Valley of the Shadow

Battle Hymn Cycle #3

by Ralph Peters

Winner of the 2015 Boyd Award for Literary Excellence in Military Fiction

New York Times bestselling author Ralph Peters returns with Valley of the Shadow, the third installment in his Boyd Award-winning series on the Civil War

In the Valley of the Shadow, they wrote their names in blood.

The summer and autumn of 1864 witnessed some of the fiercest fighting of the American Civil War, from a daring Confederate raid that nearly seized Washington, D.C., to a stunning reversal on the bloody fields of Cedar Creek—mighty battles now all but forgotten.
The desperate struggle for mastery of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley pitted a remarkable cast of heroes in blue and gray against each other: Philip Sheridan, a Union general with an uncanny gift for inspiring soldiers, and Jubal Early, his Confederate counterpart, stubborn and deadly; George Armstrong Custer, and the brilliant, courageous John Brown Gordon.
Ralph Peters brings to life yesteryear’s giants and their breathtaking battles. Sharp as a bayonet and piercing as a bullet, Valley of the Shadow is a great novel of our grandest, most-tragic war.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Civil War, Fiction, Military Fiction, American History, Military History, 19th Century

528 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2015

About the author

Ralph Peters is a novelist, an essayist, a former career soldier, and an adventurer in the 19th-century sense. He is the author of a dozen critically acclaimed novels, two influential works on strategy, "Beyond Terror" and "Fighting for the Future".

Mr. Peters' works can also be found under the pen name "Owen Parry." He also appears frequently as a commentator on television and radio networks.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/ralphp...

Reviews

[happy · Rating 4 out of 5]

With this novel, Mr. Peters once again proves he is in the same league with the Shaaras, father and son, as far a Civil War historical fiction goes. In this novel Mr. Peters looks at the Shenandoah Valley campaign of 1864 from Jubal Earl’s invasion/raid on Washington D.C. in July through the Battle of Cedar Creek in November. In telling the story his brings to life the commanders, Early and Sheridan, as well their subordinates. The confederate side of the story is mainly told through the eyes of one Early’s division commanders, John Gordon and a private in one of his Georgia Regiments. The Union side of the campaign is told from the view point of Lew Wallace who was in command of troops in the Northern Shenandoah in July and later Rutherford B. Hayes, commander of one of Sheridan’s brigades

The author'sfondness for John Gordon, Lew Wallace and Rud Hayes really comes through in the novel. In his portrayal of the three men they come off very favorably, esp compared to both the commanders, Early and Sheridan.

Beginning with the Battle of Monocacy, where Gen Wallace had only 2300 militia facing Early’s 17,000 veterans, Mr. Peters does an excellent job of putting the reader into the minds of the people who fought the battle. Gen Wallace’s goal was to delay Early long enough for Grant to move troops from Petersburg to defend the capitol. As he is deciding where to make his stand he is reinforced by a division of VI Corps sans artillery. It arrives just in time to help him establish his line. The author does an excellent job of portraying Wallace’s desperation as well and Early’s and his troop’s over confidence.

While he loses the battle, Wallace does succeed in delaying Early long enough for the rest of the VI Corps to arrive in Washington and prevent Early from occupying it. In a cameo appearance, the Union Army Chief of Staff, Henry Halleck is presented as saying in effect it doesn’t matter the Wallace was able to delay a force three times his size for a day and enable forces to get to Washington, he lost so he will never have another command. Wallace didn’t, but went on to much greater fame as the author of Ben Hur.

The Third Battle of Winchester is told mainly through the eyes of Rutherford Hayes, the future President. He is presented as a man with almost no ego – he doesn’t care if the gets his star and struggling with the idea of returning to Congress if he wins his election as it would mean leaving his men. The scenes of his leading his brigade through the swamps to achieve a flanking attack are extremely well done.

The final battle in the novel is the Cedar Creek. This is mainly told through the eyes of John Gordon as he pleads for permission to take his division over a mountain at night in freezing cold and attack the Union Camps. He succeeds in getting permission and the joy of the successful surprise attack and again the over confidence of Early are well portrayed. During this battle the over confidence of the Union troops is also well done. The camps are poorly laid out for defense, Sheridan is in Washington explaining to Grant and Sec of War Wells that Early is no longer a threat, guards are not particularly alert etc. Hayes is instrumental in rallying the Union Troops and by the time Sheridan makes his famous ride Early is pretty much contained.

Some other famous people who make cameo appearances are George Custer and William McKinley – another future president.

In summary, I don’t think anyone writing today can bring the reader in to world that was the American Civil War quite like LTC Peters. He has a way of bringing to life the struggles and joys of both high and low levels in the Civil War armies. I would rate this 4.25 stars rounded down for Good Reads.

[Carol Storm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really torn about this book. On the one hand, I can't honestly give it less than four stars. The battle scenes are explosive, the characters literally jump off the page, (especially feuding Confederate chieftains Jubal Early and John B. Gordon) and the fast-paced action never lets up from beginning to end.

On the other hand, when you take out the battle scenes and the tense man-to-man confrontations, what you get is a view of the Confederacy that is so sickeningly sweet it would make Melanie Wilkes gag. Every single Confederate officer is a perfect gentleman at all times. (Except General Jubal Early, who is a wonderful anti-hero. He plays Old Man Potter to John B. Gordon's Harry Bailey. It's A Wonderful War!)

As I was saying, every married officer is madly in love with his deliciously naughty wife who cannot wait for him to come home "when this cruel war is over." And here's the clincher. The one Confederate officer who is NOT happily married (his wife flies into hysterics on the wedding night and refuses to let him come near her) well, can you guess what happens? He gets wounded, shot right in the nut sack, and dies screaming in pain . . . but he's proud and at peace, you see, because he's done the "gentlemanly" thing and spared his wife further embarrassment. Because that's how Southern gentlemen are. They'd rather get themselves shot through the nut sack than cause a lady any pain. As my father used to say, who's gonna believe this?

On a related note, the author makes real-life Georgia General John B. Gordon into an absolutely irresistible scamp. And I don't mean that sarcastically. I loved this guy. He's funny, brave, witty, charming, always backs up his brother officers and adores his men, shows amazing patience with his foul-mouthed superior General Early, and (of course) is absolutely crazy about his wife Fanny. Oh, and after the war he helped found the Georgia chapter of the Ku Klux Klan. But Ralph Peters won't go there. He never goes there. General Gordon is a great guy, and that's all there is to it. There was no darker side to the Confederacy, moral complexity doesn't exist, and there's no use in asking how the black characters in this novel feel about slavery. Because there are no black characters. Even though by the end of the Civil War the Union Army was thirty percent black. When is Ralph Peters going to write a novel about that Civil War?

I've never loved any book so much. I've never hated any book so much. Damn you, Ralph Peters!

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I liked this. I loved the era. Battles in the Civil War were well done. The research was thorough. But at times this read like nonfiction. It was very factual, but I can also say it was interesting and fascinating , but some of it felt like a regurgitation of information gleaned from internet resources. Sometimes my eyes felt like they were glazing over like they did in Mr. Grogan's U.S. History class back in high school. (Sorry Mr. Grogan.)

I liked the detail given to the characters though. They seemed authentic. Even though this was centered on the Civil War, the characters was the draw for me. So 3 stars.

[Diane Moyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Ralph Peters has written a stunning Civil War novel!! In this book, as in his other two Civil War stories, “Cain at Gettysburg” and “Hell or Richmond”, his characters are from both the North and the South. It covers the time period of 07/1864 to 03/1865 and Jubal Early’s South’s last gasp in the Shenandoah Valley against Philip Sheridan and his northern troops. You hear the tale from both Generals and enlisted men. This is a gritty, in the trenches account of these crucial months as both sides struggle for victory.

Mr. Peters characters are real!! You are privy to private thoughts of both leaders and their troops. He fills in their backgrounds about their wives, families and hopes and dreams for after the war which gives them depth. His characters are genuine and the reader feels as if you know them. You are engaged with these individuals and cheer them on and grieve with their pain.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Mr. Peters takes battles and people that are not normally written about and brings them to life! His writing style is fresh and real as is the language and situations. You will not be able to put this book down. If you haven’t read his first two books, this is not a problem because they do not build on each other and you will definitely want to after you finish this one. I am highly anticipating his next book “The Damned of Petersburg” and have already added it to my “must” read list.

[Art · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ralph Peters writes incredible Civil War novels that capture the feeling, strategy and movements of the battles.

This time around, he is writing about some lesser known 1864 battles as Philip Sheridan tries to wrest control of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley from Jubal Early. The scenes shift from Maryland Heights to Cedar Creek as the Union tries to remove the South's breadbasket and scene of repeated victories.

I was especially captured by the notion that two future presidents of the US (Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley) were working together to capture Winchester, Va.

But it is the strategies and the ebb and flow of the battles that make these novels stand out. That comes from Peters' career as a soldier. But his ability to capture it in an entertaining, captivating fashion makes it all the better.

I would compare his writing favorably to any of the other many Civil War novelists working today.

[John Antal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Valley of the Shadow, by Ralph Peters is a superb historical fiction of the American Civil War. This is a book worth reading on multiple levels. History is a story of people, and Peter’s historical novel brings both the private soldier and the key leaders to life. Peters’ masterful depiction of character and leadership provide lessons that shoot of the pages to offer us a blueprint to better ourselves. Don’t get me wrong, the purpose of this book is to entertain as much as it is to enlighten – and it is a very compelling read -- but it is also a shining example of how literature can become an instrument to help anyone become a better leader.

[Mike Cuthbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ralph Peters is a former military man and has been recognized for his histories as well as his historical fiction, most frequently focusing on the Civil War. This long novel takes us through the Shenandoah campaign of 1864 in which Jubal Early, as commander of the Southern forces, led the Union on a merry chase that resulted in the destruction of Early’s entire army and led directly to Appomattox and the end of the war. As is his custom, Peters balances his plots on the backs of figures known to history. Sheridan, Custer, Ramseur and others are used to tell the story of the over-all action with bit players used to fill in the necessary details. Though I appreciate the history, I find Peters’ focus on the officers to be less effective than, for example, Shaara’s focus on fictional enlisted men who tell a more compelling story. I find Peters a bit drier than Shaara and Ambrose though I appreciate his research and the picture he draws of the battles that made up the war. Early is a character wisely ignored by late history except to point out his excesses and his mistakes. He was a dreadful commander of armies and helped the Union when they really didn’t need much help. Sheridan is portrayed as a rough-hewn Irish redhead who has an excellent sense of how a battle is developing and, in this novel at least, seems to be always more prescient than his Confederate enemy. Custer explodes upon the scene with his customary bravado and color and it is clear that Peters doesn’t think much of him. In one instance, he points out that Custer’s habit in attacking with cavalry was to split his command and try to envelop the enemy; the same tactic he used at the Little Big Horn in 1876,and that didn’t turn out so well. It was good to learn the history of the several battles that made up the Shenandoah Valley Campaign and nice to know that the right side won again!

[David Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story and well told. Brings the details of desperate Civil War fighting from right around where I live. Brings it to life.

[David Schwinghammer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first discovered Ralph Peters when I read a fictionalized novel about the Civil War, FADED COAT OF BLUE, which was exceptional. He wrote it under the pen name Owen Parry.

Recently he's switched to his real name, but he's still writing fictionalized versions of Civil War battles. The emphasis in the Owen Parry novels was more toward characterization. In his most recent novels he's trying to bring little known Civil War heroics and the ordinary soldiers more to the forefront. VALLEY OF THE SHADOW deals with the battles occurring in the Shenandoah Valley while Grant had Lee under siege just outside Richmond at St. Petersburg. What Grant didn't know was that Lee had sent Jubal Early and his corps to try to frighten the North into negotiating an end to the war. And he would have done it if it hadn't been for Lew Wallace. Yes, that Lew Wallace, author of BEN HUR. Wallace's objective was to fight a delaying action with soldiers who had for one reason or other been deemed unfit and with willing civilians. They wouldn't have been able to hold long if Wallace hadn't stopped a train containing a division commanded by James B. Ricketts. He had orders to take his troops to another position, but once Wallace explained what was happening, he was willing to throw his troops into the fray. By the time they were forced to retreat Grant was able to send enough troops to scare Early away from Washington.

I didn't know about Lee's sly maneuver, and I was a history major. But this book is really about General Sheridan vs. Jubal Early. For those who know a little about some Civil War battles. Early was in charge of a corps at Gettysburg. On the second day, Lee sent him a message telling him to attack if the situation presents itself, or something equally ambiguous. Early chose not to attack and you know what happened on the third day during Pickett's charge. Early also replaced Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, who was accidentally killed by his own men at Chancellorsville. Let's just say he had a bad psychological complex and was tired of losing. He was also a crude old boy Southerner who constantly chewed tobacco. In contrast, one of his division commanders was General John Brown Gordon who was more of a Southern aristocracy type with charm and ability; his men loved him, and Early was jealous. We get to see Sheridan and Early fight three battles. In one Sheridan gets the jump on Early with a death defying maneuver; in another it's Early's turn, but not for long. This is where there's a glaring problem. Peters shows us General Gordon and another general looking for a way to get the jump on Sheridan. I'm not sure if Gordon knew Sheridan was in Washington dealing with Halleck, the general of the army, and Secretary of War Stanton who wanted him to set up a defense of Washington. Of course Little Phil wanted to destroy Early's army once and for all. Anyway they climb to a mountaintop and notice that Sheridan's army is pointed in the wrong direction, expecting Early to attack what looks like a dangling flank. So . . . if Gordon can find a ford to cross the river he can sneak up behind Sheridan and drive him from the field. The problem is there's a fork in the road. Gordon puts a branch across the fork leading to the ford. But when he gets there the next morning, the branch has been moved to the other side. Gordon sends an officer to ask a farmer where the ford is; the farmer says it's the second branch that's correct, and he's right. There are also some union sympathizers in a boat on the river who see Gordon and the other general snooping around. They decide to tell the union commander, but they don't think he'll listen. To me, this was some discombobulated foreshadowing; neither incident made any difference.

We also meet some familiar people during the battles. Rutherford B. Hayes is one of the generals. Those of you who know your presidents will recognize our 19th commander in chief. William McKinley was also a young lieutenant during some of the battles. And George Armstrong Custer led a cavalry unit and later a division. Finally, Peters has confederate private George W. Nichols tell part of the story. One of Peters's sources was Nichols's memoir: A SOLDIER'S STORY OF HIS REGIMENT (61st Georgia).

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valley of the Shadow is a superb historical novel of the Civil War.
Where most historical novels of the War deal with the great men and the great battles, Ralph Peters writes of citizen soldiers, of privates and field officers caught in the hurricane of fir;, of small, forgotten skirmishes that were just as deadly as the great turning point epics; of the taste of real coffee and good bacon to starving men; and of the humiliating pain of defeat along with the numbing comfort of small victories.
His character are as alive on the pages of Peter's novels as they were in real, historical, life and they are there in full, with warts and tangles.The men in the novel are cold, hungry and afraid; they show valor and fear; fight insects, hunger, homesickness and the "trots." Sometimes they amaze themselves with their own bloodlust.At other times grow almost weepy over news a comrade in arms' new baby.In short, they are men at war.
Valley of the Shadow is one of a series of four novels of the Civil War, with one yet to be written. The first two were great, and Valley of the Shadow adds to the series' quality. IMO, they are a must read for every Civil War buff or amateur historian. Valley of the Shadow, like all worthwhile historical novels illuminates, expands,and humanizes the hard - form of historical writing bringing soul and a sense of 'being there" to its readers.
Highly recommended and a solid five stars.

[April Helms · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm using this one as my war category for the 2017 Book Riot challenge. Wasn't sure about this one at first; there are so many viewpoints this story is told from, which was a bit jarring in the beginning. But Peters is a master storyteller, and once I caught on to the various voices, I was quickly sucked into the story. Within a few chapters, I could generally identify whose point of view was being told without seeing the name. Now that is expert writing! Valley of the Shadow is a novelized take on the waning years of the Civil War, from the failed attempt of the Confederate army to seize Washington D.C. to the battles of Cedar Creek. As I mentioned, the story is told from many points of view, both Union and Confederate, and what is refreshing is that it is from historic figures that are not generally found in the history books or, if they are mentioned, are barely more than footnotes. There's the young and pious Confederate George Nichols, the foul-mouthed, foul-tempered Confederate General Jubal Early, the short but fiery Philip Sheridan, the level-headed "Rud" Hayes (who would go on to become the 19th president of the United States) and more. Many more. It's a lengthy read, but well worth it. Included are an explanation of military terms, plus several battle maps at the beginning of the chapters. Civil War and history buffs should check this one out.

[Steven Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's get the inevitable comparisons out of the way at the start. It's almost as good as Michael Shaara's "The Killer Angels," and better than anything his son, Jeff Shaara, has written.

Ralph Peters is a military man, writing military historical fiction. His battle scenes crackle with realism. His soldiers are primarily concerned with what soldiers are actually concerned with: their wives and girlfriends back home, their food, their clothing (especially shoes), and the men beside them. As a result, their ruminations can be a little repetitive, but the book oozes realism.

The best characters are John B Gordon on the Southern side and Phil Sheridan for the North. Both are rogues and scoundrels, but with the charisma that you can't help liking them a little.

I was surprised to learn that Peters is a Pennsylvania Yankee, as he put it, given that the book seems to have a bit of a Southern slant. Maybe it's impossible to write Civil War fiction without picking a side, whether consciously or subconsciously.

Regardless, Peters's Battle Hymn series is superb historical fiction. Civil War buffs will enjoy it, as will anyone who likes military writing.

[Michael Friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rather than give an historical view of the conflict in the Shenandoah Valley in 1864, he uses the thoughts, analyses and feelings of the generals (mostly) as they advance their armies in this very bloody conflict. It really works and he has no qualms about showing the foibles and miscalculations of many (Jubal Early for example), the skill of others in spite of their less than admiral personalities (Custer, Albany’s own Phillip Sheridan) and true heroes (future presidents McKinley, Hayes) and John Brown Gordon and James Ricketts. Not bad for a guy who has called for the assassination of Julian Assange, being anti-Israel is anti-Semitic [count me in] and that Barack Obama was “date raped” by Cuba, Iran and Russia. The year this book was released he called President Obama a “total pussy” on Fox News. I’m surprised he’s not an Ambassador.

[John Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really good book I probably enjoyed this one more then the previous 2 and they are very good as well. This books is in the later stages of the war starting with the souths plane invasion of Washington and goes through till the last battle of Shenandoah valley. These are not the most famous battles of the civil war that we all read about or where the characters the most well know of the war maybe that thats reason I like it so much a fresh spin on the civil war that a lot of people aren't to familiar about, cant wait for his nest one.

[Glenn Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peters details the battles of the Civil War during the summer of 1864. He details as only he can the brazen attack by General Jubal Early that almost caught Washington D.C. sleeping, and capturing the city and Union Leaders including President Lincoln. His visuals on the battle at Monocacy are legendary. Col. Peters knows a thing or two about the Civil War - as much of a Civil War buff I am, and the 100 or so books I've read on the subject, I never knew until Peters book just how close the Union came to losing the war. A great read especially for Civil War fans.

[Dan Schroeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Ralph Peters is brilliant and Valley of the Shadows is brilliant. No one else caresses the minds of grunt soldiers and generals alike in as moving a way as does Peters.

The bonus? This work of art covers a stretch of the Civil War little written about, the defense of Washington and Early's Valley campaign, giving Peters the "chance to tell untold tales".

And happily, another one in the works, "The Damed of Petersburg".

[Ken Schloman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an exceptional civil war historical fiction novel that focuses on two of the lesser known but significant battles of the war--- Monocacy and Cedar Creek fought in 1864. Peters bring realism to the battle scenes and fairly accurate character development of real actual personalities (based on historical records). If one liked the civil war novels of Michael and Jeff Shaara , any of the Peters novels are worth exploring.

[Steve Switzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually listened to this on audible and found it one of the best historical novels i have ever read(heard) .
If the film gettysburg had been based on a ralph peters novel it would have been soo much better, gritty realistic with real men and real emotions , the fighting springs to life and you feel you were there . After Red Army i didnt think he could improve on it but he did .. excellent in every way.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly engrossed into the tales of the battles of the Shenandoah Valley during 1864. Ralph Peters characterizations of the individual soldiers as well as officers and his descriptions of the individual fights and hardships hit like a cannon ball. (this is the third in the Battle Hymn series).More importantly to me, I knew very little about the Valley campaign to me shame as I am from Virginia.

[Steve Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one best of the Ralph Peters Civil War novels I have read so far. The stuff about Jubal Early's raid that made it as close to Washington as Silver Spring, MD, was new to me. Not something I knew about. Sheridan's eventual, and inevitable victory in the Shenandoah Valley pretty much sealed the fate of the Confederacy. Peters does a nice job interweaving viewpoints of soldiers in the field and leaders.

[Curt Mercadante · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. An insightful, and entertaining look, at the highs and lows of war from the viewpoint of North, South, general and private. I especially liked a look the jealousies and rivalries between officers, the arrogance that cost officers on both sides their jobs and, eventually for the south, the war.

[Gerry Connolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valley of the Shadow is the third in Ralph Peters superb civil war novels. This volume tells the story of Phil Sheridan’s struggle and ultimate complete victory over Jubal Early in the final Shenandoah campaign of 1864. It was fought at Fisher’s Hill, Monocacy, Winchester, Middleton and finally, Cedar Creek. Peters captures the heroism and the awful drudgery of the men who fought on both sides.

[Clay Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes it got hard to tell what side he was writing about the Union or Confederate.

[Peter Corrigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to 'Valley of the Shadow' on CDs as the same time while reading Jeffrey D. Wert's account of the 1864 Shenandoah Valley campaign, from 'Winchester to Cedar Creek'. I think it helped greatly in understanding the campaign added greatly to the enjoyment of both books. This is the third in Peter's series on the Civil War and apparently he has two more. They are written in the style pioneered so wonderfully by Michael Shaara in 'The Killer Angels' by employing both fact and fiction, the latter being mainly in the actual words and thoughts that were not recorded. The reader in this book Peter Berkot does a superb job in coming up with all those southern accents both patrician and 'cracker', especially with Jubal Early's apparently high, squeaky voice and often profane language.

All the generals and higher officers are actual historical personages--Wallace, Ricketts, Sheridan, Custer, Hayes (Rutherford B.) for the USA and Early, Gordon, Pendleton, Hotchkiss, Ramseur for the CSA with cameos by such luminaries as Halleck, Stanton, and Lee. Getting inside their heads, imagined or not really complemented the narrative in Wert but where possible he inserts actual dialog as recorded in various memoirs and reports mentioned in Wert's book. Yet the utter lunacy of lines of men advancing across open fields into massed rifle fire and artillery canister remains almost unfathomable to our modern minds, especially after 3 full years of it! You might have thought that the CSA foot soldier in the book Nichols, was a made up character but as you learn in the afterword George Nichols did write a history of his regiment, the 61st Georgia under Lawton, Gordon and Evans (published in 1898) and his final thoughts and words as he looks back on all the regrets of the war are among the most memorable and perhaps most human out all those high-ranking officers! To really understand the Valley campaign this book might have been somewhat lacking but the human side is very compelling and worth a solid 4-star.

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Valley of the Shadow” is the Shenandoah Valley. The 1864 campaign there was fought from July through October 1864 (with a sad final conclusion in March 1865). If the readers are familiar with Colonel Peters’ novels (I’ve read Cain at Gettysburg and Hell or Richmond), this is much the same and a continued pleasure.

As in the Shaaras’ novels, he tells the story from the viewpoint of the generals who fought the battles. The most familiar characters are likely to be Generals Early, Sheridan, and Custer, who are painted much as they were in real life. A favorite of Peters is Confederate General John B. Gordon, who began the war as a company commander and wound up in charge of a corps. We will also appreciate lesser but effective generals Lew Wallace, James Ricketts, and Rutherford Hayes. Reading of Wallace makes me wish to drag out my old war game, Drive on Washington (1980). As an added attraction, we view the war through the long-suffering eyes of Private George Nichols who survived to write about it.

That’s what I like best about the story. Col. Peters takes these dusty pictures of old generals and gives them flesh n’ blood and real feelings. The action’s fine, too.

The battles covered are Monocacy Junction, Third Winchester, Fisher’s Hill, Tom’s Brook, and Cedar Creek. Between Monocacy and Third Winchester, there was a lot of maneuver, frustrating (to Lincoln and Stanton) inaction and preparation, but we’re spared this. What came out of it was a Union army ready to kick A.

Some cool quotes (be alert for ‘em):

“Vengeance was a very dangerous tincture, best administered in measured drops.” (Peters has read his Klingon).

“His smile was as forced as an old man’s shit.”

“Victory purged every sin in the military decalogue.”

“If a general wouldn’t sacrifice his own mother to win a battle, he didn’t deserve his stars.”

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first book I read with the Civil War as the main subject matter. Based on the reviews from this website and my interest in military affairs, I thought this would be the ideal book for me. Unfortunately as much as I wanted to like this book I simply didn't. As I read the book I was unable to feel immersed in the story - something I am able to do with books that I enjoy. For me there were simply too many characters to follow and it was difficult to "get to know" each character more than in a superficial way. The book plodded along from one battle to the next but for me it lacked any excitement that a military novel should have.

By no means was this book bad (as I did finish it), but I can not recommend this book.

[Darel Krieger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ralph Peters writes about the best Civil War novels that can be found in literature.

In this novel he is writing about the 1864 battles that took place in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

I really that two future presidents of the US (Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley) were working together to capture Winchester, Va. Never really thought of either of them in the civil war.

Great fun reading about George Armstrong Custer's daring do during these battles and already earning a reputation that would follow him into the west.

Overall a good read!

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book I enjoyed more than expected. I have so enjoyed his Owen Parry pen named books. Able Jones is a terrific fictional character. When I learned about Ralph Peters, the real author, his background and his extensive list of works and history, I wanted to try one. My fear was that his civil war historical fiction couldn’t be much different or add value to Michael or Jeff Shahara or many others
So I picked one about Monacacy and Early’s March on Washington
To my great pleasure it. Covered the entire campaign and I learned and enjoyed more than expected
Good investment in reading time.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Civil War novel from Ralph Peters, who is fast becoming a master. 'Valley of the Shadow' focuses on the brutal fight for control of the Shenandoah Valley. Jubal Early's Confederate forces square off against Phil Sheridan's Union armies. Well-written, well-researched and gripping. Only two more novels left in the series as it stands. We can only hope that Peters goes back and writes about the pre-Gettysburg battles. I'd love to read his treatment of Stonewall Jackson.

[Mark Luongo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had forgotten how good a Civil War fiction writer Ralph Peters is. This was excellent, puts you right in the heart of the action and feel the emotion of the characters. Nichols and his prized pair of shoes for example. The "bad old man" persona of Jubal Early.
I also like the incorporation of historical personalities and their Civil War experiences into the story; Custer, Rutherford "Rud" Hayes and Wiliam "Will" McKinley.
An excellent read.