Never Call Retreat: Lee and Grant: The Final Victory

Gettysburg #3

by Newt Gingrich, William R. Forstchen, Albert S. Hanser

New York Times bestselling authors Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen conclude their inventive trilogy with this remarkable answer to the great “what if” of the American Civil War: Could the South have indeed won?

After his great victories at Gettysburg and Union Mills, General Robert E. Lee’s attempt to bring the war to a final conclusion by attacking Washington, D.C., fails. However, in securing Washington, the remnants of the valiant Union Army of the Potomac, under the command of the impetuous General Dan Sickles, is trapped and destroyed. For Lincoln there is only one hope left: that General Ulysses S. Grant can save the Union cause.

It is now August 22, 1863. Lincoln and Grant are facing a collapse of political will to continue the fight to preserve the Union. Lee, desperately short of manpower, must conserve his remaining strength while maneuvering for the killing blow that will take Grant’s army out of the fight and, at last, bring a final and complete victory for the South.

Pursuing the remnants of the defeated Army of the Potomac up to the banks of the Susquehanna, Lee is caught off balance when news arrives that General Ulysses S. Grant, in command of more than seventy thousand men, has crossed that same river, a hundred miles to the northwest at Harrisburg. As General Grant brings his Army of the Susquehanna into Maryland, Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia maneuvers for position. Grant first sends General George Armstrong Custer on a mad dash to block Lee’s path toward Frederick and with it control of the crucial B&O railroad, which moves troops and supplies. The two armies finally collide in Central Maryland, and a bloody week-long battle ensues along the banks of Monocacy Creek. This must be the “final” battle for both sides.

In Never Call Retreat, Newt Gingrich and William Forstchen bring all of their critically acclaimed talents to bear in what is destined to become an immediate classic.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Alternate History, Civil War, War, Military Fiction, American History

640 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 26, 2005

About the author

Newt Gingrich is well-known as the architect of the “Contract with America” that led the Republican Party to victory in 1994 by capturing the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time in forty years. After he was elected Speaker, he disrupted the status quo by moving power out of Washington and back to the American people. Under his leadership, Congress passed welfare reform, the first balanced budget in a generation, and the first tax cut in sixteen years. In addition, the Congress restored funding to strengthen defense and intelligence capabilities, an action later lauded by the bipartisan 9/11 Commission.

Today Newt Gingrich is a Fox News contributor. He is a Senior Advisor at Dentons, the world’s largest law firm with more than 6,500 lawyers in 50 countries and offices in more than 125 cities. He advises the firm’s world-class Public Policy and Regulation practice. He is also a Senior Scientist at Gallup.

From May 2011 to May 2012, Newt Gingrich was a candidate for the Republican nomination for President of the United States, winning the South Carolina and the Georgia primaries. The campaign was especially notable for its innovative policy agenda, its effort to bring new coalitions into the Republican fold, and for Newt’s debate performances. His $2.50 a gallon energy plan set off a nationwide discussion about the use of America’s energy resources.
But there is a lot more to Newt Gingrich than these remarkable achievements. As an author, Newt has published twenty-nine books including 14 fiction and nonfiction New York Times best-sellers.
Non-fiction books include his latest, Breakout, in addition to A Nation Like No Other, Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous with Destiny, To Save America, Rediscovering God in America, 5 Principles for a Successful Life, Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less, Real Change, A Contract with the Earth, Winning the Future: A 21st Century Contract with America, To Renew America, Lessons Learned the Hard Way, Saving Lives & Saving Money, Window of Opportunity, and The Art of Transformation. He is also the author of a series of historical fiction books including, Gettysburg, Grant Comes East, Never Call Retreat: Lee and Grant the Final Victory, 1945, Pearl Harbor, Days of Infamy, To Make Men Free, To Try Men’s Souls, Valley Forge, and Victory at Yorktown. These novels are active history studies in the lessons of warfare based on fictional accounts of historical wartime battles and their aftermaths. His latest novel, Treason, is the sequel to Duplicity and is a thriller of Washington intrigue and international terrorism.

Newt and his wife, Callista, host and produce historical and public policy documentaries. Recent films include The First American, Divine Mercy: The Canonization of John Paul II, A City Upon A Hill, America at Risk, Nine Days That Changed The World, Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous with Destiny, Rediscovering God in America, Rediscovering God in America II: Our Heritage, and We Have the Power.

In his post-Speaker role, Newt has become one of the most highly sought-after public speakers, accepting invitations to speak before prestigious organizations throughout the world. Because of his own unquenchable thirst for knowledge, Newt is able to share unique and unparalleled insights on a wide range of topics. His audiences find him to be not only educational but also inspirational. For more information about Newt’s speaking engagements, please visit the Worldwide Speakers Group.

Widely recognized for his commitment to a better system of health for all Americans, his leadership in the U.S. Congress helped save Medicare from bankruptcy, prompted FDA reform to help the seriously ill and initiated a new focus on research, prevention, and wellness. His contributions have been so great that the American Diabetes Association awarded him their highest non-medical award and the March of Dimes named him their 1995 Citizen of the Year.
To foster a modern health system that provide

Reviews

[Brett Sorge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good reading, but I don't like this alternative view of history. Somehow this bothers me knowing the facts are far different.

[Bernie Charbonneau · Rating 5 out of 5]

This final installment of this fantastic alternative history telling of a period during the American Civil War was as tense as the first paragraph of the first book. This writing combo works extremely well for me. There was no let down in this third book. This series as a whole was top notch. If you are not a fan of alternative history, then these novels will not change your mind. They are quite different than the actual history of this period, but for me, that is what made this series interesting.
The characters are non-fictional so if you have read any books on the Civil War, they will be familiar. How this duo combined the characters and story was quite creative. If you enjoy a good skirmish and can disassociate yourself from actual facts then you are in for a treat.

[Wenzel Roessler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully told story with some really well done characters. As always, Forstchen does a great job showing how logistics and supplies can make or break an army. The really tender and best part of this book is how fighters from each side of the war can be so kind and honorable to each other. This element to the story made this go from a war story to a story of people in a war.

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Never Call Retreat* by Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen is a sprawling, intense immersion into a world reshaped by the unthinkable—a Confederate victory at Gettysburg, a nation divided not just geographically but morally, politically, and socially.

Published in 1996, the novel is both a meticulously researched alternate history and a deeply human exploration of courage, loyalty, and the ethical dimensions of war. Unlike speculative exercises that linger on divergence alone, Gingrich and Forstchen thrust the reader into the immediate consequences of that divergence, crafting a narrative in which the monumental sweep of history collides with the intimate struggles of individuals, communities, and nations.

At the centre of the narrative are figures caught in the maelstrom of Confederate triumph: generals, soldiers, civilians, and political leaders whose decisions echo across the fractured nation. The novel’s protagonist ensemble is carefully calibrated to provide multiple perspectives on the costs and consequences of victory and defeat.

Each character embodies the tension between personal morality and societal expectation, between the instinct to survive and the obligation to act ethically. Gingrich and Forstchen are particularly adept at illuminating the ways in which historical contingency forces ordinary individuals into extraordinary circumstances, revealing the moral compromises demanded by both loyalty and survival.

The novel’s opening sequences establish its dual commitment to historical fidelity and narrative propulsion. Battles, skirmishes, and strategic manoeuvres are rendered with meticulous attention to detail, yet they are never mere spectacles of military might.

Each engagement serves as a lens through which to examine character, ethics, and the structural pressures of society. The narrative moves with a rhythm that mirrors the uncertainties of war itself: rapid, dangerous, and unpredictable, yet undergirded by reflection on the human stakes of each manoeuvre. The result is a reading experience that is both thrilling and intellectually engaging, a blend of tactical immersion and moral inquiry.

Gingrich and Forstchen’s world-building is expansive and precise. The post-Gettysburg Confederacy is not a static empire; it is a living, evolving society, fraught with instability, ambition, and ethical compromise. The political, economic, and social structures of both the victorious South and the beleaguered North are meticulously detailed, creating a landscape in which every choice, every alliance, and every act of courage carries weight.

The authors do not indulge in fantasy; their alternate history is grounded in the plausibility of human behaviour, the contingencies of strategy, and the ethical complexities of power. This attention to detail renders the world vividly real, enabling readers to inhabit fully a society shaped by reversal, yet all too human in its triumphs and failings.

Thematically, *Never Call Retreat* is a meditation on courage, duty, and moral agency in times of crisis. Characters are constantly confronted with choices that test both their personal ethics and their loyalty to larger societal or military structures.

The narrative interrogates the tension between the imperatives of survival and the demands of conscience, the obligations to country versus the obligations to humanity, and the consequences of both action and inaction. Through these dilemmas, the novel explores the enduring question of how one should act when history itself seems to conspire against justice, morality, and human decency.

The prose is precise and direct, carrying the dual weight of narrative propulsion and ethical reflection. Dialogue conveys both plot information and character psychology, while descriptions of battlefields, towns, and strategic positions evoke not only the physical environment but also the social and moral pressures that shape human behaviour.

Gingrich and Forstchen balance kinetic action with contemplative passages, ensuring that the thrill of military engagement never eclipses the profound human and ethical concerns at the novel’s heart. The narrative rhythm mirrors the oscillation between rapid, dangerous decisions and reflective moral calculation, creating a cadence that draws the reader into the lived experience of a society at war with itself.

Violence in *Never Call Retreat* is depicted with both immediacy and moral consequence. The authors avoid gratuitous spectacle, instead emphasising the costs borne by individuals, communities, and societies. Each skirmish and battle carries ramifications not just for strategic advantage but for personal conscience, loyalty, and ethical responsibility.

This framing transforms acts of combat from mere historical reenactment into a meditation on human behaviour under extreme pressure, on the enduring tension between duty and morality, and on the ways in which systemic structures shape, constrain, and sometimes corrupt ethical action.

Character development is nuanced, extending beyond the protagonist ensemble to encompass a broad spectrum of human responses to historical upheaval. Officers, soldiers, civilians, and political leaders each embody distinct approaches to the challenges posed by Confederate victory. Some cling to principle despite overwhelming odds; others adapt pragmatically, negotiating compromise and survival.

Through these interwoven narratives, Gingrich and Forstchen examine the diversity of human morality and resilience, the interplay between personal integrity and societal expectation, and the subtle ways in which ethical clarity can persist—or falter—in the crucible of historical change.

The novel’s treatment of historical texture is remarkable. Period detail, from military uniforms and weaponry to social customs and governance, is meticulously integrated into the narrative, creating a sense of authenticity and immersion. These details are never mere ornamentation; they reinforce character motivations, illuminate societal dynamics, and underscore the moral and ethical stakes of the story.

By anchoring speculative divergence in precise historical texture, Gingrich and Forstchen heighten both plausibility and thematic resonance, demonstrating that alternate history can illuminate not only what might have been but also the ethical dimensions of human choice.

Thematically, the novel interrogates the interplay between fate, free will, and moral responsibility. In a world reshaped by Confederate triumph, characters must negotiate systems of power and oppression while retaining their personal sense of conscience.

The narrative emphasises that historical reversal does not absolve moral agency; rather, it intensifies the ethical imperative to act thoughtfully, courageously, and with awareness of consequence. The tension between structural determinism and personal responsibility pervades the story, compelling the reader to consider how individuals navigate moral complexity when the very foundations of society are ethically compromised.

Stylistically, Gingrich and Forstchen maintain a rhythm that blends immersive action with reflective contemplation. Scenes of battle and strategic manoeuvring pulse with immediacy, while quieter passages allow for meditation on ethical, psychological, and social dimensions. The prose is clear, precise, and unflinching, capturing both the intensity of historical reversal and the weight of moral decision-making.

By balancing action and reflection, the authors create a narrative cadence that is both compelling and intellectually engaging, drawing the reader deeply into the consequences of Confederate victory and the human responses it elicits.

Ultimately, *Never Call Retreat* is a novel that transcends conventional alternate history or military adventure. It is a meditation on courage, conscience, and the moral consequences of historical divergence. The Confederate triumph at Gettysburg is both backdrop and catalyst, a framework through which the authors explore ethical responsibility, human resilience, and the enduring challenge of moral clarity under pressure.

Characters navigate a society that is historically inverted, yet their struggles, compromises, and acts of courage resonate with universal questions of duty, integrity, and ethical agency.

In conclusion, *Never Call Retreat* is a powerful, immersive work of alternate history that balances narrative intensity with profound thematic inquiry. Gingrich and Forstchen construct a world that is historically plausible, morally complex, and vividly realised, populated by characters whose courage and conscience illuminate the ethical stakes of survival and action.

The novel lingers long after the final page, compelling reflection on the responsibilities of individuals in morally compromised societies, the human capacity for resilience and ethical courage, and the enduring consequences of historical choice.

It is a masterful fusion of military narrative, alternate history, and moral meditation, a compelling exploration of what it means to act rightly when the arc of history itself seems bent toward injustice.

[Dann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen’s alternative Civil War comes to an end in Never Call Retreat: Lee and Grant: The Final Victory, the third installment of the trilogy. When General Custer gets wind of the Confederates making a crossing at Frederick he races there to capture the main bridge, leading to a major confrontation between newly appointed Union General Ulysses S. Grant and Confederate General Robert E. Lee as they amass their troops for a battle that could decide the war. Despite its fictional nature, the narrative tries to emulate a historical aesthetic; listing locations and times as events unfold. However, the characters come off more as Civil War stereotypes than real people. And unless one knows the actual events of the Civil War, it’s hard to appreciate this alternative version. Still, the writing shows a clear passion and reverence for the material. An entertaining what if, Never Call Retreat: Lee and Grant: The Final Victory has its moments and helps one to see the humanity and honor of the men who fought the War Between the States.

[BJ Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this heart-rending conclusion to their alternative-history Civil War trilogy, the authors show the political intrigue and actions that create the environment in which commanders and soldiers must fight a war, and which helps decide which army will be victorious.

In reading this trilogy, I often found myself googling names & battles to see whether what I was reading was factual, semi-factual, or completely fictional - and in the process, got an excellent history lesson.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Challenging and intriguing

It took me 4 tries to start this series knowing the actual history of Gettysburg but once I started I did not want to stop reading! Have enjoyed his other historical novels and appreciate the knowledge and research that has gone into them. God bless America!

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent end to this trilogy. Now I want to read more about Grant and Lee.

[George Siehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never Call Retreat provides a suspenseful, bloody ending to the Gingrich/Forstchen alternative history trilogy of the Civil War; this book and the preceding two titles, Gettysburg and Grant Comes East make exciting, rewarding reading. Although the three are all fiction, the use of known figures of the time, and the precise rendering of the terrain and the combat realities of the period can convince readers that this is how the war could have ended.

This episode shows characters acting as they would in real life, Sickles, Custer, Longstreet and especially, Grant and Lee. Who survived the war differs from the reality of the Civil War that was fought, which may upset some readers; some Civil War buffs do have their favorites and don't take kindly to "what if" scenarios that lead those favorites to different outcomes. Despite the fictional treatment, the book does present historical truth in many of the passages. For instance, President Davis is shown as a micromanager, while Lincoln is cast as a leader who gives his Generals more free rein. Professor Michael Fuhlhage in his interesting recent history, Yankee Reporters and Southern Secrets, lays out the same characterizations of the two leaders.

Throughout the trilogy, many of the battles are dependent upon which side reaches the battlefield first; this may be a matter of hours, or even minutes. That same element of suspense prevails in this culminating volume. The authors compound this by layering the arrival of units from the two armies, thus shifting the potential final outcome as each new unit arrives. The final battle between Grant and Lee is a high point of this tension-building device.

The bloodshed in the battles depicted, Baltimore, Gunpowder River, Washington, and Frederick, is horrendous. Tens of thousand on a side die in a day, or night, of fighting. This, unfortunately, is not a plot device, but a reflection of how wars were fought at the start of the era of total war.

The war ends differently from reality, in details. It is this difference in details that allows for considering alternate realities of outcomes that might have come in the years after the war.

The trilogy is highly, and broadly recommended. It is an exciting, informing, and well crafted work of literature.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the final volume of the trilogy. I didn't think it as good as the first two, mainly because the store of imagination seems to have run out in the plot for this book. The scenario starts plausibly enough - Grant leaves Harrisburg on the west side of the Catoctin Mountains, Lee demonstrates before Washington. Both realise that they need to destroy each other, neither is in a hurry because a mis-step means catastrophe for their cause.

Lincoln provides the political cover for Grant. Jefferson Davis conveniently abandons Lee to remove the political constraints facing him. They dance around each other and eventually come to blows on the Monocacy Creek near Frederick. It is a very costly exchange. Lee gains the upper hand, but at a cost that means he can't continue the campaign. He needs to find a way back to Virginia.

While this is happening, Lincoln moves the Washington garrison under Hancock along the Potomac to block the fords back into Virginia. While this is happening, the Army of the Potomac is reformed under Sykes. This closes the trap and surrounds Lee, who surrenders. He is given favourable terms on the condition of parole. Lee then marches the Army of Northern Virginia back to Richmond, They then capitulate at the Confederate Capitol and the war ends.

I found this to be just a little too convenient. Despite winning at Gettysburg, despite destroying the Army of the Potomac twice, the Confederates still lose the Civil War. To me, this is a conclusion that the narrative has been forced to fit. I just found it to be a little too easy.

The book is well written, if at times it seemed a little hurried. The pace can be a bit too fast at times and the narrative doesn't quite flow as well as it could. The book makes little sense without the first two volumes, so has rather limited general appeal. The devoted who get this far might be a little disappointed with the volume.

[Victor Orozco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional! Many thanks to the author for such a wonderful story. Continuing where the last novel left, Ulysses S. Grant takes his newly formed command to face off against Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. From here on New Gingrich expands on what might have happened if the Confederacy had won what was originally the Union victory at Gettysburg.

After the victory on the first day of Gettysburg becoming a withdraw leading to the overwhelming victory at Union Mills. Lee's army is stronger than it had ever been but it's not invulnerable as it was sent to take on the defenses of Washington, DC, and fail. Yet it claimed the state of Maryland for the Confederacy, causing the army to become better equipped than it had ever been to meet the Army of Potomac at Gunpowder Falls in another victory.

But for every victory, the Confederacy is wearing itself out. The victories are becoming Phyrric, and with Ulysses S. Grant, known for using the hammering tactics he brought to play against the Confederacy with Shiloh and Vicksburg in the West, he now brings the same tactics to the East.

The new battles in this alternate history are as vicious and as devastating as the battles in real history. The Battle of Frederick is an amazing contest that begins, believe it or not, with a trainwreck. Leading up to the epic conclusion at the Battle of Monocacy, which is fought sooner than it actually would have been and of far greater importance.

The Civil War ended almost two years earlier than it would have, with just as much, if not more honor and glory for the men who brought peace.

I couldn't help but call this one of the best Civil War stories I've ever read. God Bless You, Mr. Gingrich.

[Lee Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt disappointed after reading this third book in the trilogy. It was not quite what I expected.

First it is very wide in scope and very rich in detail. This makes for tough wordy reading when you have 5-6 viewpoints you must incorporate into the story and provide intricate details of each viewpoint.

Second, in some ways it reshapes history, in other ways not so much. Custer is killer; JEB Stuart survives. How Grant engineered the decisive battle with a five day migraine is beyond me.

Finally, it isn’t an alternate ending to the Civil War, just an alternative way of getting there. Lee still loses—he just loses in a different place. Might have been interesting to see what a story would be like if Lee had won. But alas, not that alternate a show if history.

A good read. If you get through the first two you should definitely read this one. I don’t think it was all it was cracked up to be.

[Jonathan Lundkvist · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book in a series that only narrowly fails to be a Lost Cause Fantasy. The author - while writing many afroamerican characters - still fails to give adequate attention to the cause of slavery. It is a book that venerates Lee - or rather; the Killer Angels version of Robert E Lee - while not giving Grant his due.

That said, I still found the book enjoyable for what it is. This alternate history has never shied away from the sheer brutality of the American Civil War and this book is not different in that regard.

[Ronald Spitzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A worthy ending to a well written and imagined alternate Civil War. Excellent characterization, realistic action and excellent writing. I suspect that even in this alternate history certain hatreds will be slow at being laid to rest. For those who commented about the first book of the trilogy that the South got all the breaks and eventual outcome was obvious, are you still thinking that? For those who have refused to read this trilogy because of the region and politics of one of the authors, just get over it and grow up. The trilogy is worthy and each book is worthy. Highly Recommended!

[Mark Luongo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fitting conclusion to this excellent "alternate history" trilogy. Once again the battle scenes are horrific, the research well done, the surprises continue and the reader is left with a feeling of what might have been. And a sense of how that ending may have influenced our country to this very day.

[Matt Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good end to the series. The battle for the railroads, Custards stand, and lees routing were thrilling! Some of the decisions and character inclusions seemed unnecessary at times but still a kind nod to what really happened. Not as good as the first, but similar to the second in the series, a fine listen.

[Jennifer Cannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not as good as the Revolutionary War series. Too many descriptions of war battles. They are all the same so it gets monotonous. Aim, Fire lots of casualties and death...every single time. Couldn’t finish

[mr Joseph D fitzpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical wonderment

As a military historian and a student of the history of the American civil war. I found this alternative historical fiction to be a wonderful and interesting read. It was both plausible and well written. A must read again down the road.

[Derek VanRoekel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whole Civil War series is great. This book is incredibly entertaining and draws readers into what the life of a soldier in the Civil War looked like. For anyone interested in history, this is a great read.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really disappointed with how the series was wrapped up. Do not want to include any spoilers so that is all I can really say. Therefore the writing was decent and was pleasant to read but that lack of originality in the alternative history this attempted leaves it as average.

[Thomas B. Barbieri · Rating 5 out of 5]

My local home

I loved the descriptions of the small Maryland towns where I called home. The authors really did their research of the Pipe Creek, Union Mills and Frederick areas of Maryland.

[Scott D. Brace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never call Retreat!

This is an amazing account of the final months of the battle between the Confederates and the Union forces.. great detail of the battles and strategies and of the great and divine leadership of president Lincoln and General Grant and Lee

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made reading American history seem easy.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish I could give it 6 stars! Best alternate history series I have ever read(and listened to).

[Christopher Crum · Rating 5 out of 5]

In one word: exceptional.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The entire series. Different take. Great drama. Inspirational.

[Pete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars to the whole series. Very well done!

[Philip Giordano]

Excellent! Extraordinary historical perspective.

[Addison Zane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely fast paced and entertaining

[Jeffrey McDowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top 5 series I've read. Fantastic!