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Title: The Cavalry at Appomattox: A Tactical Study of Mounted Operations During the Civil War's Climactic Campaign, March 27-April 9, 1865 by Edward G. Longacre ISBN: 0-8117-0051-8 Publisher: Stackpole Books Pub. Date: 01 July, 2003 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $32.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 2 (2 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: OK, but.....
Comment: Longacre's narrative covers the actions of the Union and Confederate cavalry in the last two weeks of the Civil War in the east. The text accounts for 200 of the book's 272 pages, the rest going to notes, an impressive 33 page bibliography and index.
The book begins with a brief discussion of the development of both forces during the course of the war in the east, and highlights effectively the rise of the Union forces, and the decline of the South's, during the last 2 years of the war, and the why's of it all. Then the focus turns to the strategic setting and battles that ended the Seige of Petersburg, including Dinwiddie Court House and Five Forks.
The last half of the book takes the reader through the Union pursuit of the retreating Army of Northern Virginia, to the Surrender at Appomattox. Though the cavalry's operations are his focus, Longacre renders well the context of their operations. He particularly pays attention to the Army of the James and its role in bringing Lee to ground.
The author clearly has an extensive knowledge of Civil War Cavalry, and has written many books on the subject. This isn't a bad book, but it won't go down as one of his best. It has a certain assembly-line quality to it. It covers the subject adequately enough, although some portions cry out for more detail, like the fighting at Paineville, Virginia. It is written well enough, albeit ending rather abruptly. It is organized well enough. In fact, the only severe problem is the inadequate maps, especially for a book titled a tactical study. Those few there are lack detail, and over and over again, I had to dig out other sources to find more complete battle maps and maps where I could actually find locations cited in Longacre's book.
I have a better appreciation after reading this book of the Sheridan's role in the campaign, but I would have appreciated more analysis and assessment of the other leaders' performance.
While I don't regret buying this book, it's hard to recommend it. Those knowledgable of the campaign may find some insights, but little that is new. Those unfamiliar with the campaign are likely to be stymied by the paucity and quality of the maps.
Rating: 1
Summary: C'mon, Ed, you can do better...
Comment: Longacre needs to stop churning out so MANY books, and start writing better ones. This book is way overpriced, is small with large print, and due to the general and shallowly-researched content, is simply not worth the purchase. This work sharply contrasts with his much better recent works on the Federal and Confederate cavalry.
There is much more of the story to tell about the cavalry during the final days of the war, and Longacre did not do it with this one. Don't waste your money or time.
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Title: The Union Cavalry Comes of Age: Hartwood Church to Brandy Station, 1863 by Eric J. Wittenberg, Edward G. Longacre ISBN: 1574884425 Publisher: Brassey's Inc Pub. Date: 01 September, 2003 List Price(USD): $39.95 |
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Title: Vicksburg Is the Key: The Struggle for the Mississippi River (Great Campaigns of the Civil War Series) by William L. Shea, Terrence J. Winschel ISBN: 0803242549 Publisher: University of Nebraska Press Pub. Date: 01 August, 2003 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
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Title: The Bloody Crucible of Courage: Fighting Methods and Combat Experience of the Civil War by Brent Nosworthy ISBN: 0786711477 Publisher: Carroll & Graf Publishers Pub. Date: June, 2003 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
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Title: Gentleman and Soldier: A Biography of Wade Hampton III by Edward G. Longacre ISBN: 1558539646 Publisher: Rutledge Hill Press Pub. Date: July, 2003 List Price(USD): $27.50 |
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Title: Days of Glory: The Army of the Cumberland, 1861-1865 by Larry J. Daniel ISBN: 0807129313 Publisher: Louisiana State University Press Pub. Date: 01 April, 2004 List Price(USD): $44.95 |
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