Overview

"Continuing the study of field fortifications he began in """"Field Armies and Fortifications in the Civil War"""", Earl J. Hess turns to the 1864 Overland campaign to cover battles from the Wilderness to Cold Harbor. A grueling form of trench warfare became a key feature of tactical operations during this phase of the war in Virginia. Drawing on meticulous research in primary sources and careful examination of trench remnants at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, and Bermuda Hundred, Hess describes Union and Confederate earthworks and how Grant and Lee used them in this new era of field entrenchments. According to Hess, the heavy reliance on earthworks by both armies in the Overland campaign was driven by Grant's relentless attacks against Lee, not by the widespread use of rifle muskets, as historians have previously argued. Entrenchments kept the armies within striking distance and compelled soldiers to dig in for protection. Despite suffering massive casualties, Grant seized control of the strategic initiative and retained it for the rest of the war in the eastern theater. Illustrated by rare, historic photographs and new detailed maps of the trench remnants, this book constitutes the second installment of a three-volume study of field fortifications in the eastern campaigns."

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9780807831540

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Reviews

This fine book covers a significant unexplored topic in gratifying depth.<br>--Robert K. Krick, author of Stonewall Jackson at Cedar Mountain and Civil War Weather in Virginia

The author covers familiar ground in writing about these battles, but does it in a brisk, informative way, offering his own analysis of command decisions and outcomes. . . . A valued resource.--H-Civil War Hess's understanding of field fortifications is expertly conveyed, as are his explanations of why and how specific trenches were built. Maps and photographs add a visual layer to understanding the campaign. . . . Well-written and researched.--Maryland Historical Magazine A significant addition to the military history of the American Civil War and adds an important argument to a topic generally ignored by Civil War historians.--Canadian Journal of History

A significant addition to the military history of the American Civil War and adds an important argument to a topic generally ignored by Civil War historians.-- Canadian Journal of History

aFor military specialists and Civil War enthusiasts . . . Those with such a focused interest will be rewarded by reading Hess' intense study. <br> -- The Journal of Southern History

Author Information

Earl J. Hess is associate professor of history at Lincoln Memorial University. He is author of several books, including Lee's Tar Heels: The Pettigrew-Kirkland-MacRae Brigade and Pickett's Charge—The Last Attack at Gettysburg.

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