The 5 Biggest Civil War Battles: Gettysburg, Chickamauga, Spotsylvania Court House, Chancellorsville, and The Wilderness - Softcover

Charles River Editors

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1492244775 ISBN 13: 9781492244776

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2013

Synopsis

*Includes pictures of the battles' important generals.
*Includes several maps of the battles.
*Includes accounts of the battles written by important generals.
*Includes a Bibliography for each battle..
Americans have long been fascinated by the Civil War, marveling at the size of the battles, the leadership of the generals, and the courage of the soldiers. Since the war's start over 150 years ago, the battles have been subjected to endless debate among historians and the generals themselves.
By 1863, the Civil War had reached a level of ferocity not yet seen, and the 5 biggest battles would take place in 1863-1864, starting with Chancellorsville. Of all the Civil War battles fought, and of all the victories achieved by Robert E. Lee at the command of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, the Battle of Chancellorsville is considered the most tactically complex and ultimately the most brilliant Confederate victory of the war. Despite being outnumbered by over 2-1, Lee's army won a battle that saw 30,000 casualties inflicted upon the two sides.
Less than 2 months later, the Army of the Potomac and Army of Northern Virginia faced off in the most famous and biggest battle of the war at Gettysburg. Day 1 of the battle would have been one of the 25 biggest battles of the Civil War itself, and it ended with a tactical Confederate victory. But over the next two days, Lee would try and fail to dislodge the Union army with attacks on both of its flanks during the second day and Pickett’s Charge on the third and final day. Meade’s stout defense held, barely, repulsing each attempted assault, handing the Union a desperately needed victory that ended up being one of the Civil War’s turning points.
The second bloodiest battle of the Civil War came in September 1863 at Chickamauga, which saw George H. Thomas save the Union Army of the Cumberland from a disaster on the second day of the battle after a Union blunder had created a gap in the line. After nearly 35,000 casualties suffered by the two sides, Thomas prevented the destruction of the Union army by Braxton Bragg's Army of Tennessee, and Chickamauga's long been considered the last great chance for the Confederates in the West.
With Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia continuing to frustrate the Union Army of the Potomac’s attempts to take Richmond in 1862 and 1863, President Lincoln shook things up by turning command of all the armies of the United States to Ulysses S. Grant in March 1864.Attaching himself to the Army of the Potomac, Grant ordered Army of the Potomac commander George Meade, "Lee's army is your objective point. Wherever Lee goes, there you will go also."
At the Battle of the Wilderness (May 5-7, 1864), Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee had fought to a standstill in their first encounter, failing to dislodge each other despite incurring nearly 30,000 casualties between the Union Army of the Potomac and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Despite the fierce fighting, Grant continued to push his battered but resilient army south, hoping to beat Lee’s army to the crossroads at Spotsylvania Court House, but Lee’s army beat Grant’s to Spotsylvania and began digging in, setting the scene for on and off fighting from May 8-21 that ultimately inflicted more casualties than the Battle of the Wilderness. In fact, with over 32,000 casualties among the two sides, it was the deadliest battle of the Overland Campaign.
The 5 Biggest Civil War Battles comprehensively covers all 5 battles, including the events that led up to the battle, the fighting itself, and the aftermath of the battles. Accounts of the battles by important participants are also included, along with maps of the battles and pictures of important people, places, and events. You will learn about the 5 bloodiest Civil War battles like you never have before.

Edition details

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1492244775
• ISBN 13: 9781492244776
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 236