Rebels Resurgent: Fredericksburg to Chancellorsville by William K. Goolrick

Rebels Resurgent: Fredericksburg to Chancellorsville by William K. Goolrick-176 pages

I am going to ALA in Washington, D.C. this summer and taking a little vacation afterwards. One of the places I am planning to visit is Fredericksburg, Virginia, so I am reading more on the battle. I am somewhat of a Civil War historian already, but I want to continue to grow in my knowledge on the subject and I am very excited to visit Fredericksburg. So many battles took place near Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Virginia during the Civil War and I eventually really want to see all of them (as many as possible, at least). I enjoyed this refresher on the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville and it still baffles me how inept many of the commanders of the Army of the Potomac (Union) were, especially in the early years.

Bayonet! Forward: My Civil War Reminiscences by Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

Bayonet! Forward: My Civil War Reminiscences by Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain-328 pages

General Chamberlain was Colonel of the 20th Maine at Little Round Top at the Battle of Gettysburg and successfully defended it with a bayonet charge. He was also at Fredericksburg, Petersburg, White Oak Road, Five Forks, and several other major Civil War battles in which the Union Army of the Potomac fought. Additionally, he (his division) was chosen to take the official surrender of arms of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia after Lee's surrender at Appamattox. I have previously read a biography about Chamberlain and one of his works and immediately wanted to read this book when I came across it on Goodreads. This was a good read and Chamberlain is clearly a good orator and writer, after all he was professor of rhetoric and oratory at Bowdoin College in Maine before his enlistment. His thoughts and remembrances of his experiences during the Civil War are compelling and thought-provoking, although glorifying of war and his experience a bit. One can tell that he was an intellectual, thoughtful man who was also humble and contrite. His thoughts on his peers and superiors are particularly compelling. Overall, this was a good read.