Field Armies and Fortifications in the Civil War
Subtitle: The Eastern Campaigns, 1861-1864 (Civil War America)
Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press
Published: April 6, 2005
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 464
ISBN-13: 9780807829318
Subjects: American history: c 1800 to c 1900; Battles & campaigns; c 1800 to c 1900; Fortification, Field; Civil War, 1861-1865; Military - United States; History; History - Military / War; History: American; USA; Historic sites; Military - Strategy; United States - Civil War; Campaigns; United States; 19th century; Army of the Potomac; East (U.S.); Fortification
First sentence: Responsibility for fortifications in the pre-Civil War army rested with the Corps of Engineers, the elite of the military establishment.
Description: "The eastern campaigns of the Civil War involved the widespread use of field fortifications, from Big Bethel and the Peninsula to Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Charleston, and Mine Run. While many of these fortifications were meant to last only as long as the battle and often were not detailed in official records, Earl J. Hess argues that their history is deeply significant. Even before the onset of trench warfare at the Wilderness in May 1864, the Civil War saw more use of fieldworks than did any previous conflict in Western history."

"Hess studies the use of fortifications by tracing the campaigns of the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia from April 1861 to April 1864. He considers the role of field fortifications in the defense of cities, river crossings, and railroads and in numerous battles. Blending technical aspects of construction with operational history, Hess demonstrates the crucial role these earthworks played in the success or failure of field armies." "Based on fieldwork at 300 battle sites and extensive research in official reports, letters, diaries, and archaeological studies, this book stands to become an indispensable reference for Civil War historians."--Jacket.