The American Civil War (or to some, the 'recent unpleasantness') was what many consider to be the first modern war. No longer were there men marching in lines and using cap and ball rifles and pistols. This was the time of cartridge guns, fluid battles and some pretty massive fortifications.

The huge majority of these were what most of us would consider temporary structures, built mostly of earth and logs, using the latest in fortification theories about cross protective fire, protective enclosures for riflemen and bomb proof structures for ammunition supplies and field headquarters.

What made the war somewhat unique is that both sides used the same methods, from the same books. Most of those officers who fought against each other were educated side by side in the same schools prior to the war.

This particular volume concentrates on inland fortifications in the north and the west (such as it was). The author initially takes us through a fortifications primer so that we know what all the rather bewildering names (many of them French) represent. While not exactly fluent in what these are, even after reading the book, I do know more than I did when I started so that is progress!

It then goes into the sequence of major battles and the fortifications used in each one. We start with the war in the East 1861-64 with Big Bethel, Manassas, and Williamsburg to name a few. Then on to Richmond defenses. The western campaign is next with Chattanooga, and Atlanta among the battles. Then on to the final year of the war in the east with the attack on Washington, Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor in among this section. A final section is devoted to the siege of Petersburg in 1864/65.

The end of the book provides a look into the fate of most of the fortifications and where you can visit extant sited today.

All in all a fascinating book and one that is well told with superb illustrations and maps. The period photos of these places really adds quite a bit to the book as well. It is one that you really should consider reading when you get the chance.

October 2005

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