To the North Anna River: Grant and Lee, May 13–25, 1864

by Gordon C. Rhea

With To the North Anna River, the third book in his outstanding five-book series, Gordon C. Rhea continues his spectacular narrative of the initial campaign between Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee in the spring of 1864. May 13 through 25, a phase oddly ignored by historians, was critical in the clash between the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia. During those thirteen days -- an interlude bracketed by horrific battles that riveted the public's attention -- a game of guile and endurance between Grant and Lee escalated to a suspenseful draw on Virginia's North Anna River.
From the bloodstained fields of the Mule Shoe to the North Anna River, with Meadow Bridge, Myers Hill, Harris Farm, Jericho Mills, Ox Ford, and Doswell Farm in between, grueling night marches, desperate attacks, and thundering cavalry charges became the norm for both Grant's and Lee's men. But the real story of May 13--25 lay in the two generals' efforts to outfox each other, and Rhea charts their every step and misstep. Realizing that his bludgeoning tactics at the Bloody Angle were ineffective, Grant resorted to a fast-paced assault on Lee's vulnerable points. Lee, outnumbered two to one, abandoned the offensive and concentrated on anticipating Grant's maneuvers and shifting quickly enough to repel them. It was an amazingly equal match of wits that produced a gripping, high-stakes bout of warfare -- a test, ultimately, of improvisation for Lee and of perseverance for Grant.

Genres: Civil War, History, American Civil War, Military History, Civil War Eastern Theater, Nonfiction, American History

528 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2000

About the author

Mr. Rhea is a nationally acclaimed historian. He has lectured extensively on topics of military history at the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, at several National Military Parks, and at historical societies and civil war round tables across the country. He had been a member of numerous boards of directors of historical societies, magazines, and historic preservation organizations, including the Civil War Library and Museum, Philadelphia, and North and South magazine. Mr. Rhea has appeared on History Channel, A&E Channel, and Discovery Channel in programs related to American history and has written scores of articles for various scholarly and popular publications. His books, which are considered authoritative in their fields, include:

Reviews

[Bryan Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to this wonderful Overland Campaign series, Rhea has become one of my favorite authors on the Civil War.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gordon C. Rhea's series on the Overland Campaign goes into great detail about every step taken by the Army of the Potomac to defeat the Army of Northern Virginia in 1864. This book describes the period right after the bloody battles at Spotylvania Court House to the manuevering around the North Anna River.

Both Grant and Lee made mistakes, especially Grant as he was learning about his adversaries. His assumptions and Lee's strong entrenchments cost many men their lives, but the key was that he could afford to take chances. Lee also took chances, but illness, mistaken assumptions, and a lack of trust in some of his generals played havoc with some of his plans.

The next book in the series is about Cold Harbor, a name as tragic in history as that of Passchendaele, 50+ years later.

['Aussie Rick' · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again Gordon Rhea has produced another fabulous and insightful account to follow on from his books on Spotsylvania Court House and Yellow Tavern. This is a well-presented and detailed account of the maneuvers and fighting between Lee and Grant during May 13th-25th, 1864. As one previous reviewer noted this is not a period of high drama involving great battles and massive charges but you would not notice that while reading this book.

The narrative moved along at a quick pace and you eagerly follow the story to see what is going to happen next and by whom. The maps supplied, 29 in all, were well presented and easy to read. The story followed each General's movements in attempting to outfox each other, from the 'Mule Shoe' to the North Anna River with a number of engagements in between.

I think the author offered some very interesting points in regards to each General's command decisions and why things happened or did not happen as intended. Overall this is a very enjoyable account of this forgotten period of Civil War history and I am keenly looking forward to Rhea's next book, which I hope will cover the fighting around Cold Harbor.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nearly 400 page book covering the May 13-25, 1864 campaign between Lee and Grant in Virginia. It is the saga of the two generals' efforts to outfox each other with Grant moving from his bludgeoning of Lee's army tactics to a fast-paced nearly continuous assault on Lee's vulnerable points and Lee abandoning the offensive and concentrating on anticipating Grant's maneuvers and shifting quickly enough to repel them. It was an amazingly equal match of wits in a high-stakes bout of warfare -- a test, ultimately, of improvisation for Lee and of perseverance for Grant.

This presents a very detailed description of the day-by-day and movement-by-movement of the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia.

The author makes a lot of critical comments regarding decisions and loss opportunities by both generals during these 12 days. However, the author uses information gleamed from various sources to make these criticisms all of which is based upon information neither Grant nor Lee had the time.

[Brian Miracle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compared to Spotsylvania Court House and Cold Harbor, the North Anna Campaign consisted more of intense skirmishes than heavy battles. After the stalemate at Spotsylvania, Grant again tried to flank Lee to the East. Lee beat Grant to the North Anna River and formed what the author calls “the cleverest defensive formation of his career.” Although Lee was an aggressive commander, always seeking to attack, he was very good in defense, as evidenced by Antietam, Fredericksburg, and all of the battles of the Overland Campaign. Even the aggressive Grant wouldn’t assault Lee’s inverted V line.

In one of the few books on this campaign, Rhea does an excellent job describing the movements and counter-movements, as well as each commander’s successes and failures. The epilogue does a great job summarizing and analyzing the campaign. I’ve read 3 of Rhea’s five books on the Overland Campaign and I see why these are regarded as definitive works.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third installment of Gordon Rhea's 5 volume study of the Overland campaign, this book tackles the least known part of the campaign from May 13-25. So, first of all, it is a tremendous feat of reconstruction from the often mutually contradicting primary sources. As usual, Rhea is very good on giving us a picture of what happened and explaining why it happened, what Lee and Grant and their corps commanders missed, and so on. As before, Sheridan's continued absence is a big factor in not allowing Grant to see and exploit his opportunities, and the divided command and the hands off style of commanding an army that results from this (probably because Grant and Meade each assumed the other would take charge) leads to a stalemate. But both Grant and Lee are shown to be generals of manoeuvre, with Grant having an edge in strategy and Lee in tactics.

[Monte Lamb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This the third book in a series that covers the overland campaign in Virginia in 1864 between Grant and Lee.Once again the author has written a terrific book covering one part of this campaign. He continues to do a tremendous job of covering the details without getting lost in the mundane. The summaries at the end of the chapters and the epilogue are clear descriptions of what happened and point out the things that each commander did both right and wrong. The style is easy to read and the maps are clear. When you finish the book, you have a very good grasp of the events, causes, and outcomes of what happened. I strongly recommend this book to anyone wanting to know what happened during the overland campaign.

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rhea’s quality didn’t dip. This was an interesting and seemingly ill studied period in the campaigns of Grant v. Lee, but it exposes some myths about both generals to their benefit and detraction. Grant isn’t the butcher of lore, though his tendency for occasional frontal assaults is frustrating. Lee, on the other hand, is brilliant in a pinch but keeps putting himself in pinches. Both generals were a bit sloppy from the jump against one another, and from what I know loosely about Cold Harbor, it’s about to get bad again. I highly recommend this series if you want to familiarize yourself with some interesting, consequential battles and anecdotes that I’ve over shared with my loved ones.

[Roger Burk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very detailed account of two weeks in Grant's Overland Campaign during which there were no major battles. Perhaps only for Civil War afficionados. Still, a lively, engaging, even easy read, made colorful by many well-integrated quotations from the letters, diaries, and memoirs of participants. It covers the period from the closing engagements of the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House to the point when Grant realized just in time that Lee's position on the North Anna was impregnable. There was a fair amount of fighting during this period, but no major battle committing the full strengths of the armies.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rhea really hits his stride as an author here. The writing flows well and is very engaging. His chapters about Myer's Hill and Harris Farm have given me insight and knowledge about those two overlooked battles of the overlooked second week of fighting at Spotsylvania that I didn't have.

Once again, the ineptitude and missed opportunities by both armies are frustrating to read about all these years later. The "what ifs" of just this campaign could be a very interesting alternative history book.

I look forward to seeing how his Cold Harbor book develops.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overlooked Civil War Chapter comes alive

My surprise favorite of Rhea’s Overland series. You might learn more about the conduct of the war and understand its conclusion than from any other book of the period.

[Garry · Rating 5 out of 5]

6/24/2018

[Jwt Jan50 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read a great deal on the civil war and walked many of the eastern battlefields. Hard to beat Rhea on the Overland Campaign. A brutal end to a brutal war.

[Mike Canny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well Researched

This and all of Mr. Rhea's books are well researched and provide a lot of insight into the pivotal figures of the Civil War.

[Sandra Oldfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book (and lack of battles) was quite different from the others in the series. I enjoyed it.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rhea’s history of the intermediate phase of the Grant/Lee Overland Campaign of May/June ’64 in Virginia, which took place in army maneuvers after Spotsylvania (Mule Shoe, Bloody Angle) and prior to Cold Harbor

Considering that the entire book only covers 12 days of the Overland Campaign (and not even the most well known or famous phases of it), it probably goes without saying that this book would appeal more to a Civil War junkie than someone looking for an introductory read. I’m not a historian so I can’t speak as to whether this book is offering any new or interesting insights into this section of the War than from something like, say, Foote’s narrative or other books/analyses.

That said, this was certainly entertaining and informative to re-visit this period, and is mostly clear/concise and includes good maps of the movements. The closer focus allows more detailed looks at smaller battles such as Meadow Bridges (cavalry battles), Myer’s Hill, that normally might get a lesser analysis. It also offers a good view on the choices/decisions facing each commander, the pros/cons of their subordinates, effects of weather and terrain, communications/cavalry, etc.

Grant (Meade/Hancock/Warren/Wright) vs. Lee (Ewell, Hill, Anderson, Early)

Grant’s movements to pivot around Lee after Spotsylvania and advance toward Richmond/attack Lee and Lee’s movements to block this movement, miscellaneous cavalry movements in support of this

Sheridan’s cavalry move on Richmond with Union Cavalry and battles with Stuart and then Fitzhugh Lee at Yellow Tavern/Meadow Bridges

Successive failed attacks of Grant in the area of the Mule Shoe/Spotsylvania against Ewell on May 17th

Ewell’s failed offensive/movement against outnumbered Mass/Maine heavy artillery units at Harris Farm on May 18th

Hancock’s wide swing away from rest of Union Army to attempt to draw Lee out, engagements vs. Kemper at Milford Station

Lee/Grant failure to take advantage of tactical advantages and Lee ultimately moving to North Anna River area (Hanover Junction) quicker than Union army

Union victory at Battle of Jericho Mills south of North Anna River

Subsequent battles south of North Anna River near Ox Ford, stalemate after Lee’s brilliant defensive, inverted V

Grant’s subsequent avoidance of battle and further turning movement east and south

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As U. S. Grant and the Army of the Potomac slugged it out with Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia from the Wilderness to Cold Harbor, one of the least known aspects of the bloody struggle along this line was the end of the battle at Spotsylvania Court House and the race to the North Anna River, before the ghastly battle at Cold Harbor.

This book does a nice job of discussing what happened at the later stages of the battle at Spotsylvania. As the Introduction notes (pages 6-7), ". . .the real story lay in Grant's and Lee's efforts to outwit each other." Grant was given the nickname "Grant the Butcher," as casualty figures became known in the continual fighting from the Wilderness to Cold Harbor. But he had demonstrated that he could be a master of maneuver, outwitting (as well as outfighting) his opponents. Vicksburg represented perhaps the zenith of his ability to outwit and outmaneuver an opponent. However, Robert E. Lee was much better than John Pemberton (the Confederate's commanding general at Vicksburg). Hence, much of Grant's effort to maneuver were thwarted.

The warring from the latter stages of Spotsylvania to the North Anna River illustrate how clever both generals could be. While they made some mistakes (both Union and Confederate armies lost out on opportunities to maul the other), both were like chess players, trying to work through a series of moves. The book well illustrates these, and it would give away too much to describe some examples.

However, the end game at North Anna shows both off to good effect. Grant thought that he was in position to create damage to the Army of Northern Virginia. Lee, however, had lured him into a potentially harmful trap. Grant realized it. Then, he moved again, on the way to his ordering pointless and bloody assaults on fortified positions at Cold Harbor.

This is one of the best versions of the campaign between Spotsylvania Court House and Cold Harbor. Highly recommended for Civil War buffs.

[Josh Liller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in Rhea's Overland Campaign series. It covers the events from after the peak of fighting at Spotsylvania up through Grant and Lee reaching a stalemate at the North Anna River. It also covers the second half of Sheridan's Raid i.e. the events after Yellow Tavern until his return to the Army of the Potomac. Like the preceding book on Spotslyvania (and following book on Cold Harbor), this book ends at one of the climactic moments of the Overland Campaign rather than covering the titular battle in its entirety.

Although this portion of the campaign saw less fighting than the other three (Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor) Rhea doesn't shortchange events here. The maneuvers, skirmishes, and localized assaults are not glossed over as the would probably be in a single volume treatment of the campaign.

While still good overall, I thought some of the writing in this book was weaker than the two preceding books. It seemed like more repetition in statements. There also needed to be more clarity in the first part of the book with Lee's 3rd Corps. The corps was temporarily under Early's command and Hill resumed command near the middle of this book. However, before that point, Rhea refers to Early's and Hill's line/corps/troops a bit interchangeably leaving me confused at points whether Hill had resumed command yet. It turns out Hill's resumption of command is clearly stated when it finally does happen. Also, Burnside's IX Corps being finally made part of Meade's army is glossed over in a couple sentences. The coordination issues stemming from the previous awkward arrangement (Burnside technically having an independent command) were notable throughout this and the previous two books, but not reasoning is given for the change here (nor was the reasoning for the situation adequately addressed in the Wilderness book).

These small critiques aside, this is another solid entry in this series.

[Chuck Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Consistent with the first two books in this series, Rhea provides an excellent narrative of the tactical and strategic decisions and errors made by Grant and Lee in this campaign, while sprinkling in the perspective of the common soldier here and there. He successfully ties in the overall strategic issues confronting both sides at this phase of the war providing context to the choices made by both sides. Grant comes off not quite as much a butcher as he is often depicted (or, at least there are reasons for the indifference Grant sometimes displays toward casualties) and Lee as not as infallible as some more general tomes of the Civil War. Lee was a master of offensive and defensive warfare at the time but as is clearly demonstrated in this book, he was also very lucky on key occasions. An excellent book about a critical campaign of the Civil War.

[Sean Chick · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book but ultimately this part of the campaign just is not that interesting. It would have been better if Rhea had divided this work since the later half of the actual Battle of Spotsylvania takes up most of this book.

[Richard Drabik]

This is absolutely a must read for people who enjoy the tactics of the Civil War.
It is an aspect of the Overland Campaign that receive little attention.
However, you will be absolutely astounded by the chess match like interplay between Grant and Lee.

[Dirk]

Excellent book on the campaign. Each book in the series is doing a great job of covering the whys and wheres of its particular battle.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice analysis of the campaign between Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor. Highlights the missed opportunities on both sides.