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A.
Wilson Greene is none other than the Smithsonian's own
Will Greene, the incomparable historian, frequent Smithsonian
lecturer, and Civil War tour guide extraordinaire. His credentials
include a stint with the National Park Service and as the
first president of the Association for the Preservation of
Civil War Sites. He currently is the Executive Director of
Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil
War Soldier, located in Petersburg, Virginia. He lives near
the grounds where the action of this well-researched book
takes place. At the time, Petersburg was thought of as the
backdoor to Richmond, situated at the crossing of five railroad
lines and wagon routes, and at the mouth of the Appomattox
River.
The book opens with a quote from Quartermaster General Montgomery
Meigs, "One good battle and the back of the rebellion is broken." Even
though Meigs said this at the start of the war, it wasn't until
April 2, 1865 that the backbreaking battle occurred. And it
is this turning point to which Will devotes 490 pages, providing
the prelude, the planning, the battle, and detailing the context
of this battle "without a name."
We learn about the overarching importance of this single day.
Will poses that it is only because of this breakthrough by
the Union's VI Corps led by Major General Horatio Wright against
the Confederates' Lieutenant General A. P. Hill, that Lee was
forced to evacuate Petersburg, leaving it defenseless for the
first time in four years. By understanding the fall of Petersburg,
we can understand the aftermath-Lee's retreat to the west with
hopes to re-supply and regroup, and the final battles of Sayler's
Creek and Five Forks-culminating in the surrender at Appomattox.
The book is rich in detail and new information. We are introduced
to the lesser-known players not written about in other treatments
of Petersburg. We also are reacquainted with some of our favorite
Civil War characters, including Phil Sheridan, George Pickett,
Gouverneur Warren, J. L. Chamberlain, and Elisha Hunt Rhodes.
Rhodes was at the battle and Will's use of his diary provides
color and feel to these momentous events. Some may remember
hearing Rhodes quoted on the Ken Burn's Civil War PBS series.
After reading the book, we plainly see the significance of
the Union breakthrough at Petersburg, the importance of which
has been overlooked, until now, by historians who rush past
the final Petersburg battles in order to cover the more exciting
surrender scenarios. Even though General Grant described the
engagement as, "one of the greatest victories of the war," this
battle doesn't even have a name.
Will Greene chose this phrase, "breaking the backbone of the
rebellion," to describe the fighting of April 2, 1865. Due
to Will's efforts, this battle has a name, these events have
a context, and the men who fought there will have another chance
to be remembered.
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