With Sheridan in the final campaign against Lee / by Frederick C. Newhall ; edited by Eric J. Wittenberg.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Newhall, Frederick C. (Frederick Cushman)

Contributor:

Wittenberg, Eric J., 1961-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870.

Lee, Robert E.

Sheridan, Philip Henry, 1831-1888.

Sheridan, Philip Henry.

Newhall, Frederick C. (Frederick Cushman).

Newhall, Frederick C.

United States. Army. Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment, 6th (1861-1865).

United States.

Appomattox Campaign, 1865.

History.

Virginia--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Cavalry operations.

Virginia.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Cavalry operations.

Virginia--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives.

Genre:

Personal narratives.

Physical Description:

xxvi, 212 pages : maps ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Baton Rouge : Louisiana State University Press, [2002]

Summary:

Like many in the elite Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment of the Army of the Potomac, Frederick Newhall (1840-1898) hailed from one of the first families of Philadelphia. After enlisting, he quickly grew from privileged youth to capable soldier, rising to company commander and eventually to provost marshal and assistant adjutant general at Cavalry Corps headquarters. There, riding alongside Major General Philip H. Sheridan -- the dynamic, inspirational bantam who led the Union cavalry to glory in 1864 and 1865 -- Newhall witnessed the inner workings of cavalry operations and many of the important events that spurred the end of the Civil War. A highly intelligent observer, he penned the details of his experiences and published them under the title With General Sheridan in Lee's Last Campaign in 1866, before time could dull his memory. This new edition of Newhall's memoir, carefully edited by Eric J. Wittenberg, makes his revealing eyewitness account widely available once again.

Newhall had both Sheridan's ear and confidence during the campaign from Petersburg to Appomattox in April 1865. He was sent by the general to convey information directly to Ulysses S. Grant and George Meade, and his accounts of these meetings are stirring. He also was present with Sheridan at Appomattox Court House and provides a detailed narrative of Lee's surrender to Grant. Loyal to the last, Newhall vigorously defended Sheridan's controversial relief of Major General G. K. Warren from command of the Fifth Corps after the battle of Five Forks on April 1, 1865, a defense he renewed at the 1879 Warren court of inquiry, which eventually cleared Warren's name.

Wittenberg has carefully transcribed and annotated Newhall's original text, adding maps, an introduction that includes a biographical sketch of Newhall, an order of battle, and a selected bibliography. He also includes a pamphlet that Warren printed defending himself and criticizing Sheridan, and Newhall's response to it. An enlightening insider's view of Union leadership during the Civil War's denouement, Wittenberg's excellent edition of Newhall's lively and descriptive commentary rescues an important and informative perspective from the vault of history.

Contents:

1. Major-General P. H. Sheridan 1

2. From the Shenandoah to the James 11

3. Sheridan's Cavalry 17

4. Feeling Lee's Right Flank 26

5. A Fight about Five Forks 44

6. Lee Breaks Cover 69

7. The Pursuit 73

8. The Ninth of April, Sixty-Five 112

9. Breaking Ranks 122

Appendix A Order of Battle for That Portion of the Appomattox Campaign Addressed by Lt. Col. Newhall 129

Appendix B An Account of the Operations of the Fifth Army Corps, Commanded by Maj. Gen. G. K. Warren, at the Battle of Five Forks, April 1, 1865, and the Battles and Movements Preliminary to It, by G. K. Warren, Late Major General Volunteers 147

Appendix C Newhall's Response to Warren's Pamphlet, Published in the Nation, April 5, 1866 189.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [201]-205) and index.

ISBN:

0807127566

OCLC:

48579206