I recently reviewed Richard Sommers’ new book of essays, entitled Challenges of Command in the Civil War: Generalship, Leadership, and Strategy at Gettysburg, Petersburg, and Beyond: Volume 1: Generals and Generalship, at TOCWOC – A Civil War Blog. The book contains quite a few essays with direct discussions of the Siege of Petersburg, including:
- Success through a Succession of Setbacks: Ulysses S. Grant and the Virginia Campaign of 1864-1865
- “Winged Victory”: Ulysses S. Grant and the Search for Success in the Siege of Petersburg
- The Generalship of Grant and Lee at Petersburg
- Grant’s Main Men: Senior Federal Commanders in the Fifth Offensive at Petersburg
There is some repetition in the book, with these essays being created based on presentations Dr. Sommers has delivered over the years. Despite this, anyone interested in the Siege of Petersburg will find much of use in this collection. I’d definitely recommend it, especially as a sort of intro to Dr. Sommers’ large and imposing book Richmond Redeemed, which covers the Fifth Offensive at Petersburg in extreme detail. Go check out the review at TOCWOC and let me know what you think.