On to Petersburg

Grant and Lee, June 4-15, 1864

By: Gordon C. Rhea

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

With On to Petersburg, Gordon C. Rhea completes his much-lauded history of the Overland Campaign, a series of Civil War battles fought between Generals Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee in southeastern Virginia in the spring of 1864.

On to Petersburg follows the Union army's movement to the James River, the military response from the Confederates, and the initial assault on Petersburg, which Rhea suggests marked the true end of the Overland Campaign. Beginning his account in the immediate aftermath of Grant's three-day attack on Confederate troops at Cold Harbor, Rhea argues that the Union general's primary goal was not - as often supposed - to take Richmond, but rather to destroy Lee's army by closing off its retreat routes and disrupting its supply chains. While Grant struggled at times to communicate strategic objectives to his subordinates and to adapt his army to a faster-paced, more flexible style of warfare, Rhea suggests that the general successfully shifted the military landscape in the Union's favor.

©2017 Louisiana State University Press (P)2017 Tantor

I enjoyed this book very much it covers general Grants Overland campaign.

I enjoyed this book very much it covers general Grants Overland campaign and gave me new insight in how well everyone performed.today I think I have a scence of pride in all the generals all the men who gave there lives for the Union. No dought boths sides did there best with the cards they were dealt. Edifying

Very thorough

I enjoyed this audiobook. The detail was astounding and I especially liked that the author included direct quotes from regular soldiers.

Great book.

Really goes into detail regarding the campaign as well as the conditions the troops suffered through. Also the command missteps of Grant and his subordinates. Personalities and opportunities missed.

Important to understanding the Overland Campaign

This book makes a great case as to why Grant’s move from Cold Harbor to Petersburg was so important and so impressive. Before this book I would have been guilty of not appreciating how spectacular it was.
Rhea is objective in his assessments of Grant and Lee here and uses solid facts and examples to show where both performed well as well as failed.
If there is a criticism it’s that it’s so detailed it can be hard to follow in an audiobook. I couldn’t keep track of everything especially without looking at maps.
Still I recommend this book if only for how it describes the stalemate at Cold Harbor after the initial battles there.

Superb!

amazing detail on Grant &Lee's armies as they face off against each other in ole Virginny. I was blown away with the amount of detailed accounts of Cold Harbor, & Petersburg. filled with facts!

outstanding!

Excellent analysis of these critical few weeks of 1864! Fascinating and very well narrated and written!