With To the North Anna River, the third book in his
outstanding five-book series, Gordon C. Rhea continues his spectacular
narrative of the initial campaign between Ulysses S. Grant and
Robert E. Lee in the spring of 1864. May 13 through 25, a phase
oddly ignored by historians, was critical in the clash between
the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia. During
those thirteen days—an interlude bracketed by horrific battles
that riveted the public's attention—a game of guile and endurance
between Grant and Lee escalated to a suspenseful draw on Virginia's
North Anna River. From the bloodstained fields of the Mule Shoe
to the North Anna River, with Meadow Bridge, Myers Hill, Harris
Farm, Jericho Mills, Ox Ford, and Doswell Farm in between, grueling
night marches, desperate attacks, and thundering cavalry charges
became the norm for both Grant's and Lee's men. But the real
story of May 13–25 lay in the two generals' efforts to outfox
each other, and Rhea charts their every step and misstep. Realizing
that his bludgeoning tactics at the Bloody Angle were ineffective,
Grant resorted to a fast-paced assault on Lee's vulnerable points.
Lee, outnumbered two to one, abandoned the offensive and concentrated
on anticipating Grant's maneuvers and shifting quickly enough
to repel them. It was an amazingly equal match of wits that
produced a gripping, high-stakes bout of warfare—a test, ultimately,
of improvisation for Lee and of perseverance for Grant.
Gordon C. Rhea is also the author of The Battle
of the Wilderness, May 5–6, 1864, winner of the Civil
War Regiments Book Award; The Battles for Spotsylvania
Court House and the Road to Yellow Tavern, May 7–12, 1864;
andCold Harbor: Grant and Lee, May 26–June 3, 1864, winner
of the Austin Civil War Round Table's Laney Prize. A practicing
attorney and a frequent lecturer throughout the country on
military history, Rhea lives in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands,
and in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, with his wife and two
sons. |
