Sunday, July 1, 2007

Glory Enough for All: Sheridan's Second Raid and the Battle of Trevilian Station

by Eric J. Wittenberg

From the publisher:
After the ferocious fighting at Cold Harbor, Virginia, in June 1864, Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant ordered his cavalry, commanded by Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, to distract the Confederate forces opposing the Army of the Potomac. Glory Enough for All chronicles the battle that resulted when Confederate cavalry pursued and caught their Federal foes at Trevilian Station, Virginia, perhaps the only truly decisive cavalry battle of the American Civil War.

Eric J. Wittenberg tells the stories of the men who fought there, including eight Medal of Honor winners and one Confederate whose death at Trevilian Station made him the third of three brothers to die in the service of Company A of the Fourth Virginia Cavalry. He also addresses the little-known but critical cavalry battle at Samaria (Saint Mary's) Church on June 24, 1864, where Union Brig. Gen. David N. Gregg's division was nearly destroyed.

The only modern strategic analysis of the battle, Glory Enough for All challenges prevailing interpretations of General Sheridan and of the Union cavalry. Wittenberg shows that the outcome of Trevilian Station ultimately prolonged Grant's efforts to end the Civil War.

From Civil War News:
A fast-paced, in-depth narrative that captures the confusion, horror and heroism of battle. . . . Judicious placement of maps, numerous photographs and notes that provide additional detail and documentation are the crowning touch to this volume. Readers interested in cavalry operations and the Eastern Theater will welcome this contribution.

From Booknews:
Wittenberg (a Civil War historian, no university affiliation) provides a detailed strategic analysis of the cavalry battle at Trevilian Station. He chronicles the battle, tells the stories of those who fought in it, re-assesses the performance of Major General Philip H. Sheridan, and discusses the impact of the battle. Appendixes outline the order of battle, as well as the strengths and losses of both sides.

From CWBN:
The hardback edition of this release appeared in 2001; the book therefore predates Wittenberg's full revision of Sheridan's reputation in his 2002 Little Phil: A Reassessment of the Civil War Leadership of General Philip H. Sheridan. In Little Phil the author spent some time on the analysis of Sheridan's second raid, so these two may be seen as companion volumes.

You can visit Eric Wittenberg's blog by clicking here.