R. E. Lee: Volume Three

De: Douglas Southall Freeman

Narrado por: Charlton Griffin

Volume three opens in May 1863 as Lee assessed his situation after the great Confederate victory at Chancellorsville and the loss of General Jackson. Lee quickly reorganized his army and headed north, hoping to inflict a war-ending defeat on the Union. But absent Jackson, his army was not the same.

At Gettysburg, after three days of horrific fighting climaxed by Pickett's disastrous charge, almost one-third of Lee's entire army was killed, wounded, or captured. Meade's losses were identical, but he had greater reserves. Retreating to Virginia, Lee spent the next nine months bolstering his army with ever dwindling provisions. As the winter of 1863-64 came to an end, Lee prepared his troops for renewed action. But due to attrition, he had lost the initiative and could fight only a defensive war against an overwhelming, implacable foe: U. S. Grant.

But Grant soon realized the valiant Army of Northern Virginia was like no army he had ever faced. With veteran troops numbering fewer than half those of Grant, Lee grimly managed to grind the Union army to a halt in front of Richmond. But for how long?

Listeners are urged to follow battles using the maps Freeman himself drew, which are included in the accompanying downloadable PDF document.

Download the accompanying reference guide.©1934 Charles Scribners Sons (P)2018 Audio Connoisseur

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Lee complete for all time." ( The New York Times)

great listen about a great man

loved the series looking forward to book 4, freeman has put together a masterpiece

Simply Masterful!

Incredibly powerful writing & unparalleled narration! I am over 70 yrs and was brought to tears as Hood’s Texans stormed the field in the nick of time to save the line on S. Carolinians who were fighting against incredible numbers of Federal troops. Regardless of which side - all fought bravely & with unimaginable determination. This narrator brought the Wilderness battles to life in all of its gruesome detail. We must understand these personal sacrifices and unbelievable courage of American men in the field. Their valor and bravery come to life throughout, in this narrator’s voice. I am powerfully educated and humbled in the presence of such bravery in intense, unbelievable fighting.

Reply to the Victor’s view of the Civil War

This is a thorough and unemotional chronology of the events that transpired in the Civil War. The author’s descriptions of the participants from the Confederacy are honest and frank. Opinions of the Union leadership, especially General Grant, are minimize; however, the disregard for the loss of life of his troops cannot be denied after reading this account. The significance of the deaths of Stonewall Jackson and Jeb Stewart to the overall outcome of the war are graphically illustrated. The reader is left to decide if the outcome of Gettysburg and indeed the war might have been different had these generals not been killed in action.

A must listen to

To fully grasp and understand the civil war we must listen to both sides. Robert E. Lee a great man, I'm looking forward to volume IV of this series. I can't imagine a more detailed look at a man's life. A very enjoyable look at his life.

What a great American.

I learned much about the character of Robert E Lee. He was a very caring general and cared for his soldiers.