Petersburg 1864–65

The longest siege

Petersburg 1864–65 cover

Description

In 1864, Petersburg, Virginia became the setting for one of the last great campaigns of the American Civil War (1861-1865) and the longest siege in American History. After his failure to capture Richmond in the Spring, General Ulysses S. Grant decided to strangle the life out of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia by surrounding the city of Petersburg and cutting off General Robert E. Lee's supply lines.

The ensuing siege would carry on for nearly ten months, involve 160,000 soldiers, and see a number of pitched battles including the Battle of the Crater, Reams Station, Hatcher's Run, and White Oak Road. But around these battles were long days of living in trenches, enduring poor diet and winter weather, and suffering constant artillery bombardment. In April of 1865, Grant ordered a sweeping offensive against the beleaguered Confederates, which broke Lee's right flank and forced him to retreat to Appomattox Court House, where he surrendered a week later.

Written by an expert on the American Civil War, this book examines the last clash between the armies of U.S. Grant and Robert E. Lee.

Table of Contents

Origins of the campaign
Chronology
Opposing commanders
Opposing armies
Orders of battle
Opposing Plans
The campaign and siege
The battles
Aftermath
The battlefield today
Further reading
Index

Product details

Published May 19 2009
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 96
ISBN 9781846033551
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 40 b/w; 33 col
Dimensions 10 x 7 inches
Series Campaign
Short code CAM 208
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Ron Field

Ron Field is an internationally acknowledged exper…

Illustrator

Peter Dennis

Peter Dennis was inspired by contemporary magazine…

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