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General William T. Sherman's 1865 Carolinas Campaign receives scant
attention from most Civil War historians, largely because it was
overshadowed by the Army of Northern Virginia's final battles
against the Army of the Potomac. Career military officers Mark A.
Smith and Wade Sokolosky rectify this oversight with No Such Army
Since the Days of Julius Caesar, a careful and impartial
examination of Sherman's army and its many accomplishments. The
authors dedicate their professional training and research and
writing abilities to the critical days of March 11-16, 1865-the
overlooked run-up to the seminal Battle of Bentonville (March
19-21, 1865). They begin with the capture of Fayetteville and the
demolition of the arsenal there, before chronicling the two-day
Battle of Averasboro in more detail than any other study. At
Averasboro, Lt. Gen. William J. Hardee's Confederates conducted a
well-planned and brilliantly executed defense-in-depth that held
Sherman's juggernaut in check for two days. With his objective
accomplished, Hardee disengaged and marched to concentrate his
corps with Gen. Joseph E. Johnston for what would become
Bentonville. This completely revised and updated edition of"No Such
Army Since the Days of Julius Caesar": Sherman's Carolinas Campaign
from Fayetteville to Averasboro, March 1865 is based upon extensive
archival and firsthand research. It includes new original maps,
orders of battle, abundant illustrations, and a detailed driving
and walking tour for dedicated battlefield enthusiasts. Readers
with an interest in the Carolinas, Generals Sherman and Johnston,
or the Civil War in general will enjoy this book.
The Battle of Wise’s (Wyse) Forks, March 7-11, 1865, has long
been thought of as nothing more than an insignificant skirmish
during the final days of the Civil War and relegated to a passing
reference in a footnote if it is mentioned at all. Mark A.
Smith’s and Wade Sokolosky’s “To Prepare for Sherman’s
Coming”: The Battle of Wise’s Forks, March 1865, now in
paperback for the first time, erases this misconception and
elevates this battle and its related operations to the historical
status it deserves. By March 1865, the Confederacy was on its last
legs. Its armies were depleted, food and resources were scarce, and
morale was low. Gen. Robert E. Lee was barely holding on to his
extended lines around Richmond and Petersburg, and Maj. Gen.
William T. Sherman was operating with nearly complete freedom in
North Carolina on his way north to form a junction with Union
forces in Virginia. As the authors demonstrate, the fighting that
is the subject of this book came about when Lt. Gen. Ulysses S.
Grant initiated a broad military operation to assist Sherman. The
responsibility for ensuring a functioning railroad from New Bern to
Goldsboro rested with Maj. Gen. Jacob D. Cox. On March 2, 1865, Cox
ordered his hastily assembled Provisional Corps to march toward
Goldsboro. In response to Cox’s movement, Confederate Gen. Joseph
E. Johnston executed a bold but risky plan to divert troops away
from Sherman by turning back Cox’s advance. Under the command of
the aggressive but controversial Gen. Braxton Bragg, the
Confederates stood for four days and successfully halted Cox at
Wise’s Forks. This delay provided Johnston with the precious time
he needed to concentrate his forces and fight the large and
important Battle of Bentonville. “To Prepare for Sherman’s
Coming” is the result of years of careful research in a wide
variety of archival sources, and relies upon official reports,
diaries, newspapers, and letter collections, all tied to a keen
understanding of the terrain. Sokolosky and Smith, both career army
officers, have used their expertise in military affairs to produce
what is not only a valuable book on Wise’s Forks, but what surely
must be the definitive study of one of the Civil War’s overlooked
yet significant battles. Outstanding original maps by George Skoch
coupled with period photographs reinforce the quality of this
account and the authors’ commitment to excellence.
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