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Modern War Studies
Gettysburg's Southern Front: Opportunity and Failure at Richmond
On June 14, 1863, US Major General John Adams Dix received the following directive from General-in-Chief Henry “All your available force should be concentrated to threaten Richmond, by seizing and destroying their railroad bridges over the South and North Anna Rivers, and do them all the damage possible.” With General Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia marching toward Gettysburg and only a limited Confederate force guarding Richmond, Halleck sensed a rare opportunity for the Union cause. In response, Dix, who had lived a life of considerable public service but possessed limited military experience, gathered his men and began a slow advance. During the ensuing operation, 20,000 US troops would threaten the Confederate capital and seek to cut the railroads supplying Lee’s army in Pennsylvania. To some, Dix’s campaign presented a tremendous chance for US forces to strike hard at Richmond while Lee was off in Pennsylvania. To others, it was an unnecessary lark that tied up units deployed more effectively in protecting Washington and confronting Lee's men on Northern soil. In this study, Newsome offers an in-depth look into this little-known Federal advance against Richmond during the Gettysburg Campaign. The first full-length examination of Dix’s venture, this volume not only delves into the military operations at the time, but also addresses concurrent issues related to diplomacy, US war policy, and the involvement of enslaved people in the Federal offensive. Gettysburg’s Southern Front also points to the often-unrecognized value in examining events of the US Civil War beyond the larger famous battles and campaigns. At the time, political and military leaders on both sides carefully weighed Dix’s efforts at Richmond and understood that the offensive had the potential to generate dramatic results. In fact, this piece of the Gettysburg Campaign may rank as one of the Union war effort’s more compelling lost opportunities in the East, one that could have changed the course of the conflict.
424 pages, Hardcover
Published October 3, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 28, 2023
It is rare to read a 300 page Civil War military history where no battles are fought. What makes this worth it is Newsome's usually good prose (minus the awkward use of "enslaved person"), analysis of personalities and situations, and placing the operation in its broader context. That said it is of course only for the hardcore student of the war not because it is a hard read but because it is bereft of drama.
May 4, 2026
This is a hidden gem about a much forgotten operation during the summer of 1863. During the Gettysburg Campaign while forces in the east were heading north, General Dix on the peninsula at Fort Monroe was directed by General Halleck to disrupt the rail lines and attack Richmond.
This book describes this operation, its origins and aftermath. As a side note, an additional raid was made in North Carolina out of New Bern on the W&W Railroad. There are a good selection of maps to follow the text and actions. This is a highly recommended book.
This book describes this operation, its origins and aftermath. As a side note, an additional raid was made in North Carolina out of New Bern on the W&W Railroad. There are a good selection of maps to follow the text and actions. This is a highly recommended book.
October 27, 2026
I really found this to be a great and interesting book. Dealing with Union operations around Richmond, VA and on the Virginia Peninsula during the Gettysburg Campaign in 1863, this book sheds light on a very forgotten aspect of the American Civil War in the East. The author certainly did their research and it shows in this volume and the writing was clear and kept my attention rapt throughout. The book deals with a campaign that had very little fighting but it was still very interesting and I think it's a very good and important addition to the mountain of Civil War material that is released. Recommended to anyone interested in the Civil War.
August 16, 2023
I enjoy reading about some of the less well known campaigns of the American Civil War. I was loosely aware that operations had occurred near Richmond during the Gettysburg Campaign and happy to see someone finally write a book on the topic. I am aware of but have not read either of the authors previous two books.
The main operations of the book are a successful cavalry raid by Samuel Spear, a feint at Richmond by Eramus Keyes, and George Getty's unsuccessful infantry raid. Overall operations were under department commander John Dix. The book covers the Union offensive and Confederate defensive operations in depth. Spear is an interesting individual I had never heard of before who seems wasted on this department. Keyes timid performance made it clear why he was sidelined here after the Peninsular Campaign. Getty turned in a poor performance and was lucky to get a second chance later in the war, probably due to his relative inexperience compared to Keyes and Dix. Although poor Union leadership was a major factor in the campaign, the Confederates certainly did a good job and it was one of D. H. Hill's finer moments. The author is also sure to point out the terrible heat which also hampered Getty's operation. Some simultaneous raids in North Carolina are also covered, albeit briefly.
The author covers the topic of slaves escaping to freedom thanks to the Union Army passing through new areas. He also notes how Dix and his subordinates (unlike commanders in some other departments at this time) were disinterested in freedmen in their department or the possibility of raising of USCT from among them, despite this campaign making it clear recruits were available.
The capture of Robert E. Lee's son, Rooney Lee, who was recovering from being wounded in combat, is an interesting bit of the book. There is also another cameo appearance by Edward Ord, who also makes brief appearances in two other books I've read recently (Union Command Failure in the Shenandoah: Major General Franz Sigel and the War in the Valley of Virginia, May 1864 and Shenandoah Summer: The 1864 Valley Campaign). The latter is just a curious bit of trivia.
The book seems well-researched and has extensive endnotes, as would be expected for a university press. Maps are good and placed appropriately throughout the book.
While I give the book a strong thumbs up for content, it gets thumbs middle for the writing. It is by no means terrible (I've read much dryer prose from a university press), but I did repeatedly put this book down for other books that hooked me more. It feels a little long for the subject. In particular, there is a subplot about Alexander Stephens and his peace mission. While it was happening in Richmond during this time, it seems completely tangential to Dix's operations and I think the book would have been better off omitting the entirely or at least relegating the subject to an Appendix. The book has just over 300 pages of main text and I think it would have been better if it was edited down to about 50 pages shorter.
Moderate recommendation for Civil War buffs.
The main operations of the book are a successful cavalry raid by Samuel Spear, a feint at Richmond by Eramus Keyes, and George Getty's unsuccessful infantry raid. Overall operations were under department commander John Dix. The book covers the Union offensive and Confederate defensive operations in depth. Spear is an interesting individual I had never heard of before who seems wasted on this department. Keyes timid performance made it clear why he was sidelined here after the Peninsular Campaign. Getty turned in a poor performance and was lucky to get a second chance later in the war, probably due to his relative inexperience compared to Keyes and Dix. Although poor Union leadership was a major factor in the campaign, the Confederates certainly did a good job and it was one of D. H. Hill's finer moments. The author is also sure to point out the terrible heat which also hampered Getty's operation. Some simultaneous raids in North Carolina are also covered, albeit briefly.
The author covers the topic of slaves escaping to freedom thanks to the Union Army passing through new areas. He also notes how Dix and his subordinates (unlike commanders in some other departments at this time) were disinterested in freedmen in their department or the possibility of raising of USCT from among them, despite this campaign making it clear recruits were available.
The capture of Robert E. Lee's son, Rooney Lee, who was recovering from being wounded in combat, is an interesting bit of the book. There is also another cameo appearance by Edward Ord, who also makes brief appearances in two other books I've read recently (Union Command Failure in the Shenandoah: Major General Franz Sigel and the War in the Valley of Virginia, May 1864 and Shenandoah Summer: The 1864 Valley Campaign). The latter is just a curious bit of trivia.
The book seems well-researched and has extensive endnotes, as would be expected for a university press. Maps are good and placed appropriately throughout the book.
While I give the book a strong thumbs up for content, it gets thumbs middle for the writing. It is by no means terrible (I've read much dryer prose from a university press), but I did repeatedly put this book down for other books that hooked me more. It feels a little long for the subject. In particular, there is a subplot about Alexander Stephens and his peace mission. While it was happening in Richmond during this time, it seems completely tangential to Dix's operations and I think the book would have been better off omitting the entirely or at least relegating the subject to an Appendix. The book has just over 300 pages of main text and I think it would have been better if it was edited down to about 50 pages shorter.
Moderate recommendation for Civil War buffs.
November 24, 2024
There are stacks of books on Civil War battles such as Gettysburg - and while it is appreciated to see books that offer are well written and offer fresh insight - it is especially appreciated to see a book that is well written and researched and covers an area of the the Civil War that has a limited number of books covering the topic. Newsome did this in a previous book on campaigns in North Carolina in 1864 (Fight for the Old North State). Here, Newsome covers the move by a Federal army to threaten Richmond and Robert E. Lee's supply lines during the Gettysburg campaign. The US military faced an opportunity and choice With Virginia largely stripped of troops to support Lee's 1863 invasion. Henry Halleck directed General John Adams Dix to threaten Richmond and the rail lines that provided the logistical link for Lee's army. The hope was that Dix might be able to accomplish one of those two objectives and potentially impact the campaign and the war.
Newsome has produced a well researched, well written account of Dix's campaign, outlining the strategic situation Dix and his Confederate counterparts faced, background information on the various commanders and the factors that shaped their decisions and effectiveness, and a narrative of the events of this campaign, with dramatic events such as the defense of the South Anna River Railroad bridge where a company of North Carolina Confederates fought against overwhelming odds, holding out long enough to prevent the destruction of two other bridges that would have severed the railroad line supporting Lee.
A well written book that shines a light on an otherwise more obscure aspect of the Gettysburg campaign.
Newsome has produced a well researched, well written account of Dix's campaign, outlining the strategic situation Dix and his Confederate counterparts faced, background information on the various commanders and the factors that shaped their decisions and effectiveness, and a narrative of the events of this campaign, with dramatic events such as the defense of the South Anna River Railroad bridge where a company of North Carolina Confederates fought against overwhelming odds, holding out long enough to prevent the destruction of two other bridges that would have severed the railroad line supporting Lee.
A well written book that shines a light on an otherwise more obscure aspect of the Gettysburg campaign.
October 19, 2022
Another excellent volume from civil war historian (and full disclosure, friend) Hampton Newsome. Well written and well researched, this book explores the lesser known "southern front" during Gettysburg--the movement against Richmond and the vital rail bridges north of the city.
As a civil war buff myself, it is high time that historians finally turn an eye to battles other than Gettysburg, Antietem, Chickamauga, and the other famous battles to examine engagements that, while not as well-known, had (or had the potential to have) significant effects on the course of the war. Mr. Newsome's book is a welcome addition to this effort.
As a civil war buff myself, it is high time that historians finally turn an eye to battles other than Gettysburg, Antietem, Chickamauga, and the other famous battles to examine engagements that, while not as well-known, had (or had the potential to have) significant effects on the course of the war. Mr. Newsome's book is a welcome addition to this effort.
December 21, 2025
Newsome provides an excellent account of all the operations intertwined with the Gettysburg Campaign that are largely overlooked. The main part of the book concentrates on the largest of these maneuvers, Dix’s movement on Richmond. Newsome adroitly describes the genesis of the movement and its results. The detail covers the leadership as well as the toils of the common soldiers. His analysis is spot on. He also delves into political and social history related to the topic. Well researched and written, this is a welcome addition to any library.
August 15, 2023
Got to page 58 and returned the book for a refund.
I enjoyed Newsome’s previous books and this has his usual felicitous prose. However, the text is a non-stop Woke attack on the Confederacy. He starts with affirmative action history, greatly exaggerating the impact of escaped slaves. Then he moves on to irrelevant discussion of Alexander Stephens and his Cornerstone Speech, without even being aware of the context that Stephens himself provided for the speech at the time. As one example of the tendentious, biased writing, he writes “[Stephens] held himself out as a self-proclaimed ‘champion of human rights’ - although not for Black people, of course -…” What an embarrassingly simplistic perspective.
I’m used to historians paying fealty to Woke ideology when publishing for university presses, but this goes so far overboard as to be historically false and personally obnoxious.
I enjoyed Newsome’s previous books and this has his usual felicitous prose. However, the text is a non-stop Woke attack on the Confederacy. He starts with affirmative action history, greatly exaggerating the impact of escaped slaves. Then he moves on to irrelevant discussion of Alexander Stephens and his Cornerstone Speech, without even being aware of the context that Stephens himself provided for the speech at the time. As one example of the tendentious, biased writing, he writes “[Stephens] held himself out as a self-proclaimed ‘champion of human rights’ - although not for Black people, of course -…” What an embarrassingly simplistic perspective.
I’m used to historians paying fealty to Woke ideology when publishing for university presses, but this goes so far overboard as to be historically false and personally obnoxious.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews