The Civil War, Vol. 3: Red River To Appomattox (1986) - Plot & Excerpts
Shelby Foote writes, in the afterward section of this, the third volume of his monumental history of the Civil War, how relieved he was to finally finish this labor of love after researching and writing for twenty years. A literary effort begun to commemorate the centennial of the Civil War ended long after, in his description, the centennial enthusiasm had dried up. True, a centennial celebration itself fizzles out, otherwise we, or rather our descendants, would never eventually get excited about a bi- and a tri- and on and on .. centennial. I'm not sure Foote is implying with this statement that Civil War enthusiasm waned after the mid-1960's, but if it took a dip, it was only temporary. Thanks to Foote and others, including Ken Burns, the American Civil War continues to fascinate generations of readers.It isn't necessary to read the three volumes of Shelby Foote's "The Civil War" in order, but my experience from doing so imparted the feeling that I had been exposed to the whole grand majestic scope of this struggle. Foote is all-inclusive in his choice of the war's significant struggles. His motive is revealed literally on the last page of prose (page 1065) in which he states that his writing aim was to provide a "more fitting balance" than many histories provide, by showing the patient reader how the actions outside the state of Virginia, vaguely labeled as in "the West", had no less importance to the war's outcome than the well-known battles such as Gettysburg.Foote shows how these geographically wide pieces fit into the 1864 puzzle in his first chapter, aptly titled "Another Grand Design". In the spring of that year, another recently-appointed Union commanding general, Ulysses Grant, launched a multi-pronged attack designed to hit the Confederate forces in numerous locations ranging West-to-East from Arkansas to Virginia. The greatest Union concentration of forces, personally accompanied by Grant, was the Army of the Potomac, which had had three years of up-and-down morale as various of Grant's predecessors tried to crack the nut of opposition to Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. All of these various conflicts occurring on land and water are narrated by Foote, who never loses the magic touch of making you feel the gravity of the struggle between blue-and butternut-clad armies, while making the reading experience compelling.As we know in retrospect, the time period covered in this third volume parallels the long, painful series of events leading to the Confederate downfall. Not that anyone knew for sure what the outcome would be, or when it would occur, as Grant started his spring, 1864 invasion. He may have been the national hero of Donelson, Shiloh and Vicksburg in the Western theater, but he was up against the best general in the Civil War now. With Grant, Lee continued his pattern of keeping his forces from being smashed by larger Union armies, while always inflicting heavier casualties against his opponent. Grant found himself being set up on numerous occasions for a smashing blow from Lee which would force him to withdraw from the field; he countered these sometimes surprising threats by "sidling" his army eastward across Virginia in a campaign we now know as "The Forty Days", as violent, bloody clashes occurred from The Wilderness, to Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor. Foote graphically describes the "concentrated terror" of one terrible day, when the fighting at the "Bloody Angle" at Spotsylvania involved fighting by both sides across a parapet at literally arms' length, a "waking nightmare" going on for sixteen hours, a defense as much as it was an attack by either side, where neither victory nor defeat mattered, and fighting continued on and on, under the influence of pure adrenalin, and "Slaughter became an end in itself" (p. 221). This one day resulted in 3000 Confederate soldiers captured, killed or wounded compared with 6820 of their enemy. And this day followed numerous others already involving many thousands of casualties on each side, to be followed by many more. Lee would somehow be able to block Grant again and again, in order to protect Richmond, the Confederate Capital. The cost of constant attrition of his forces during the spring, summer and fall of that year would find the two armies facing each other outside Richmond, at Petersburg. By November, Lee knew he was on the verge of calamity because his forces were spread very thin, and there were no more reinforcements to be had. Grant would continue to plan for the breakthrough that would send Lee's forces reeling from their intrenched positions, and it was provided by one of his most aggressive generals, Phil Sheridan, whose thrust at Five Forks on April 1st, 1865 tarnished the reputation of George Picket and began the unravelling of Lee's defenses. One of the Civil War's most dramatic chapters occurred while the Confederate government abandoned Richmond, beginning its itinerant railroad journey to avoid being captured, while Lee evacuated his army westward in the long-shot attempt to get the survivors of his forces to meet with General Johnston's army in North Carolina. Foote shows how Lee and his exhausted army never considered giving up trying to keep the fight going until Grant's relentless pushing of his forces finally boxed in the Confederates at Appomattox Courthouse. There were other Confederate forces still in the field, but Foote makes it clear how Lee's April 9th surrender gave really no alternative to the holdouts, forcing Richard Taylor to surrender his army of the Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana to Federal General Canby, and Johnston to surrender his army of the Department of North and South Carolina and Georgia to William T. Sherman. Meanwhile, President Jefferson Davis was pursuing the hope of some kind of Confederate government-on-the-run survival, moving from town to town with his cabinet, on the Danville and Richmond Railroad, as cabinet members gradually gave up the cause. Foote, a Southerner sensitive to the not-so sympathetic treatment given to Davis' memory by historians, documents the treatment and mistreatment received by the forever unrepentant leader from his capture in Georgia, to his long, harsh imprisonment and beyond. The war bestowed two legacies to Americans. Regarding the first, Foote notes the struggles Abraham Lincoln had in uniting what remained of the remainder of the United States in order to militarily recover the section that had departed, living to see this goal fulfilled, but not living long enough to observe how his returning veterans realized that a nation emerged from the crucible of strife. He writes: "They knew now they had a nation, for they had seen it; they had been there, they had touched it, climbed its mountains, crossed its rivers ....their comrades lay buried in its soil, along with many thousands of their own arms and legs." (p. 1042). The second legacy directly affected the southern veterans, who would also be part of the new nation but would claim membership in a new country south of the Mason-Dixon line; as their claim to nationhood through secession was denied, they claimed unity through pride in enduring a terrible war, the end of which was marked by a villification of their former leaders as instruments of Lucifer, and which was followed by the excesses of Reconstruction. As Foote states: "Not secession but the war itself, and above all the memories recurrent through the peace that followed - such as it was - created a Solid South, more firmly united in defeat than it had been during the brief span when it claimed independence." (p. 1042).Why bother studying History, especially the Civil War? Because, otherwise, it is impossible to understand the difference, to paraphrase Shelby Foote, between "the United States are" and "the United States is" (p. 1042).
The blurb on the cover of these books describes the series as an American Iliad which doesn't at all to me seem like an overstatement because I can't think of any other group of American books, fiction or non-fiction, that encompasses the scope of this series. The facts of the Civil War are pretty well documented throughout the 3000 pages or so that Foote has written but it's a testament to his writing ability that these books are such a compelling read. I found myself tearing up when he was describing Lincoln's deathbed. Hell, I got a little misty reading about Jefferson Davis' death. Here's a great quote from the third book that gives you an idea how great, and darkly funny, Foote is as a writer:"Westward to the Mississippi and north to the Ohio, Confederates did what they could to offset the loss of Atlanta by harassing the supply lines that sustained its Federal occupation. John Morgan was not one of these, for two sufficient reasons. One was that his command had by no means recovered from its unauthorized early-summer excursion into Kentucky, which had cost him half of his 'terrible men,' along with at least a great a portion of what remained of a reputation already diminished by the collapse of his Ohio raid the year before. The other was that he was dead"Foote treats both sides fairly while acknowledging the weaknesses of both. If I had to find one fault about these books is that maybe Foote is leading the narrative here just a little bit. Certain figures seem to be constantly lauded (Lincoln, Lee, Grant, Sherman, Bedford Forrest) while others (politicians, most other Union generals) can't seem to do anything right. Not being an expert, I can't say that his opinions of these people aren't well-founded, but it just struck me as a possibility. I can't recommend these books enough. I would think that every American should read these books just to get an idea how close we were to splitting into two very different countries and, even with the ridiculous partisan battles that go on these days, how lucky we are that we are united.
What do You think about The Civil War, Vol. 3: Red River To Appomattox (1986)?
While enjoyable and highly informative, this book was incredibly long and detailed and finishing at the end was a bit of a chore. Perhaps this is because the final phase of the war from a military standpoint is less interesting to me than what came before, as there are not so much great standalone battles but a series of running lesser engagements covering huge amounts of ground. Maps are provided but to actually follow all the movements that foote writes about here, one would need a map on almost every other page. As per the other two books, the vast majority of this book concerns the actual military battles as opposed to political machinations.Grant’s assumption as commander of all union forces in March 1964, plans to drive upon Atlanta in the west (Sherman) and Richmond (Grant, Meade) in the east, use of various armies in supportBattle in English Channel between Federal Kearsarge and Confederate Alabama and sinking of the AlabamaFailed attempts by confederate cabinet members and others to sue for peace in 1865Lincoln’s extended tour of Petersburg and Richmond after confederate evacuationDeath of Lincoln at Ford’s TheaterFlight of Jefferson Davis to Georgia and capture, imprisonment in Fort Monroe, ultimate release and final passing, unrepentantGrand reviews of Army of Potomac/Army of Tennessee/Cumberland in Washington at end of warWest:Western Louisiana and Southern Arkansas Red River Campaign in Tran Mississippi (west of Mississippi River) with Banks (Red River battles)/Steele (Camden expedition) (Union) vs. Kirby Smith/Taylor (Confederacy), Halleck’s plan before Grant’s decision to concentrate on Atlanta/Mobile and subsequent Union defeats Johnston’s failure to assume offensive vs. ShermanSherman drive to Atlanta Campaign (Sherman (Thomas, Schofield, McPherson) vs. Johnston (Polk, Hardee))1)tMovements south of Rocky Face Ridge2)tBattles near Resaca3)tDeath of Polk4)tForrest victory in cavalry battle (Brice Crossroads) in Mississippi while outnumbered5)tJohnston relieved of command near Atlanta, new commander Hood6)tHood’s unsuccessful attacks against Sherman, Sherman’s essentially laying siege to Atlanta with long range bombing and ultimate victory in AtlantaNaval battle in Mobile Bay between ironclads/wooden ships, Farragut (Federal) vs. Buchanan (Confederate)Price’s (Confederate) disastrous foray into Missouri/Kansas in TransmissippiHood’s turning away from Sherman west of Atlanta and moving north near Tennessee to match against Thomas, successive battles of Franklin and Nashville against superior forces and Confederate defeats against large Union forcesEast:Lee’s inability to assume offensive vs. Grant/MeadeForty Days Overland Campaign North of Richmond with Grant (Meade/Sedgwick/Warren/Hancock/Burnside/Sheridan) vs. Lee (Ewell/Hill/Longstreet/Anderson/Stuart) – May ‘641) Battle of The Wilderness – tactical defeats and greater losses for Union but pull out after two days and continuing march south instead of retreat, wounding of Longstreet (Confederacy)2) Spotsylvania – South’s winning the race to block Union advance toward Richmond, death of Sedgwick (Union)3) Cavalry battles between Sheridan (Union) vs. Stuart (Confederacy) south of main Union battles, death of Stuart4) Shenandoah Valley adjunct campaign and failure of Sigel to support Grant5) Amphibious and land assault/failure to take Richmond by Butler over Beauregard from South of Richmond6) Hanover Junction – Lee’s trap for Grant and Grant’s escape, further movement south towards Richmond7) Cold Harbor – Grant’s poorly planned frontal attack and repulse, huge union losses8) Petersburg battles with Butler bottled up by Beauregard9) Further movement south by Grant and siege of Petersburg, south of Richmond, Battle of the Crater (fascinating interlude), Union losses in attempts to force way into Richmond, subsequent siege of Petersburg and Richmond area, interlocking trenchesEarly’s detachment from Lee as new Army of the Valley and near invasion of Washington before being stopped short of city, Sheridan’s assumption of command to combat Early and counterattacks and victories over Early in Shenandoah Valley, in particular his victory and ride at WinchesterSherman’s march through Georgia to Atlantic Ocean, into Savannah, up through Carolina’s, burning of Columbia, South Carolina, smaller battles in North Carolina vs. Johnston/Hardee/BraggSuccessive attempts by Union to attack Fort Fisher near Wilmington, North Carolina (defeat led by Butler and then victory)Sheridan’s attack/victory at Five Forks and subsequent Confederate pull out of Petersburg/RichmondUnion close following and running engagements west of Richmond/Petersburg, Lee’s failed attempt to connect with Johnston and ultimate surrender at Appomattox Courthouse
—Brian
When you finish a trilogy like this you feel a sense of accomplishment. I can't even begin to imagine how Mr. Foote must have felt in completing this work, three thick volumes telling the story of one of the most crucial times in our nation's history.The Civil War, Vol. 3: Red River to Appomattox concludes an epic but does not satiate my passionate interest in the Civil War itself. It is to the author's great credit that he has told this monumental story not as a series of dry historical battles and campaigns, but rather toured our bleeding nation, North and South, for those pivotal years describing events as they unfolded with compassionate reserve, fascinating insight, and a gallant dash of panache thrown in for good measure. The War Between the States was carnage on a scale we can scarcely imagine today, but it would compound the travesty to dismiss it as such without understanding the people who lived and died it, what they believed and the ideals they fought for. Mr. Foote gives us their voices.Highly recommended!
—booklady
Reread and rating changed from 3 to 4. More appreciated the 2nd time through. Another must read for all interested in American history. This trilogy is really the definitive history of the civil war presented in a very readable style. It has been criticized for omitting mention of some of the atrocities committed by both southern and northern troops, but this is not an important omission. Finally finishing once again (3rd time) the thousands of pages of this definitive history of our civil war. So very well written. So sad for Americans to read. Volume III begins with Grant's move to the East to become the general in chief, the man to win the war.By chance this week the NATO forces ended combat roles in Afghanistan and the news clips pointed out the great sacrifice of 2,200 American dead during the course of 13 years of war. As a contrast, Grant marched south with his army to give General Lee serious battle.At Cold Harbor Virginia Grant attacked and in in 8 minutes 8,000 Americans were dead, Almost all of them Union soldiers. That is what serious war is about.At this point the course of the war changed for good. Before Grant marched south to fight Lee, six Federal generals had done the same, been whipped, and then retreated back north. It was assumed that Grant, having been whipped, would do the same and now retreat to the north. Instead Grant moved his army to the left to outflank Lee and attack again. Retreat by the North was over and the end of the war had begun. The South could not afford the losses in these battles and the North could afford them. It was now a war of siege and attrition that only the North could win.As it became apparent in the South that the war was lost there were some cries for peace with the Union and acceptance of the end of slavery. Claims that the war was not about slavery. This was immediately repudiated by the great major of Southerners saying "of course the war was about slavery, what other property do you think we were trying to preserve!" So the war continued.As it becomes more obvious that the South cannot possibly win, Jefferson Davis issues proclamations bordering on lunacy about how the Confederacy will now triumph. Quite reminiscent of Hitler in his bunker at the end. Davis truly hated the North and it is not clear why. It is hard to believe that he thought slavery a sacred moral right of the South, but perhaps so. Davis would never mention slavery per se, but simply the rights of the South.Finally at the end we have the always painful details of the Lincoln death bed in the shabby house across the street from Ford's theater. So tragic for our history.
—Ross
