You are not overwhelmed by the wave of date and info sent your way. He makes history come alive. Outstanding Series Continues This is the third volume (of a projected four, each devoted to a separate year) in William Marvel's history of the Civil War from the Union perspective. Marvel's history is unlike any other. This is no exercise in re-evaluation of Union or Confederate strategy or an attempt to understand why the Union prevailed or the South lost. Marvel portrays the war as a great tragedy, one that the antagonists are increasingly reluctant to continue, and his impressive research is evocative of the actual thoughts and feelings of the time, both among the troops and at home. Even well-read Civil War enthusiasts will learn much from this book. ... Read more Similar Items: 1. The Grand Design: Strategy and the U.S. Civil War 2. Lincoln and McClellan: The Troubled Partnership between a President and His General 3. Receding Tide: Vicksburg and Gettysburg- The Campaigns That Changed the Civil War 4. Lincoln's Darkest Year: The War in 1862 5. The Chickamauga Campaign (Civil War Campaigns in the Heartland) .

5. A Small but Spartan Band: The Florida Brigade in Lee's Army of Northern Virginia by Zack C. Waters, James C. Edmonds List Price: Price: You Save: US$29.95 US$19.77 US$10.18 (34%) Category: Hardcover (2010-03-09) Publisher: University Alabama Press ISBN: 0817316795 Sales Rank: 588753 Lowest New Price: $19.39 Lowest Used Price: $18.78 (8 Used Items) Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan Customer Reviews Average Customer Review: Based on 6 reviews. The best book on the subject Doing a unit history is tricky. The author must balance the human-interest stories with military history. It helps if the unit has a signature battle to build the narration around. Star power is another helpful ingredient, a commanding officer that became a general or a well-known personality adds interest. When an author finds the right mix of human interest, military history, signature battle and star power, we are in for a treat. When an author misses the mark, we can have a good read but not a great one. The Florida Brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia was an unlucky unit. Representing a state that was almost a "howling wilderness", the men suffered isolation and a series of incidents that gave them little glory or respect from their peers. Their signature battle was the belated advance on July 3 at Gettysburg. This advance did nothing beyond increasing the casualty count for Pickett's Charge. The authors have a difficult unit. The isolation kept the men from writing letters, reducing the human-interest stories. The unit's commander did not raise much above average. Florida was unable to send much material aid resulting in chronic supply problems. Given all these disadvantages, taking on this project required some dedication. The Florida Brigade, for all of the above reasons, lacks histories. This is one of very few that cover the subject and is the best book on the brigade. However, this is not THE BOOK on the brigade. That book is yet to be written. The author's have done their best. The scholarship is impressive with 46 pages of notes and Bibliography. The text is crisp but lacks "snap". The Brigade's combat record is not inspiring and becomes wearisome as failures mount. There is not enough about the men for me to develop and interest in them as people. While readable and informative, I did not find this enjoyable or able to gain and hold my attention. Having said that, if you want a book on the Florida Brigade, this is it. Excellent I have three ancestors who fought in the 8th Florida's Company D. This book answered many questions I had about the Florida brigade. Well written, thoroughly researched and sourced. Yes, Floridians Did Fight in the Civil War! For those with an interest in Floridians who fought in the Civil War you understand the difficulties in finding good material. For the most part the contributions to the fighting side of the war were limited and source material is difficult to find. This is not to say that Floridians did not do their part for the Confederate effort however. Zack Waters and James Edmonds have spent years researching to try and put an end to the belief that Floridians (or Flowers as they were often called due to Florida being the "Land of Flowers") were cowards in battle as has been put forth in the past. For those Floridians who fought in the Army of Norhtern Virginia they have finally received their due credit. Traditionally the Florida Brigade has consisted of the 2nd, 5th, and 8th Infantry Regiments and was led by Edward A. Perry (thus Perry's Brigade). Three other regiments (9th, 10th, and 11th) were added later in the war. As the war progressed the brigade was at times led by Col. David Lang and later on a permanent basis by Brigadier General Joseph Finegan. The very end of the war saw T.W. Brevard promoted to Brigadier General. Brevard was commanding at the surrender at Appomattox. Perry's Brigade was at many of the major battles of the war though they did not participate in all of them. Floridians suffered major losses at battles such as Seven Pines, Sharpsburg, Gettysburg (they took part in Pickett's Charge), The Wilderness, and Cold Harbor. In addition to battlefield casualties the brigade had major issues with sickness and desertion which became more problematic as the war progressed. Sickness during the siege at Petersburg became rampant as poor rations, poor living conditions (including filth and vermin), and bad weather took their toll. The winter of 1864 prompted Dr. Thomas Palmer to ask that the Florida troops be sent home as they were unaccustomed to such conditions. His request was of course denied. Desertion, or French leave as Waters and Edmonds call it, became a problem for the Confederacy as a whole but a major issue for the Florida brigade. While the above mentioned rations and living conditions played a major part in why men left there were other reasons as well. While a general sense of hoplessness was beginning to take over Waters and Edmonds argue that the home front played a larger part in desertions. While morale was low on the field it was even lower at home. Letters from home described the difficulties those left behind were suffering, including slave issues. Many men were torn between their duty as soldiers and their duty as husbands and fathers. Often being a family man prevailed. It is also argued that a lack of strong command help push men to leave. In the Florida brigade under Finegan many officer positions went unfilled due to both lack of qualified men and also Finegan's failings. Those higher up also must share blame. By not being able to provide food, clothing, and pay to the soldiers the Confederate government must be held accountable. Waters and Edmonds have shown that the men from Florida who fought in the Civil War were neither cowards nor were they the major leaders. These were average men fighting for what they believed in. All they asked in return was to be treated fairly by their government. Unfortunately issues beyond their control did not allow this to happen. While many deserted the large majority remained and ultimately surrendered their weapons at Appomattox, effectively signalling the end of the war. Waters and Edmonds have written a much needed work and they are to be commended for the effort it has taken. The lack of and difficulty in finding Florida material makes this book an achievement to be respected. The notes section runs over 30 pages and contains much valueable information. The bibliography will no doubt be relied upon by generations of future researchers. There are some areas I feel improvements could be made however. As I have seen other reviewers say more maps could be added. This is a consistant gripe with almost every book however. Cartographers could make a living just off of Civil War books with the way we want maps. While overall the writing is good I found myself confused regarding the Seige of Petersburg and what transpired. I don't know much about this though so it could just be my lack of knowledge of the subject. Col. David Lang played a vital role in Perry's Brigade and I would have like to have had more information on him and also on how and why T. W. Brevard was appointed Brigadier General over him. A Small But Spartan Band has earned it's place amongst the important works on Florida during the Civil War. I do not believe this to be the final or ultimately most authoritative work we will see however. That being said based upon what I have seen this is the leader and future authors will rely on the research Waters and Edmonds have done. Recommended! Excellent! Little has been written lately about Florida's part in the War between the States. Dale Cox has written two excellent books on two of the battles (Marianna and Natural Bridge)but this is the first to give justice to the Florida Brigade in Virginia. Which is what one of the themes that was brought up in the beginning of the book. Some of the sources used I've seen before but there is a lot more that I've never even knew existed. The authors have done a excellent job which should correct many of the wrongs written about these men in other books on the history of the war. Modern Florida unit histories are rare only two that I know of in the past 15 years, so this book is a wonderful edition. Now if someone will do the same for the Florida regiments and batteries that served in Tennessee and the Army of Tennessee. High Level of Research and Writing Review of A Small but Spartan Band Thousands of books have been written about the Civil War. Most new books revisit the same tired old subjects again and again. If you want a fresh look at virgin territory in that war that changed America, buy A Small but Spartan Band. I know I'm prejudiced--Zack C. Waters is my brother. He spent decades researching the Florida Brigades and the many battles they fought with Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. By the end of the war, few were left. Their contributions were forgotten, or worse, denigrated by later generations. This book sets the record straight. It should be nominated for the Bancroft Prize and should win. If you wish to read a full review of the book, go to my website ([...]) and get the full treatment. This is a great book that will last as long as people have an interest the War Between the States. ... Read more Similar Items: 1. Thunder on the River: The Civil War in Northeast Florida 2. Valley Thunder: The Battle of New Market and the Opening of the Shenandoah Campaign, May 1864 3. Confederate Alamo: Bloodbath at Petersburgs Fort Gregg on April 2, 1865 4. MARYLAND CAMPAIGN OF SEPTEMBER 1862, THE: Volume 1, South Mountain 5. The Battle of Brandy Station (VA): North America's Largest Cavalry Battle (Civil War Sesquicentennial) .