Grant vs Lee: Favorite Stories and Fresh Perspectives from the Historians at Emerging Civil War

This book recounts some of the most famous episodes and most compelling human dramas from the marquee match-up of the Civil War - not just the two most successful commanders produced by either side but the two largest and most fabled armies of the war. By the spring of 1864, the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia had become battle-hardened, battle-weary foes locked in an ongoing stalemate. With the presidential election looming in the fall, President Abraham Lincoln needed to break the deadlock and so brought to the east the unassuming "dust-covered man" who had strung together victory after victory in the west: Ulysses S. Grant. "Well," said soldiers in the Army of the Potomac with a grudging respect for their Southern adversary, "Grant has never met Bobby Lee yet." Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant would come to symbolize the armies they led as the spring campaign got underway, and the clash that began in the Virginia Wilderness on May 5, 1864, turned into a long, desperate death-match that inexorably led to Appomattox Court House eleven months later. The war would come to an end, but at what cost along the way? Grant vs. Lee: Favorite Stories and Fresh Perspectives from the Historians at Emerging Civil War recounts some of the most famous episodes and most compelling human dramas from the marquee match-up of the Civil War - not just the two most successful commanders produced by either side but the two largest and most fabled armies of the war. AUTHORS: Chris Mackowski, Ph.D., is the editor in chief of Emerging Civil War. He is a writing professor in the Jandoli School of Communication at St. Bonaventure University and the historian-in-residence at Stevenson Ridge, a historic property on the Spotsylvania battlefield. He has authored or co-authored more than a dozen books on the Civil War. Dan Welch works as a seasonal park ranger at Gettysburg National Military Park. Previously, Dan was the education programs coordinator for the Gettysburg Foundation, the non-profit partner of Gettysburg National Military Park. A contributor to Emerging Civil War, Dan currently serves as a primary and secondary educator with a public school district in northeast Ohio. 100 images, 10 maps

About the Author :
Chris Mackowski, Ph.D., is a writing professor in the Jandoli School of Communication at St. Bonaventure University in New York, where he also serves as the associate dean for undergraduate programs. He is also the historian-in-residence at Stevenson Ridge, a historic property on the Spotsylvania Court House battlefield in Virginia. Chris, an award-winning author, has written or edited more than two dozen books, including The Battle of Jackson, Mississippi, May 14, 1863. He is the editor-in-chief of the digital history platform Emerging Civil War and managing editor of the award-winning Emerging Civil War Series published by Savas Beatie.

Review :
"...the essays throw fresh light on these events, helping the reader - whether serious scholar or interested layman -- better understand how events unfolded and what life was like. Grant vs. Lee is an interesting and important contribution to Civil War scholarship."-- "The NYMAS Review" "An important contribution to Civil War scholarship. An engrossing portrait of these important campaigns."--David Marshall "Engaging, entertaining, educational, and eclectic, this collection of brief essays by a cadre of 'emerging' Civil War scholars provides hope for the future of accessible Civil War history. Highly recommended."--A. Wilson Greene, author of "A Campaign of Giants: The Battle for Petersburg" "I like to think of these pieces as Civil War snacks: easily accessible for the informed reader, great for discussion starters, and representative of diverse perspectives on the war. The authors are personable and witty and I think they do a great service to those who have an interest in the last year of the war and are not sure where to start."--Keith Harris "Keith Harris History" "Informed and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, inherently interesting and often surprising... A masterpiece of Civil War scholarship."-- "Midwest Book Review" "Emerging Civil War has knocked it out of the ballpark again! This riveting collection of essays explores the year-long confrontation between the Civil War's two premier generals--Grant and Lee--focusing not only on the performance of each commander and their subordinate generals, but on the experience of the soldiers and the toll on the home front. Packed with new information and interpretations, this book is a must for students of the Overland and Petersburg campaigns."--Gordon C. Rhea, author of the 5-volume series on the Overland Campaign "The actions and decisions of Grant and Lee turned the final eleven months of the Civil War into the most decisive period of the conflict. In Grant vs. Lee, the editors and authors at Emerging Civil War offer enthusiasts of all levels a fantastic collection of essays covering diverse aspects of the Overland, Petersburg, and Appomattox campaigns. This assembly provides new interpretations about traditional topics--such as the strategy and tactics of the battles and campaigns and the trials of the common soldiers--and also examines previously overlooked cultural aspects while challenging persistent myths that have clouded proper understanding. Grant vs. Lee is a welcome addition to the scholarship of this period of the war."--Tim Talbott, Director of Education & Interpretation, Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier