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Loading... Field Armies and Fortifications in the Civil War: The Eastern Campaigns,…by Earl J. Hess
The first book of a trilogy dealing with field fortifications in the Eastern theater of the American Civil War, Hess gives a close examination of the process by which the contending forces became habituated to the need for quick entrenchment, climaxing in this book with the abortive Mine Run campaign, where the Army of Norther Virginia was able to checkmate the Army of the Potomac with their entrenching ability. Other useful sections focus on the respective races to fortify the capitals of Richmond and Washington, not to mention the proper by-the-book reduction of Battery Wagner in Charleston. It might also be noted that this work is greatly enhanced by the author's examination of the surviving field works. (  ) Shrike58 | Oct 12, 2009 |  no reviews | add a review
Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0807829315, Hardcover)The eastern campaigns of the Civil War involved the widespread use of field fortifications, from Big Bethel and the Peninsula to Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Charleston, and Mine Run. While many of these fortifications were meant to last only as long as the battle, Earl J. Hess argues that their history is deeply significant. The Civil War saw more use of fieldworks than did any previous conflict in Western history.Hess studies the use of fortifications by tracing the campaigns of the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia from April 1861 to April 1864. He considers the role of field fortifications in the defense of cities, river crossings, and railroads and in numerous battles. Blending technical aspects of construction with operational history, Hess demonstrates the crucial role these earthworks played in the success or failure of field armies. He also argues that the development of trench warfare in 1864 resulted from the shock of battle and the continued presence of the enemy within striking distance, not simply from the use of the rifle-musket, as historians have previously asserted. Based on fieldwork at 300 battle sites and extensive research in official reports, letters, diaries, and archaeological studies, this book should become an indispensable reference for Civil War historians. (retrieved from Amazon Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:35:17 -0500) No library descriptions found. |
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