Average customer rating:
- Is it Oct yet?
- cherie priest does it again
- outta the park
- Better and better
- Contemporary Southern Gothic at its best!
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Wings to the Kingdom
Cherie Priest
Manufacturer: Tor Books
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 076531309X
Release Date: 2006-10-17 |
Book Description
The fields at Chickamauga, Georgia--America's oldest national military park--claimed 35,000 casualties during the Civil War. Any good guide will tell you that the grounds are haunted. The battlefield even has its own resident haunt, called Old Green Eyes for his tell-tale luminous gaze. It has long been said that Old Green Eyes intends no harm to those who respect the park. He is no menace, but a guardian of the dead. While he walks, the dead may sleep secure in the knowledge that their rest will be undisturbed. While Old Green Eyes patrols the battlefield, there is nothing to fear, for graves are not robbed and bones are not moved.But suddenly a different phenomenon starts puzzling and frightening visitors, causing tours to be canceled and rangers to quit their jobs. These new ghosts are no illusions carved out of the low-rolling fog. One by one, the solemn-faced spirits in ragged uniforms show themselves, and one by one, they point a determined arm off into the distance. Why do the soldiers march again, and what has become of their unblinking custodian? The spirits need a go-between, someone who can speak to them, and for them.Eden Moore is not interested.But the ghosts aren't taking no for an answer.
Customer Reviews:
Is it Oct yet?.......2007-09-11
My biggest problem with Wings to the Kingdom is that after going back to Four and Twenty Blackbirds, I have to find something worthy to read until Oct 2, when Not Flesh Nor Feathers comes out. I loved Eden. The combat boots, the Death Nugget, the whole thing. And every time Benny nearly pees in his pants from glee or horror, I have to laugh, because he reminds me of that classic dork in all of us, the one who lights up like a six year old at the thought of ghosthunting, no matter who's in the room who might argue. The characters are spelled out just like all Southern literary characters should be- colorful, lovable, and with screws popping loose all over the place.
cherie priest does it again.......2007-08-17
cherie priest is slowly replacing donna tartt as my favorite american female novelist of our time. *wings to the kingdom* is a somewhat slower story than *four and twenty blackbirds*, but every word is heavy with seduction, pulling the reader in with such force that it is hard to stop reading.
in brief, things have happened since *four and twenty blackbirds*. the protagonist eden moore is somewhat older, but still in every aspect a fascinating and multi-dimensional character. the setting is the same as in *four and twenty blackbirds*. new characters are introduced, old characters resurface. eyes glitter in moonlight and the mist grows heavy over chattanooga as the story progresses in a labyrinth of excitement and allure.
cherie priest is a wizard with words, and *wings to the kingdom* is a rich testimony of her magic. read it. I am very glad I did.
outta the park.......2007-03-08
Pardon the pun.
One might worry whether CPriest's follow-up to _Four and Twenty Blackbirds_ might suffer the notorious "sophomore slump", but that would be needless suffering.
_Wings to the Kingdom_ builds on the foundations laid in the first novel, yet works on its own for readers who missed the first book (though, really, you're missing out on a good story if you haven't read it).
_Wings_ is engaging and dynamic. The storytelling is solid, the setting and the characters are real, and the mystery/tension is a treat.
I'm looking forward to the next in the series
Better and better.......2007-03-06
If you enjoyed Four and Twenty Blackbirds, you will love Wings to the Kingdom. Cherie Priest's tale of ghosts at a Civil War battlefield grabbed me from the very first page. Taking an actual legend and weaving it into a spine-tingling story with believable characters, Priest just keeps getting better and better. The main character, Eden Moore, is likeable and interesting, as well as sympathetic. The rest of the characters are also well-rounded, even the publicity-seeking professional psychic investigator, who could easily have become a cliche. A very enjoyable read, and I eagerly look forward to the next installment!
Contemporary Southern Gothic at its best!.......2007-02-19
Phenomenal follow-up to debut novel Four and Twenty Blackbirds. Eden Moore is dragged into a supernatural mystery at the Chickamauga battleground, and must deal with the public reaction to her ability to speak with the dead. Incredibly written, with a fast-paced storyline that still takes time to fully develop character. Priest cements her place in the Southern Gothic canon. Highly recommended.
Customer Reviews:
This Terrible Sound.......2007-09-14
Well written, with excellent maps/diagrams showing locations of various units over time. Lots of military facts but also insight into indvidual soldier's lives.
Fantastic Military History Book.......2007-08-16
I've read it twice, and it might just be the best Civil War book I ever read. Maps are clear, crisp, and totally tie into what you're reading. Whenever I felt a map was needed, there it seemed to be a page or two ahead.
Just a note: like someone else said, it's detailed. Not for the casual person who just wants to read about the human element. This is a detailed account of the movements of regiments, brigades, divisions. But all the same, it's not a dry book either. That's what makes it one of the best i've ever read.
To hear and smell a battle.......2006-11-11
I have read several books of the battle of Chickamauga, but none as factual and well researched as "This Terrible Sound". This is by far the best factual account I have read that I would recommend to all serious civil war students.
Defeat snatched from the jaws of Victory.......2005-08-05
Peter Cozzens is one of those amazing writers that brings you onto the field and helps you keep up with Cleburne's Division as it move through the dusk shrouded woods or causes your pulse to race as you watch USA Gen. Lytle's command trying to decide whether to save their dying commander or flee as the Rebs pound up the hill.
This accounting of the Battle of Chickamauga is first rate and thrilling. The profusion of regimental and brigade disposition maps are particularly useful for any serious visit to the battlefield.
There are some intriguing ideas introduced as well. Forrest's role in the early stages of the battle are fascinating to read and to contemplate. They also are revealing of the ammunition problems that plagued all mounted units. A problem that would hinder Forrest's command at Spring Hill a year later.
A great read and highly recommended.
Expert treatment of the ACW turning point in the West..........2004-09-01
The year 1863 was truly a seminal one for the American Civil War...the famous battles at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and Vicksburg have all been imminently researched and expounded upon with many very excellent histories published throughout the years. The same unfortunately cannot be said for the equally pivotal and provocative battle at Chickamauga Creek in northwest Georgia (Spetember 1863). Peter Cozzens, then, has added greatly to the abundance of published Civil War histories with "This Terrible Sound", a modern study of this battle that correctly places it in it's proper context as a major turning point for the Western theatre and indeed the entire war.
Following the Federal victory at Vicksburg, President Lincoln sensing a momentum swing to the Northern effort, places his next great emphasis on the Union Army of the Cumberland, stationed at Murfreesboro, Tennessee following the Federal "victory" at the battle of Stones River (essentially a standoff with the Confederates retreating following the battle). William Stark Rosecrans' Federal force is "encouraged" to attack and subdue the rail center at Chattanooga...with the ultimate goal of using it as the base for further invasion efforts in the South. Defending the roads to Chattanooga, is Confederate General Braxton Bragg, the much maligned and, at the time of Chickamauga, the very ill leader of the rebel forces. Cozzens establishes both a physical and mental picture of both Generals that is neither favorable or complimentary. Regardless, Rosecrans establishes the immediate advantage with a detailed and complex troop movement that faces off with and defeates the Confederates at Tullahoma. Outnumbered and in disarray, the rebels retreat to Chattanooga and await Rosecrans next movement. The Federals continue with the complex manuevers and outflank the Confederates, driving them out of Chattanooga and to the southwest into Georgia, where they settle and await the inevitable Union advance. Rosecrans, sensing that he has the Confederate army on the run, allows his troops to squander valuable time negotiating and reconnoitering the mountainous regions south of Chattanooga. The Confederates, meanwhile, reinforce their troops with forces from Mississippi and the Army of Northern Virginia. The armies thus converge and ultimately meet in the dense forest West of Chickamauga Creek in norhtwest Georgia. Cozzens expertly coveys both this initial overall strategy and individual soldier perspective as he sets up the ensuing battle.
Braxton Bragg's intelligence forces inform him that the Federals have advanced southeast into Georgia...giving him the obvious recourse to attack the Union left flank and cut them off from retreat back to Chattanooga. This is the strategy that Bragg sticks with throughout the struggle and the one whereby he proves to be the most inflexable. Cavalry engagements at Jays Mill on the Western side of Chickamauga Creek start the battle and it immediately degenerates into a disorganized and largley unsupervised slugfest. The action rolls to the southwest with major first-day encounters at Winfrey and Brock Fields...ultimately ending with the Federals still in control of the major roadway out of the battlefield, the LaFayette Road and major breastworks established around this road in the Kelly Field. Cozzens deftly describes these engagements in sometimes excruciating detail as brigade and company level strategy is discussed. He also continues to convey the everday soldier perspective with many journal and diary entries that give true meaning to the atrocities of the battle.
The second day's struggles start with an abortive Confederate attack that ensues three hours late. The rebel army's high command continues to be in disarray and Bragg continues to push for the attack to focus on the Federal left. The initial battle around the Kelly Field breastworks results in major destruction for the Confederate forces, but an erroneous brigade movement opens up a hole in the Federal lines that ultimately proves to be it's undoing. James Longstreet's command from Virginia fortunately charges this opening at the same time that it is established and pushes the right side of the Union army to retreat...only a small and determined force under Union General George Thomas stays on the field and holds off the Confederate advance long enough to allow the balance of the Federal army to retreat back to Chattanooga and ultimately earning him the sobriquet "the Rock of Chickamauga". Cozzens again is precise and expository in his descriptions of these encounters...he really has a talent for integrating detailed troop movements with these soldier perspectives that give immediacy and feeling to the reader that the soldiers certainly must have felt. The second day bloodshed was worse then the first day's and Cozzens manages this balance brilliantly.
With the end of the second day, Thomas retreats his force back to Chattanooga and the Confederates own the field. Cozzens again details the lack of forward thinking on Braxton Bragg's part as the natural strategy then would be to pursue the Federals and defeat them in detail...Bragg chooses to wait and is villified by the Confederate command. Rosecrans is releved following the defeat with Thomas commanding the Army of the Cumberland and Ulysses Grant given overall command of the Western Army...a command that turned the tide ultimately in the Union favor with the ensuing victory at the battle of Chattanooga and the William T. Sherman drive from Chattanooga to Atlanta and beyond.
Prompted by a recent visit to this distinguished battlefield (the National Park Service is to be commended for beautifully maintaining this field), I undertook this work to supplement my battlefield tour experience. This book certainly is a detailed look at the battle and I'm sure that my glowing review was slightly slanted by the fact that I was able to picture the terrain that Cozzens so comprehensively describes. Notwithstanding the abundance of detail, this work should undoubtedly stand as the historical standard by which this battle was described and should be on the shelf of anyone interested in the Civil War western theatre.
Customer Reviews:
Five stars for George Thomas.......2003-06-10
When I first started studying the civil war nearly 30 years ago, one of my first thoughts was: "Why haven't I heard of George Thomas?'' There are those who argue, including Cleaves in several sections, that he was the most important Union general _ one list, in fact, makes him one of the five men (and the only military figure) most important in the North's victory. In the prewar Army, he served with Lee, another Virginian who wavered, and was close to being considered Lee's equal.
The reasons for Thomas' relative obscurity have been well stated in other reviews _ his southern heritage; his self-effacing disposition except (as Cleaves points out) when he felt he had been done an injustice. It didn't help that Sherman, one of his sponsors and Grant, his classmate at West Point, shut him out of the post-war glory and that he died in 1870, too early to establish a reputation.
Is the subtitle ("The Man who Save the Union?'') justified? Look at it this way: There's no question that Thomas' stand at Chickamauga made Sherman's campaign through Georgia possible. And if that hadn't happened, Lincoln might not have been re-elected in 1864, perhaps leading to a truce that would have left the nation split. That in itself is reason enough to celebrate Thomas.
But as Cleaves emphasizes, Thomas was more than that. Military historieans consider him one of the best defensive generals ever, a man who would have stood out in any war. And unlike many of our heroes, he was a decent man.
We could use more like him.
This 55-year-old book could use more readers.
Five stars for George Thomas.......2003-06-10
When I first started studying the civil war nearly 30 years ago, one of my first thoughts was: "Why haven't I heard of George Thomas?'' There are those who argue, including Cleaves in several sections, that he was the most important Union general _ one list, in fact, makes him one of the five men (and the only military figure) most important in the North's victory. In the prewar Army, he served with Lee, another Virginian who wavered, and was close to being considered Lee's equal.
The reasons for Thomas' relative obscurity have been well stated in other reviews _ his southern heritage; his self-effacing disposition except (as Cleaves points out) when he felt he had been done an injustice. It didn't help that Sherman, one of his sponsors and Grant, his classmate at West Point, shut him out of the post-war glory and that he died in 1870, too early to establish a reputation.
Is the subtitle ("The Man who Save the Union?'') justified? Look at it this way: There's no question that Thomas' stand at Chickamauga made Sherman's campaign through Georgia possible. And if that hadn't happened, Lincoln might not have been re-elected in 1864, perhaps leading to a truce that would have left the nation split. That in itself is reason enough to celebrate Thomas.
But as Cleaves emphasizes, Thomas was more than that. Military historieans consider him one of the best defensive generals ever, a man who would have stood out in any war. And unlike many of our heroes, he was a decent man.
We could use more like him.
This 55-year-old book could use more readers.
Informative Biography of an Overlooked General.......2003-05-09
Cleaves' book is an excellent read for the person who wishes to learn more about one of the best (North or South) and overlooked generals of the Civil War. While many books focus on Lee, Jackson, Grant, and Sherman, Cleaves succeeds in bringing to light the very important accomplishments by General Thomas.
Included in the book are Thomas' many military victories: the complete defeat of a Confederate army at the battles of Mill Springs and Nashville, repulse of Hood's attacks at Atlanta, and of course, perhaps his most stunning achievement - holding the Confederate Army at bay on Snodgrass Hill while the rest of the Union Army retreated from Chickamauga.
Throughout the book Cleaves describes Thomas as a man who willingly subordinated his desires for the best of the nation, something lacking in most "leaders" today. Several times Cleaves describes Thomas as a calm, confident, and not easily shaken man in whom soldiers took great comfort in knowing he was in charge.
I only wish there would have been more maps used when describing the many battles Thomas participated in. Doing so would have made it easier for me to follow the troop movements, whether in an individual battle or a campaign.
All in all, an excellent read of an excellent general and gentleman. Thomas was a refreshing change from the self-promoting methods other "leaders" in the 1860's practiced - he would still be a rare gem if he were alive in today's world!!!
Refreshing.......2002-05-28
Written over 52 years ago, this book is a ground breaking contribution to the Civil War's saga. It really is a must read for understanding the intricacies of the Union high command.
Union loyalists of Southern birth like Thomas, Buford, etc. were just as alone and alienated in their army as Southern loyalists of Northern birth like Pemberton. They suffered an ostracism, a fundamental distrust that really reached its peak in this country when we sent thousands and thousands of Japanese Americans to concentration camps in California in World War II while concurrently having their sons fight and die in Europe. Thomas' story is really no different and every bit as unfair.
This type of unfortunate, `protective tuck' is a natural reaction during a national emergency. Fortunately, leading edge historians like Freeman Cleaves have left us a record of one man's sacrifice for the country of his birth.
George Thomas was not treated properly by anyone, North or South. Lincoln treats him as a political liability and pawn, Stanton fundamentally distrusts everyone of Southern heritage, and the Union troika of Grant, Sherman and Sheridan have much to be ashamed of: Grant for his smallness, Sheridan for the desertion of someone who must have been his mentor and Sherman for betraying a long standing friendship. The South simply refused to acknowledge his existence. When Thomas was down, everyone kicked. Being Southern born, he was an easy competitive target for both sides both during and after the war. He simply had no mentor anywhere.
Yet this courageous fighter survives much political intrigue to not only save a complete Union army from annihilation, an army by the way that he did not personally command but could have, but also completely destroys the South's Army of Tennessee and possibly, just possibly, pulled Sherman and Grant's chestnuts out of the fire with his victories at Nashville and Franklin. Playing a key and fundamentally pivotal role in Grant and Sherman's grand strategy, after his success he is simply thrown aside like an old shoe and not just forgotten but treated miserably, like his very existence, success and support was an embarrassment to the Union military and political High Command.
Read this book! It is about an American patriot who sacrifices everything, his reputation, home, family and pre and post war friendships for the ability of the United States to develop into the world example it is today. It is the kind of story all Americans appreciate: doing the right thing while succeeding against all odds, foreign and domestic.
well worth reading. More to this war than Grant & Sherman........1998-05-16
A brilliant leader of men, a brilliant tactician. Grant & Sherman had this mutual admiration relationship which did not allow them to give Thomas the credit he most justly deserves. This book sets the record straight, that's what history is all about..
Book Description
In this seventh volume of the ten-volume Civil War Battle Series, the action spans the area from Pennsylvania and Virginia to Georgia, Mississippi, and Illinois. The seven members of the Brannon clan of Culpeper County, Virginia, experience a wide range of the many hardships of war.
The Southern setbacks of July 1863 have fallen hard on the Brannons, for two sons were with Lee in Pennsylvania and one was at Vicksburg. They still mourn the loss of another, Titus, presumed dead but actually interned in a Northern prison camp for seven months.
Mac Brannon, in Stuart's cavalry, helps to protect the Army of Northern Virginia as it withdraws to Virginia. Of special concern to him are the ambulance wagons, one of which carries his wounded brother, Will.
In Vicksburg, Cory Brannon recuperates from an illness, and as his health returns he looks for ways to escape the Union occupation and join Nathan Bedford Forrest's cavalry.
In the Yankee prison camp outside of Chicago, Titus is determined to escape and make his way home. He does not yet know the price of his freedom.
Cory and his comrades connect with Forrest just in time for the action at Chickamauga.
Although the battle goes well for the Confederates, Forrest and his commander, Braxton Bragg, have a falling out. Circumstances dictate that Cory remain with Bragg in the Confederate camps that encircle Chattanooga, but when Bragg decides to outwait the Union army trapped before him, the scene is set for the arrival of a new Federal commander—U. S. Grant.
Customer Reviews:
Facing Defeat.......2003-05-09
After the losses at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, the Confederacy hopes to regroup. Mac and Will Brannon, one badly wounded, retreat with Robert E. Lee's forces into Virginia. Meanwhile, Titus and Cordelia's former beau, Nathan Hatcher, find themselves in desperate straits in a Northern prison camp, while Cory continues to find himself thrown into battle, despite never having enlisted. And, at home, Henry, the youngest Brannon brother, his mother Abigail, and sister Cordelia, face problems of their own... not the least of which is Henry's growing feelings for his brother's wife, Polly.
Another well-written, gripping volume in The Civil War Battle Series.
Awesome.......2002-06-12
This is the 7th book in a series of 10 by Mr. Reasoner. I have read all the ones that have been published so far. My only complaint is that they aren't published fast enough! Mr. Reasoner is a fantastic author. His wording makes you "see" where the characters are. I read this book in just a very short time, losing sleep because I just couldn't put it down. His historical facts are accurate in every book. Everyone that likes to read about the Civil War should read these books. They would even be good reading for someone not familiar with the battles because his story lines are so good. Please hurry and get #8 published - it's gonna be hard to wait.
Book Description
In the Autumn of 1863, a pair of remarkable military engagements took place on opposite sides of the Georgia-Tennessee border -- two battles marked by ferocity, genius, courage, astonishing ineptitude, and outrageous fortune that changed the course of the War Between the States.
John Bowers, the man who brought one of the Confederacy's most capable and eccentric commanders to life in Stonewall Jackson, now tells the riveting story of two brutal months in the life of a young nation at war with itself. From the opening volleys at Chickamauga Creek to the final, shocking outcome several miles north at Chattanooga, Bowers brilliantly recreates the fire and fury of the decisive battles of America's Civil War. More than a dramatic account of stunning master strokes and fatal missed opportunities, it is also the unforgettable story of real people: Grant, Longstreet, Sherman, the fiery gambler Nathan Bedford Forrest, George H. Thomas, the tormented Union officer despised and disowned by his Virginia family, and the tragic, tenacious General Braxton Bragg, who, through incompetence, miscalculation, and blind folly, almost singlehandedly doomed the Confederate cause.At Chickamauga, the South won a battle.At Chattanooga, they lost the war.
In the Autumn of 1863, a pair of remarkable military engagements took place on opposite sides of the Georgia-Tennessee border -- two battles marked by ferocity, genius, courage, astonishing ineptitude, and outrageous fortune that changed the course of the War Between the States.
John Bowers, the man who brought one of the Confederacy's most capable and eccentric commanders to life in Stonewall Jackson, now tells the riveting story of two brutal months in the life of a young nation at war with itself.From the opening volleys at Chickamauga Creek to the final, shocking outcome several miles north at Chattanooga, Bowers brilliantly recreates the fire and fury of the decisive battles of America's Civil War.More than a dramatic account of stunning master strokes and fatal missed opportunities, it is also the unforgettable story of real people: Grant, Longstreet, Sherman, the fiery gambler Nathan Bedford Forrest, George H. Thomas, the tormented Union officer despised and disowned by his Virginia family, and the tragic, tenacious General Braxton Bragg, who, through incompetence, miscalculation, and blind folly, almost single-handedly doomed the Confederate cause.
Customer Reviews:
This is a Hoot!.......2002-09-07
No one will ever accuse John Bowers of letting historical facts get in the way of telling a good story. Hyperbole? Lively? This is a good overview of the campaign, especially for beginners, but Bowers is really interested in telling dramatic stories about the major figures. But he needs to check his facts. For example, on page 101 he introduces Ambrose Bierce, a lieutenant in the 9th Indiana Infantry, and uses an excerpt from Bierce's post-war short story "Chickamauga" to illustrate the fighting. But on page 146 Bowers calls him Captain Bierce, an officer in an Ohio battery and chronicler of the battle. Although a serious student of the battle will do much better to read Steven Woodworth and Peter Cozzens, many will find Bowers very entertaining. Bowers is from East Tennessee and is the grandson of a Confederate cavalryman who fought in the battle. Bowers' best story in this book is in the Acknowledgements and concerns a Virginia patrician historian at the New York City Civil War Round Table. This alone is worth the cover price!
Battles that Doomed the Confederacy.......2001-11-09
I found this book to be very enjoyable reading. The book goes into depth about the battle that occured at Chickamauga and Chattanooga, but does not require the reader to be familiar with Civil War history. I found this book to be easy to read as well as enjoyable. Unfortunately, Bowers writes with a sympathetic viewpoint towards the CSA and goes into detail about Chickamauga (which was a confederate victory) but barely gleems over the battle of Chattanooga. good book for the lay reader, but you historians and civil war buffs may be disappointed.
An amazing read - relief to those who hate dry history.......2001-02-06
This book is one of the best history books I've read in ages. The story is presented in a gripping style and the characterizations and revelations are done majestically. Take for example this description of Leonidas Polk: "A handsome man with a full head of wavy graying hair and strong Roman features, he always seemed on the verge of giving a benediction or asking that the fried chicken be passed."
Mr. Bower's descriptions are entertaining and enlightening. Chicamauga isn't about strategy, it was a soldiers fight. What mattered was the character of the men involved. This book goes into the details. I cannot recommend this more highly.
Book shows case evidence for Union failty.......1999-10-21
This book i find shows a great deal of attention to the failure of the union. It also shows the haunting simularities, not noted in the book, between Chickamauga and Chancellorsville. Both battles included a gap inthe union lines being exploited. Over all, the book is a good read and My serious gratitude to the author for such a fine work.
This book is a historical nonfiction novel........1999-09-23
This book tells the story of two battles, which literall killed the cause of the Confederacy. Chickamauga was one of the bloodiest battles in the Civil War, and the Confederacy lost over 20000 men and the Union lost over 16000 men. Some men burned to death. They raked leaves back with sticks to try to keep the fires away from them. Many of the soldiers were found burned alive with the sticks still in their hands. After Chickamuaga the union retreated to Chattanooga. the Confederacy stayed and celebrated their win. Then finally the Confederacy came and besieged 500 civilian and 35000 Union men at chattanooga. the siege went on for days and days. Men died of starvation. Soldiers were forced to kill horses, dogs,and mules. Then Grant's army of 20000 showed up. Then not many days later, Sherman's army of 20000 showed up. They had a fight that was so furious that men were made armless and legless in a matter of seconds. The Confederacy was beaten back on the third day.
Bowers shows a real knack for writing and explaining the battles from the men's points of view. He could have not done better. He showed me facts, the men's point of view, and also who the generals in the battles were. He went into the tactics very well. He made sure the reader understood everything.
Book Description
By the Autumn of 1863 the tide of war appeared to be running heavily against the Confederacy. Lee's attack into Maryland had been halted at Gettysburg and he had fallen back into Virginia to lick his wounds; in the Mississippi Valley Vicksburg, the last Confederate hold on the river, had fallen to the tenacious Grant, and in the mountains around Chattanooga in eastern Tennessee General Rosecrans' Union Army of the Cumberland was pausing after driving out the Confederate Army of the Tennessee without a shot being fired. Confederate commander General Braxton Bragg had been out-manoeuvred but was far from beaten. Reinforced by troops from Mississippi and Virginia on 19th September he attacked the Union army along Chickamauga creek south of Chattanooga. Chickamauga is an Indian name meaning 'river of death' and this was to prove to be the bloodiest two days of the war. For the first day Union lines held but on the second a gap appeared in the Union lines into which General J. Longstreet marched. The entire Union right collapsed and the army retreated headlong for Chattanooga, all except General George H. Thomas' Corps who fought on doggedly until nightfall delaying the confederate advance, saving the Union and earning his fame as the "Rock of Chickamauga".
Customer Reviews:
A Concise History of Chickamauga.......2000-03-28
As with the other titles in Osprey's Campaign Series, 'Chickamauga 1863: The River of Death' presents the history of this famous battle of The War Between The States in a factual and easy-to-read text. Of particular note are the many photos and artists renderings as well as the orders of battle for both the Confederate and Union forces. One is introduced to such pivotal figures as Nathan Bedford Forrest, James Longstreet, Braxton Bragg, Patrick Cleburne, George Thomas, and William Rosecrans. The contributions of these men to the battle, as well as those of lesser-known officers and enlisted men, are recounted in a even-handed but quick-paced and enjoyable manner. After digesting this 96 page book one cannot help but have a better understanding of The Battle of Chickamauga as well as its causes and effects.
Book Description
Shelby Foote's monumental historical trilogy, "The Civil War: A Narrative," is our window into the day-by-day unfolding of our nation's defining event. Now Foote reveals the deeper human truth behind the battles and speeches through the fiction he has chosen for this vivid, moving collection.
These ten stories of the Civil War give us the experience of joining a coachload of whores left on a siding during a battle in Virginia . . .marching into an old man's house to tell him it's about to be burned down . . .or seeing a childhood friend shot down at Chickamauga.
The result is history that lives again in our imagination, as the creative vision of these great writers touches our emotions and makes us witness to the human tragedy of this war, fought so bravely by those in blue and gray.
Customer Reviews:
Ennui.......2006-11-17
I finished CHICKAMAUGA several days ago. Since then, I've been unable to whip-up enough mental energy to give it either an emphatic thumbs-up or thumbs-down. I guess you could say it's so-so. And writing the review approaches being a chore.
Except for the first and last chapters, which I'll get to in a moment, these stories of the Civil War come from the point of view of the common man and woman, whether he or she be either a soldier in battle or a civilian caught up in the collateral damage.
The first chapter is the inaugural address of Jefferson Davis at Montgomery, AL on February 18, 1861. The last chapter is Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address of March 4, 1865. The two serve as bookends to what comes in between, but it's hard to care (despite whatever eloquence the two have to offer.)
As with most collections of short stories, these run the gamut from better to worse than average, and the two extremes cancel each other to result in my overall lassitude concerning the whole.
Perhaps the best chapter is by, no surprise, Mark Twain: "The Private History of A Campaign That Failed" - an account of his time as a civilian irregular in Missouri at the outbreak of the war playing at soldier with a bunch of his buds, and who did more retreating in the face of real and imagined enemies than advancing to the sounds of battle. It incorporates Twain's characteristically wry, self-effacing humor, which, to me, made it the most readable of the lot.
Perhaps the least deserving chapter is one by Stephen Vincent Benet: "Fish-Hook Gettysburg", a 25-page free verse summary of the event. There are so many excellent prose accounts of this decisive encounter that my reaction was "why bother?". The battle deserves better treatment.
Another good one was the chapter entitled "The Night of Chancellorsville", in which a young prostitute, Nora, and a bevy of co-workers, while aboard a train on its way to Fightin' Joe Hooker's HQ at Chancellorsville, where they'll show the general and his staff a good time, are almost captured by the Confederates during the subsequent Federal rout. The story has an aspect of cleverness, at least. The prospect of capture by the Rebs causes Nora to think:
"... the Rebs would capture us and send us down to one of those prisons you hear about where they starve you to death unless you sing Dixie all the time and kiss (un-PC word for Blacks)."
One that I found particularly annoying was "The Burning" by Eudora Welty. Here, Southern belles, sisters Theo and Myra, are alone with their slaves on their plantation near Jackson, MS. After a band of Northern soldiers comes through raping and burning, the survivors straggle to tragic ends. At least I think so. Reading the story was like looking at something through a fine gauze mesh; all was slightly out of focus.
I consider the late Shelby Foote one of the greatest U.S. Civil War historians; his monumental trilogy on the subject is a must read. Perhaps I was seduced into buying CHICKAMAUGA when I noticed his name listed as the editor. Had I to do it all over again, I wouldn't.
Book Description
The hard-fought and dramatic battles of Chickamauga (September 19–20, 1863) and Chattanooga (November 23–25, 1863) changed the course of the Civil War. These battles sounded the death knell of the Confederacy and put Ulysses S. Grant on the road to final victory. For the first time in one convenient guide, Steven E. Woodworth provides an overview of the battles and an on-site tour to help both serious students and casual visitors get the most out of a visit to Chickamauga and Chattanooga.
The guide emphasizes how the opposing armies used terrain and how that terrain shaped the course of each battle. Easy-to-follow directions to specific locations enable you to view the field from the historic perspectives of the combatants. Whether used alone or as a supplement to a tour, this guide will enhance your visit. Clearly written and illustrated with maps and photographs, it is an invaluable tool for both knowledgeable Civil War enthusiasts and first-time visitors to Chickamauga and Chattanooga.
Customer Reviews:
Not Good.......2004-01-10
Don't get this book. The earlier reviewer was correct. I found a free guide on the internet that had better maps and was more in depth. This book is interesting but I kept having to turn from the tour to the back to follow the optional stops which was annoying. I had also read several books about the battle before I went on my tour and noticed that the author had taken his interesting stories right out of these books which I didn't like. I also recommend the War College Guide and the new book by the same author that has a guide to the Battle of Chattanooga (Storming the Heights).
Good not Great........2003-09-12
As is typical of Dr. Woodworth's books, he has once again rehashed old material into something new. The maps are excellent but the paths this book leads the reader down are too well worn to truly be interesting. Also, the way the book is laid out with regard to touring the Chickamauga Battlefield is cumbersome. The reader has to move from the front of the book to the back in an awkward way to visit the optional excursions. These should have been left in order and the reader simply allowed to skip them at their discretion. I agree with the other reviewer that the War College Guide is better if the reader has any Civil War touring experience. In comparison to the other guide books available, this one definitely rates as mediocre. A quick search of the internet before a visit to the park will net the reader a much better guide and probably one for free!
Fall in love with Chickamauga.......2003-05-17
I have spent three days on the Chickamauga battlefield with this book. Since I live in the area, the days were not consecutive and I did some of the stops twice, but it only added to my pleasure. This book will give you all the details you want to know.
I grew up near Gettysburg and thought I could not love a place as much as I do Gettysburg; but with this book as my guide, Chickamauga is getting close.
This series (Hallowed Ground--two books so far, the other is on Gettysburg, which I've also used and reviewed) takes you "off the beaten path" and gives you insight into the battle that you do not get from the official park tour. If you include the option excursions you will really enrich your trip.
The maps are clear and the directions from stop to stop are percise. The book is also illustrated and enhanced with various drawings from Battles and Leaders of the Civil War.
I definitely recommend it to you. This book, like the one on Gettysburg, says it will take you six hours to hit all the stops--perhaps if you rushed and didn't take time to think about what you're seeing and reading; I recommend eight hours as a minimum, because the optional excursions are worth it.
Good for quickie not for the veteran.......2000-08-03
Steven Woodworth's tour book is excellent for the novice who wants more than the average tour of the battlefield. This is apparently his goal for the book. Other than some out of chronological order stops, I found the tour easy to follow and the maps easy to use. The information most useful from this book is the section on the battles of Chattanooga. I have not found a better quick tour of Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain anywhere. What I didn't like about the book was the fact that it extensively sampled from material already available elsewhere and provided no new information on places to visit at Chickamauga. If you want the best tour, get the US Army War College Guide to Chickamauga and correlate the stops from it while using Woodworths maps. In summary, if you are a novice to the Civil War Battlefield or have never been to ChickChatt National Park this book is for you. If you are a veteran of the Civil War Battlefield it's not.
great overview of the battle, a must for park visitors.......2000-05-31
This is a great battlefield guide, full of clear, easy to understand instructions and maps. By far the best battlefield guide of any I've read. If you really want to understand where you are in the park, and what happened where, buy this book. Read it first, then carry it with you for the tour.
Book Description
When Vicksburg fell to Union forces under General Grant in July 1863, the balance turned against the Confederacy in the trans-Appalachian theater. The Federal success along the river opened the way for advances into central and eastern Tennessee, which culminated in the bloody battle of Chickamauga and then a struggle for Chattanooga. Chickamauga is usually counted as a Confederate victory, albeit a costly one. That battle—indeed the entire campaign—is marked by muddle and blunders occasionally relieved by strokes of brilliant generalship and high courage. The campaign ended significant Confederate presence in Tennessee and left the Union poised to advance upon Atlanta and the Confederacy on the brink of defeat in the western theater.
Customer Reviews:
Much better than I expected.......2006-08-16
When a Civil War historian names his son Nathan you would expect a one sided biased account. However, Woodworth is surprisingly even handed in his treatment of the six armies that fought over Chattanooga. He is at his best in describing the backbiting in the southern leadership and the incompetence of Longstreet. This is a thin book. Perhaps too thin for those who would like a little more detail. We still await an indepth look at the Tennesseans who fought for the north.
Chicachatta.......2006-03-08
Woodworth is a first-rate writer with an impressive command of the material. The campaign is complicated one and he deals with it well, although not in the detail that Peter Cozzens offers in his landmark books. I have two quibbles: There is no map with the Chickamauga chapter, a battle of mind-bending complexity. Also, Woodworth deals very lightly with Gen. John B. Turchin, surely one of the war's most colorful characters
THIS IS A MUST.......2002-10-03
I stumbled upon this title by accident, when I was looking for Civil War books about Tennessee. I am very happy that I did. The book was an easy read, but not so easy that I flew through it without learning anything.
One of the best things about the book was Woodworth's writting style. He wrote it in such away that I felt I was there, living these events with the generals and the soldiers from both sides. Having hiked the regions that the events took place in helped too, but even if you have not the descriptions are very strong. He never writes over your head like he expects you to be a Civil War historian, nor does he dumb it down to a fifth grade level.
The transitions from the North's side to the South's side of the conflict was brilliantly done. Nothing was left out in going from one side to the other. If events were taking place at the same time Woodworth let you know. When he talked of the battles they were well layed out as to who was doing what,where and when.
The thing that I learned most from this book was the internal bickering in the South's upper chain of command. No one was doing what they were suppose to do when they were suppose to do it. It would seem to me,after reading this book, if the generals under Bragg's command would have done as they were told the outcome would have been totally different and maybe even the outcome of the Civil war itself.
If you are from Chattanooga or Knoxville, I highly recommend reading this book. If you just like reading Civil War histories this is a must.
Lost in the details.......2001-07-14
I found the book to be a very good depiction of the characters of the leaders and of the politics that affected their decisions. However, the major events did not stand out from the details, leaving me wondering about the outcome and significance of the individual encounters. The book constantly changes from north to south with very little indications that a change has taken place, making it very difficult to follow the action. The few maps were very helpful, but there were not nearly enough. this book would be enjoyed more by someone who was already familiar with the terrain and the battles.
Six Armies in Tennessee.......2000-05-07
A very good and easy read. This book is written for anyone intrested in the Civil War. A good over view of the thoughts, actions and concepts of each side in this conflict over Tennessee.
Book Description
Not far from Chattanooga in northern Georgia, the Confederacy won one of its most decisive battles. This guide uses first-hand accounts to illustrate how this skirmish, only two days long, turned into one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War with 34,000--plus Union and Confederate soldiers killed, wounded, or captured.
Eyewitness accounts by battle participants make these guides an invaluable resource for travelers and nontravelers who want a greater understanding of five of the most devastating yet influential years in our nation's history. Explicit directions to points of interest and maps--illustrating the action and showing the detail of troop position, roads, rivers, elevations, and tree lines as they were 130 years ago--help bring the battles to life. In the field, these guides can be used to recreate each battle's setting and proportions, giving the reader a sense of the tension and fear each soldier must have felt as he faced his enemy.
This book is part of the U.S. Army War College Guides to Civil War Battles series.
Customer Reviews:
Indispensable..........2006-01-26
I just completed a hike of the Chickamauga NBP, using Colonel Spruill's guide book. The book transformed a pleasant day outdoors into an informative learning experience. The hiking directions are precise. The selected narrations by the participants enhance understanding of the action on the field, and Colonel Spruill's additional notations explain the narrations in a larger context. If you're serious about getting the most out of a visit to Chickamauga, then this book is a required item in your rucksack.
Guide to the Battle of Chickamauga.......1999-04-20
Many of you, no doubt, have acquainted yourselves with the series of books that comprise the US Army War College Guide to Civil War Battles. The latest volume, the Guide to the Battle of Chickamauga, edited by Col. Matt Spruill, constitutes a new and worthwhile addition.
The series follows a particular format that bears mentioning. Each guide uses excerpts from after-action reports, along with topo maps and detailed driving and, occasionally, hiking instructions. This enables a reader to place himself at critical points on the battlefield with a solid understanding of the terrain's significance. Spruill does not deviate from this standard. The choice of maps and selection of battle reports (most from the Official Records) along with his brief comments clearly document the fierce fighting which took place on these fields. Considering the heavily wooded terrain and confusing ebb and flow of forces over the area, Spruill paints a remarkably clear picture of what transpired.
The great clash of armies at Chickamauga played out over two intense days of combat along a front some several miles long. On this ground, characterized by forests of thick brush punctuated with only a few open spaces used for small farm cultivation, the hostile lines came almost into contact before fighting was possible. Blind to what lay before them and often unaware of the success or failure of supporting units, commanders threw their troops into attacks that flanked and routed the enemy only to be flanked and routed in return. Scattered farmer's fields became killing zones as artillery concentrated their attention on the openings in the surrounding woods. Each side felt for the others vulnerable flank in a deadly race to capture and hold the road to Chattanooga. Soldiers entrenched at every opportunity and built breastworks, however shallow, whenever a lull in the fighting permitted time.
Spruill's book depicts this story very well, guiding the reader from one disputed point to another. For the most part, he allows the participants to narrate each scene. Yet he tempers their tale by reminding you how restricted a view each possessed. Invariably, men felt the fighting on their front to be the fiercest they experienced, during the war. As a consequence, we travel in our mind's eye along the paths of victory and defeat, where soldiers marched and fought and died to possess the ground where we now tread. Let me recommend the book to you.
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