Whilst t he trenches of richmondpetersburg was scene to the longest siege in american warfare, it had unfolded in a methodical manner. The novel draws a new and controversial conclusion while providing a sharp, rousing and harshly realistic view of politics and combat during the darkest year of the civil war. After the initial attacks on petersburg by union forces ended on june 18, a portion of the ix corps picket line, built under fire, was established only four hundred feet from elliots salient, part of the main confederate line. Wilson greene opens his sweeping new threevolume history of the petersburg campaign, taking readers from grants crossing of the james in midjune 1864 to the fateful battle of the crater on july 30. The battle of the crater by newt gingrich goodreads. Battle of the crater stamp dedication july 30, 2014 by admin past activities one of the most important events of the civil war the siege at petersburg, va was memorialized on a forever stamp at the site where the battle took place and the 54th massachusetts. Battle of the crater civil war wiki fandom powered by wikia. Levin explores the complex and evolving relationship between race and civil war memory. But there is more to the battle of the crater than the ironic.
The battle of the crater, july 30, 1864, has gone into the history books as a stupendous failure. The battle of the crater took place on july 30, 1864 outside the city of petersburg virginia. Frank and virginia williams collection of lincolniana mississippi state university. It took place on july 30, 1864, between the confederate army of northern virginia, commanded by general robert e. Black soldiers contributed enormously to the union cause during the civil war but won no famous victories that can be used to dramatize their. Lee and the union army of the potomac, commanded by major general george g. The battle of the crater was a battle of the american civil war, part of the siege of petersburg. Crater was given to a married couple who journeyed across the moon to moontown to work as miners on the helium3. The sixtythird comic book in the series tells how the leading characters, corporal blutch and sergeant chesterfield, participate in the battle of saint petersburg.
In march 1864, president abraham lincoln elevated ulysses s. This book came from random house, not some obscure publisher. The battle was a violent clash of forces as confederate soldiers fought for the first time against african american soldiers. The battle of the crater essential civil war curriculum. Books on the july 30, 1864, clash between the union army of the potomac and the confederate army of northern virginia on the outskirts of petersburg, virginia, have appeared from a diverse assortment of historians, ranging from richard slotkin to newt gingrich. The battle of the crater, popularly known as the mine of petersburg, was a union assault against the confederate works in hopes of effecting an unopposed breakthrough. The lochnagar crater was created by a large mine placed beneath the german front lines on the first day of the battle of the somme, it was one of 19 mines that were placed beneath the german lines from the british section of the somme front, to assist the infantry advance at the start of the battle. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Using the battle of the crater as his lens, kevin m.
The author dates the cold harbor assault as june 7, 1864, when it was june 3. Crater trueblood was born in armstrong city, luna, in 2112. Three decades after publishing a novel on the battle of the crater, wesleyan professor emeritus slotkin offers a historical analysis of an event meant as a turning point in the civil war but remembered instead as one of its greatest failures. Richmondpetersburg campaign june 1864march 1865 dates. Gingrich novel whitewashes confederate cause mother jones. The ultimate failure of the union attack at the crater is the result of woeful generalship and poor execution of the original battle plan. After weeks of tunneling, on july 30, 1864, union forces blew. There has been a rush of excellent books on the crater over the last several years.
The union army suffered four thousand casualties, and wasted. He also served as a union army general in the american civil war, most remembered for his dishonourable conduct in the battle of the crater july 1864, reported drinking with another general behind the lines, while both their units were. The battle of the crater occurred july 30, 1864, during the american civil war 18611865 and was an attempt by union forces to break the siege of petersburg. I have rarely read a book with as many errors as dr. The scarred earth is an emblem for this consuming war featuring efficient modern weapons of destruction wielded by men behaving at their most savagely primitive. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Meade under the direct supervision of the generalinchief, lt.
Drawing on years of research, the authors weave a complex narrative interweaving the high aspirations of african american. Forstchen take readers to the center of a nearly forgotten civil war confrontation, a battle that was filled with controversy and misinterpretation even before the attack began. On the 150 th anniversary of the battle of the crater, id like to point out the best books on this civil war battle. But there is more to the battle of the crater than the ironic contrast of technological brilliance with military incompetence. The novel draws a new and controversial conclusion while providing a sharp, rousing and harshly realistic view of politics. This book, detailing the onset of brutal trench warfare at petersburg, virginia, digs.
The battle of the crater is a fascinating and engrossing read for any civil war enthusiastfiction and nonfiction lovers alike. Interest in the battle of the crater has become something of a cottage industry recently. Battle of the crater, 30 july 1864, union defeat in american civil war 186165, part of the siege of petersburg, virginia. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Nov 21, 2015 i have rarely read a book with as many errors as dr. After several weeks of preparation the mine was exploded on july 30 at 4. The battle of the crater is gingrich and forstchen s most compelling factbased work yet, presenting little known truths, long forgotten in the files of correspondence, and the actual court of inquiry held after the attack. Edward ferrero january 18, 1831 december 11, 1899 was one of the leading dance instructors, choreographers, and ballroom operators in the united states. The battle of the crater our state our state magazine.
In the final year of the war, union forces besieged the town of petersburg, to the south of the confederate capital of richmond. The battle of the crater tells an interesting story and goes down smooth in a dan brown sort of way. Remembering the battle of the crater centers on the well documented massacre of the united states colored troops by confederate soldiers during and after the battle, carrying the story on through the eras of the lost cause, virginias reconstruction and readjuster movement. Jul 21, 2009 i have rarely read a book with as many errors as dr. Colored troops in the civil war battle of the crater during the siege of petersburg. The crater, an artifact of the terrible power of human engineering, endures as a fixture in the landscape outside petersburg. The union sent unit after unit into the 200 footwide gap created in the confederate line. Richmondpetersburg campaign june 1864 march 1865 dates. The battle of the crater occurred after grant maneuvered away from a bloody stalemate at cold harbor to. His mother died shortly after giving crater birth due to injuries received in the crash of a moonlander which also killed his father. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. With the battle of the crater, new york times bestselling authors newt gingrich and william r.
Drawing on years of research, the authors weave a complex narrative. Crater crater trueblood was born in armstrong city, luna, in 2112. War as murder, talked about the importance of the u. The authors have crafted a compelling look at the 1864 battle at the crater conducted during the siege of petersburg during the american civil war. Into the crater a spinoff from hess remarkable field fortifications trilogyis of the same high quality as his earlier works. The battle of the crater is one of the lesser known yet most interesting battles of the civil war. The battle of the crater, 1864 and millions of other books are available for instant access. The union army suffered four thousand casualties, and wasted a spectacular opportunity to capture petersburg and end the war before christmas. The final sections of the book, where hess discusses the battles aftermath and the evolution of the battlefield over the years, are especially well done. In this richly researched and dramatic work of military history, eminent historian richard slotkin recounts one of the civil wars most pivotal events. In this new role, grant decided to turn over operational control of the western armies to major. Forstchen take readers to the center of a nearly forgotten civil war. Crater and petro drew on silken hoods that covered their faces and necks, then placed their helmets in a preparation unit. To be specific, the plan involved digging a tunnel under confederate lines and lining it with explosives.
Nov 08, 2011 with the battle of the crater, new york times bestselling authors newt gingrich and william r. The battle of the crater is known as one of the civil. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. The poorlyled federal soldiers end up heading into the crater and not around it as planned. Schmutz, a us army veteran turned corporate attorney, has given us an exhaustive and detailed study of a massive wartime explosion gone awry in the summer of 1864. Jul 29, 2014 the ultimate failure of the union attack at the crater is the result of woeful generalship and poor execution of the original battle plan. Our ongoing research provides the geologic context for the site and its clear that the underlying geology played a. The battle of the crater is gingrich and forstchens most compelling factbased work yet, presenting little known truths, long forgotten in the files of correspondence, and the actual court of inquiry held after the attack. The battle of the crater book tulsa citycounty library. The union army suffered 4,000 casualties, turning what came to be known as the battle of the crater from a spectacular opportunity to capture petersburg to an unmitigated disaster. The battle for petersburg from the crossing of the james to the crater vol. The battle of the crater by jeff kinard, 1998 online. The rebel held town of petersburg was on the road to the confederate capital of richmond virginia, it was also a major confederate railroad depot for supplies that went into the city of richmond. Kevin levin, author of remembering the battle of the crater.
The battle of the crater audiobook listen instantly. With the battle of the crater, new york times bestselling. Schmutz, mcfarland publishers the union plan to tunnel beneath confederate lines outside peters burg and set off a large cache of explosives was an imaginative scheme. This book recalls the events leading up to the infamous battle in petersburg, va that occurred on july 30, 1864, called the battle of the crater. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search.
The battle of the crater took place on july 30, 1864 in petersburg, virginia. The battle of the crater by newt gingrich overdrive. Grant to lieutenant general and gave him overall command of union forces. Our ongoing research provides the geologic context for the site and its clear that the underlying geology played a significant role in the events leading up to and during the battle of the crater. Forstchen and newt gingrich 2011, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. The battle of the crater is known as one of the civil wars bloodiest struggles a union loss with combined casualties of 5,000, many of whom were members of the united states colored troops usct under union. Levins work offers a refreshing and inquisitive look at the battle and how the role of the uscts is now coming into light in subsequent preservation and interpretation efforts. Crater was given to a married couple who journeyed across the moon to moontown to work as miners on the helium3 scrapes. Crater unstrapped the gillies holster and put it on a luna steel table, then entered one of the showers. The federals decided to construct and explode a mine underneath the salient in an attempt to. The area of petersburg is the railroad hub on the south and the north wants it to disrupt the flow of supplies to the south.
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