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Title: Return to Bull Run: The Campaign and Battle of Second Manassas by John J. Hennessy ISBN: 0-8061-3187-X Publisher: Univ of Oklahoma Pr (Trd) Pub. Date: September, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $18.02 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.82 (11 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Best Book Ever on 2nd Bull Run: Great maps and writing
Comment: Hennessy does the best job to date in detailing the 2nd Manassas or otherwise known Bull Run campaign then any writer to date. As a National Parks historian who served on these fields combined with guidance by the renowned Robert Krick, Hennessy provides a well-written, well-researched and organized detail of the entire campaign. From Pope's arrival with his "take the war to the civilian's" proclamations and his coming to grips with a dysfunctional army made of McClellanites, Hennessy gives a great description of this Union Army of Virginia. In contrast, Lee has organized his army into two wings, Jackson the maneuvering striking force and Longstreet the reliable front man and heavy counter puncher. Great description of Jackson's great flanking march behind Pope to Manassas and his attack at Groveton that started the battle and sets the stage for Pope's obsession to crush Jackson. Hennessy notes the frustrations that accompanied Pope in shuffling McClellan's former divisions forward after they just recently left the Peninsula. One of the most interesting segment deals with Pope focusing so much on Jackson that he leaves Thoroughfare Gap lightly defended allowing Longstreet to arrive on the scene in time to strike during Jackson's critical need for relief. The other part of this drama is the mistrust that Pope has for Union General Porter who is posted on Pope's far left. Porter reports Longstreet's arrival and implores Pope that he cannot attack Jackson as ordered. Pope's failure to believe that Longstreet is on the scene leads to Longstreet's famous mass attack that collapsed the Union army into another rout except for rear guard stands along Henry Hill. Pope later charges Porter, who was not completely innocent in attitude, of insubordination resulting in one of the most famous Conduct of the War trials, Porter is court-martialed and the ruling sends a chilling message to the military supporters of McClellan. Great detail on movements with very much appreciated maps and excellent descriptions of the commanders and their decisions. A facinating chapter deals with Union General Sigel's attempts to attack Jackson that are hampered by Kearney's reluctance to support him in battle based purely on personal reasons. As a great plus, Hennessy is a gifted writer making this book a joy to read.
Rating: 5
Summary: Could not ask for more!
Comment: In over 30 years of reading Civil War history, this ranks as one of the BEST battle studies I have ever had the pleasure to read. Mr. Hennessy tells the story of 2nd Bull Run in a well thought out organized way that keeps everything in focus and keeps the reader from confusion. Also the maps are first rate and in the right places to go along with the text.
This book is a job well done!
Rating: 4
Summary: Excellent Portrayal of Pope
Comment: The book starts with John Pope assuming command of the Union Army of Virginia and ends with Pope literally telling people he rued the day he left his home in a span of less than 80 days.
Inbetween is a masterful account of how Jackson turned Pope's Army of Virginia's right all the way back to Bull Run and Longstreet's offensive drove the Union army in defeat back to Washington.
While there are plenty of primary accounts, Hennessey clearly displays his expertise on the Second Mannassas campaign in analyzing the command of both armies, with, of course, most analysis reserved for John Pope. There is plenty of blame to go along, and McDowell, McClellan and others get a good share of it.
John Pope is a name that those who don't follow the Civil War don't know. Many of those who do know Pope know him as a totally ineffective commander, or as Lee called him, a "miscreant." However, if you stop reading this book half way through, you might come away with the belief that Pope actually knew what he was doing, until Jackson started the flanking maneuver.
Much of the book deals with Pope's inability to read his opponent: this is starkly contrasted (obviously) by Lee's innate ability to do just that. Still, Hennessey credits Pope at times throughout the book, whether it was positioning a stalemate across the Rappahannock River in mid August or setting up the critical defensive line on Henry Hill in the battle's climax.
After the battle, Pope withdraws to Centreville and eventually to Washington with his army, where it's turned over to McClellan. The Confederates accomplish every objective except the destruction of Pope's army: from there they head north to Maryland.
The only problem I had with this book was the lack of maps. For a campaign lasting about 3 weeks, there are only about a dozen maps total: in some cases, maps detailing troop movements and battles appear a chapter after the description of the events. But this is a very minor complaint.
Overall, this is a great book: definitely recommended for understanding how the Army of Northern Virginia could go from the gates of Richmond to an invasion stage in a few months.
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Title: To The Gates of Richmond : The Peninsula Campaign by Stephen W. Sears ISBN: 0618127135 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co Pub. Date: 01 May, 2001 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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Title: Battle at Bull Run: A History of the First Major Campaign of the Civil War by Williwm C. Davis, William C. Davis ISBN: 0807108677 Publisher: Louisiana State University Press Pub. Date: May, 1981 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
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Title: Chancellorsville by Stephen W. Sears ISBN: 039587744X Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co Pub. Date: 22 June, 1998 List Price(USD): $17.00 |
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Title: The Fredericksburg Campaign: Winter War on the Rappahannock by Francis Augustin O'Reilly ISBN: 0807128090 Publisher: Louisiana State University Press Pub. Date: January, 2003 List Price(USD): $39.95 |
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Title: Landscape Turned Red : The Battle of Antietam by Stephen W. Sears ISBN: 0618344195 Publisher: Mariner Books Pub. Date: 30 June, 2003 List Price(USD): $17.00 |
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