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The Last Citadel: Petersburg, Virginia, June 1864-April 1865
written by Noah Andre Trudeau
Studio : Louisiana State University Press
by Louisiana State University Press
Publisher : Louisiana State University Press
Released : 1993-04
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9780807118610
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 9 reviews)
List Price : $25.95
Our Price : $11.50
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Product Description |
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No other battle, no other campaign of the Civil War, equaled the siege of Petersburg, Virginia. For 292 days, the war's final drama was played out over the fate of this once gracious Southern town, "the last bulwark of the Confederacy." Drawing upon letters, diaries, and reminiscences from both sides, The Last Citadel re-creates this siege between Grant and Lee and their armies. 20 line drawings and 20 maps. |
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Petersburg under a magnifying glasss |
This book is a in-depth study of the Petersburg campaign in the Civil War.
Not fot the causul reader, but for anyone wishing to study the campaign in depth, this is the book for you. |
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Indispensable work pertaining to a much-neglected chapter of the Civil War. |
The Siege of Petersburg was the prelude to the final chapter of our Nation's Civil War, but seems to get by-passed by many contemporary historians, as do most of the battles and campaigns following the Battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg. "The Last Citadel" fills this gap with overwhelming clarity and success. The work is thoroughly researched with a plethora of primary sources incorporated right into the text. The author's writing style is exquisite as he skillfully guides the reader through the thoughts and experiences of all ranks, north and south, in this incredibly balanced account of the battles for the Cockade City. The maps contained in the book could be a bit more thorough, but give a clear understanding of the events that transpired on the battlefield. Included in the appendix is a full bibliography that gives an extensive list for further reading, also indluded are both armies' order of battle for the campaign.
I highly recommend this title along with the author's other two works pertaining to the 1864-65 campaign in the eastern theatre, "Bloody Roads South" and "Out of the Storm", for anyone interested in experiencing the full flavor of the campaign that decisively brought about the conclusion of the American Civil War.
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Nice portrayal of the battle for and siege of Petersburg |
This is a very nice rendering of the Battle of Petersburg. Many Civil War buffs recall General Robert E. Lee's words: "We must destroy this Army of Grant's before he gets to the James River. If he gets there it will become a siege, and then it will be a mere question of time."
This book provides in great detail the battle for Petersburg. It provides insights into General Beauregard's wise disposition of forces at the start of the battle, and his weak opponent, General "Baldy" Smith, who was quite tentative at that time. And the usually reliable Winfield Scott Hancock did not have one of his finer days at the outset.
There follow the tales: the well conceived breaking off of the engagement at Cold Harbor and Grant's subsequent movement across the James River to Petersburg; the pendulum swings, as Grant lengthened the Confederate trenches by attacking and lengthening his own trenches; the Battle of the Crater, a great lost opportunity (the final act of incompetence by General Ambrose Burnside, as he was relieved after his ineffectual generalship here); the Confederate raid on the Union's "beefsteak" by Wade Hampton; Gordon's desperate effort to break out; Sheridan's crushing defeat of Pickett at Five Forks; Grant's subsequent statement that "I have ordered a general assault along the lines."
Then, the race to Appomattox Station began. . . .
Sometimes, the tale becomes a bit stale. Overall, though, this is a very useful volume on the key siege at Petersburg.
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"The Last Cidadel "-A lost oppurtunity to tell the story! |
I purchased this book with great anticipation. After reading it I am still anticipating being treated to a stratgic review of the final approach to this phase of the conflict. The author's treatment of the this part of civil war history seems disjointed.
We get snipets of various encounters between the Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomic but with no indepth joining narrative explaining the context and the implication of the outcome. The maps are almost useless in format and connection with the current text. It is possible that Tredueau has done the best job possible with a meager record of this period of history. I still believe however that an opputunity exists for someone to tell a compelling story of this phase of the war. |
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A Very Good Treatment of the Petersburg Campaign |
Many Civil War histories cover the Petersburg Campaign in a fell swoop of attrition warfare, privation among the defenders and inhabitants of Petersburg and Grant's slow and methodical picking of Lee's lock hold on this strategic Southern transportation hub. Trudeau gives description to the very many major battles that encompassed Grant's attempts to first break through Lee's stout defensive lines then string the Confederates thinly by forcing them to extend to their right to cover remaining rail lines.
This is an excellent book which covers the strategy, battles, siege warfare, life in the trenches and civilian existence during the 290 plus day siege (the longest siege of any American city). Anyone familiar with Trudeau's more recent Gettysburg, will appreciate the author's enlivenment of the big picture with contemporary observations by participants of all ranks. Many fascinating details of the siege emerge in this telling such as the City Point sabotage, the Great Beef Raid, as well as the more familiar Grant's stolen march across the James, Battle of the Crater, and breakthrough following Five Forks.
The only curiosity is that the author did not treat Five Forks and Dinwiddie Courthouse in detail, treating them as out-of-theater events like the capture of Atlanta and Thomas' victories over Hood. My only guess is that as they were fought under Sheridan -- recently from the Shenandoah - the author considered these not part and parcel of the Petersburg Campaign. I think the historical record differs from that assumption, but it does not take away from an altogether fine book.
I do agree with some of the quibbles about lack of detail on some of the maps. While not true for every beginning of chapter map, there were a few which did not contain enough detail to allow them to be easily followed. On the other hand, he does have maps for every major engagement plus a good overall map showing all of the fortifications along each side's lines.
Any Civil War enthusiast looking for a very good treatment of the Siege of Petersburg will be well satisfied with this book.
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