Publisher's Synopsis
*Includes pictures of the battles' important generals.
*Includes several maps of the battles.
*Includes accounts of the battles written by important generals.
*Includes a Bibliography for each battle..
Americans have long been fascinated by the Civil War, marveling at the size of the battles, the leadership of the generals, and the courage of the soldiers. Since the war's start over 150 years ago, the battles have been subjected to endless debate among historians and the generals themselves.
The Civil War was the deadliest conflict in American history, and had the two sides realized it would take 4 years and inflict over a million casualties, it might not have been fought. Since it did, however, historians and history buffs alike have been studying and analyzing the biggest battles ever since.
The 10 biggest Civil War battles were incredibly bloody, desperate fights that involved the war's most famous figures and determined the fate of several states. All told, over a quarter of a million casualties were inflicted by the two sides during the 10 largest battles, and the fates of the battles and the war itself hung in the balance.
Shiloh, Stones River and Chickamauga would all feature Union heroes like Ulysses S. Grant and George H. Thomas preserving Federal control over Tennessee and Kentucky. But during those same periods of time, Robert E. Lee was leading the Army of Northern Virginia to victory over several Union commanders at Fredericksburg, Second Bull Run, and Chancellorsville.
Of course, the most famous battles of the war involved the Army of the Potomac blunting Lee's offensives at Antietam and Gettysburg. Antietam was the bloodiest day of the war and forced Lee out of Maryland, allowing Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. The following summer would see the biggest and most famous battle at Gettysburg. Lee would try and fail to dislodge the Union army with attacks on both of its flanks during the second day and Pickett's Charge right down the center of the line on the third and final day. Meade's stout defense held, barely, repulsing each attempted assault, handing the Union a desperately needed victory that ended up being one of the Civil War's turning points.
At the Battle of the Wilderness (May 5-7, 1864), Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee fought to a standstill in their first encounter, failing to dislodge each other despite incurring nearly 30,000 casualties between the Union Army of the Potomac and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Despite the fierce fighting, Grant continued to push his battered but resilient army south, hoping to beat Lee's army to the crossroads at Spotsylvania Court House, but Lee's army beat Grant's to Spotsylvania and began digging in, setting the scene for on and off fighting from May 8-21 that ultimately inflicted more casualties than the Battle of the Wilderness. In fact, with over 32,000 casualties among the two sides, it was the deadliest battle of the Overland Campaign.
The 10 Biggest Civil War Battles comprehensively covers all 10 battles, including the events that led up to the battle, the fighting itself, and the aftermath of the battles. Accounts of the battles by important participants are also included, along with maps of the battles and pictures of important people, places, and events. You will learn about the 10 bloodiest Civil War battles like you never have before.
