Defend this old town
Subtitle: Williamsburg during the Civil War
By: Carol Kettenburg Dubbs.
Publisher: Louisiana State University Press
Published: 2002
Place of publication: Baton Rouge
Language: eng
Number of pages: 406
Subjects: Williamsburg, Battle of, Williamsburg, Va., 1862.; Williamsburg (Va.) -- History, Military -- 19th century.; Williamsburg (Va.) -- History -- 19th century.; Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Social aspects.; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Social aspects.
Description: "With its title echoing the cry raised in Williamsburg as the Federal army approached in May 1862, Carol Dubbs's narrative sweeps us into the lives of the residents of this small historic city from the secession of Virginia in 1861 to Lee's surrender four years later. Williamsburg's Civil War ordeal has never before been told in such depth.".

"Located midway on the only land route between Richmond and the Union-held Fort Monroe, on the tip of the Virginia Peninsula, Williamsburg hosted Confederate troops for the first year of war while defensive earthworks were built across the area. After the Battle of Williamsburg on May 5, 1862 - a bloody dash neither side sought but each claimed as victor - Union forces began an occupation that lasted with only short interruptions until the end of the war.

Now the closest Federal outpost to the Confederate capital, Williamsburg became a conduit for both blue and gray espionage and smuggling operations, as well as a base for Union raids on Richmond. Those resident - white and black - who had not fled, remained to stubbornly defend their homes.".

"Maps, period photographs, orders of battle, and a bibliography complete this substantial, comprehensive, and entertaining work. A riveting war epic of local scale and human dimensions, Defend This Old Town is certain to engage anyone who enjoys good history."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [383]-392) and index.
Table of contents: title: pt. 1. Confederate Williamsburg; title: A line of defense; title: Sickly season; title: Rumors of war; title: pt. 2. The Battle of Williamsburg; title: Sunday skirmish; title: Pandemonium broke loose; title: A hatful of bullets; title: Lost opportunities; title: Magnificent blunder; title: Dismal night; title: Postmortem; title: pt. 3. Occupied Williamsburg; title: Most sorrowful day; title: So Yankee-like; title: A melancholy condition; title: Temporary relief; title: Up the peninsula; title: A polite provost; title: Swept and garnered; title: Epilogue: Plucked chicken.