THE BATTLES of APPOMATTOX STATION and COURT HOUSE April 8-9, 1865 - Civil War

Description

The BATTLES of APPOMATTOX STATION and APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE April 8-9, 1865
by Chris Calkins
First Edition #775 of 1000, published by H.E. Howard in 1987 for The Virginia Civil War Battles and Leaders Series. Very good used condition.
In
this volume, part of the H.E. Howard Battles & Leaders Series,
Calkins covers the final two days of that famous army. This book is a strictly tactical history. This may surprise some people. The author even mentions early on in the book that many people have the misguided idea that there was no fighting after Sailor’s Creek on April 6, 1865. This couldn’t be further from the truth. After Sailor’s Creek, there were two engagements at High Bridge, a battle at Cumberland Church, and the occupation of Farmville with some ensuing skirmishes on April 7, the Battle of Appomattox Station (where part of Walker’s Artillery column was captured) on the night of April 8, and the Battle of Appomattox Court House on April 9 as Gordon’s veterans attempted to break open an escape route to the west and south. Once Lee discovered that infantry blocked his way (members of the Army of the James made an incredible forced march of between 28 and 38 miles on April 8 into the morning of April 9), he decided to end the struggle. One of Calkins main points, however, is that Lee did not go quietly. Had he met only cavalry and had Gordon succeeded in brushing them out of the way, Lee fully intended to keep marching and fighting. However, he had been trapped in the valley surrounding Appomattox Court House instead and the rest is history. Large fold-out map inside back cover.
Hardcover, 6
"
x 9", 300 pages, illustrated, indexed
.