Rebels at the Gates: The Confederacy's Final Gamble and the Battle to Save Washington

Rebels at the Gate chronicles an intriguing series of events that nearly changed American history. In the last full year of the Civil War, Washington, DC came within hours of being invaded and Lincoln within inches of being shot. During the summer of 1864, General Ulysses Grant was laying siege to Petersburg (near Richmond), deploying every available Union soldier in an effort to end the bloody war once and for all. His counterpart, General Robert E. Lee and his famed Army of Northern Virginia, were trapped inside Richmond, and recognized that the Confederate capital would fall. Lee knew Grant, and understood that he would never stop attacking until he had Richmond. It was then that the southern commander hatched a desperate and bold plan to save the Confederacy and perhaps bring the war to an end… but on the Confederacy's terms. Historian Robert Watson provides the definitive account of this largely forgotten attack on and defense of Washington-and the fascinating events surrounding the battle.

Table of Contents:
Preface Images Prologue: Target Washington Introduction: An Uncivil War PART I. CAPITALS 1. The Long "Siege" of Washington 2. A Tale of Two Cities 3. To Washington, to Richmond 4. Capital Defenses 5. Tightening the Noose 6. Lee's Final Gamble PART II. CAMPAIGN 7. The "Bad Old Man" 8. The Valley Campaign 9. Invasion 10. Chaos and Panic 11. Crossroads of History 12. The Race to Save Washington PART III. CRUCIBLE 13. Skirmish 14. Attack! 15. The Incident 16. Victory 17. A Bitter End 18. Legacy Epilogue: The Lost Cause Appendix A: Timeline of Events Appendix B: Map of Early's March to Washington Appendix C: Map of Washington's Defenses Sources Notes About the Author

About the Author :
Robert P. Watson, Distinguished Professor of History at Lynn University is the author of many books on American politics and history including, most recently, America's First Plague: The 1793 Epidemic that Crippled a Young Nation (R&L, 2023): Escape! The Story of the Confederacy's Infamous Libby Prison and the Civil War's Largest Jail Break (R&L, 2021),George Washington's Final Battle: The Epic Struggle to Build a Capital City and Nation (Georgetown University Press, 2021), The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn: An Untold Story of the American Revolution (Da Capo Press, 2017, and The Nazi Titanic: The Incredible Untold Story of a Doomed Ship in World War II (Da Capo Press, 2016), which is currently being made into a motion picture. He resides in Boca Raton, Florida.

Review :
Many are familiar with the United States army battle cry, "On to Richmond!" during the American Civil War. However fewer likely know about Confederate efforts to attack Washington, DC. Dr. Watson expertly weaves a compelling narrative in Rebels at the Gates which traces military movements, political responses, audacious ambitions, and public sentiment from more than the usual players. A terrific read! Robert Watson's compelling narrative, Rebels at the Gates, is a meticulously researched account which uncovers the long-forgotten battle during the Civil War when Confederate forces made a daring attempt to lay siege to the nation's capital. Watson expertly tells personal stories of courage and conflict, bringing to life the dramatic tensions of the time. A must-read for history enthusiasts of all types. His insightful analysis challenges us to remember this tumultuous time when the fate of the nation was in jeopardy. With his masterful storytelling style, Robert Watson gives a vivid and meticulously researched account of an 1864 event that could have had dire consequences for both President Lincoln and for the country. It's American history at its best!