"What major battle do you know least about?" Topic

Now here's a chance for honesty!

It occurred to me that even after years of being into the Civil War I have a blank on some items. I know far more about the East than the West, for example.

But when it comes to indvidual battles?

Well my vote would go to 2nd Manassas. I could name others from the Western theatre but as an Eastern man, that would be easy.

So here's the question. What battle do you feel you should really know about given you particular interests but really, you don't?

1st Bull Run.

Shiloh, although I just started reading Smith's book a couple of days ago, so I guess I need to change it to something like Spotsylvania CH or Vicksburg. I tend to focus more on the west, following the Army of the Ohio/Cumberland.

Shiloh

Chickamauga: I'm not even sure I can spell it and I don't know where it is.

All I know is that someone (Thomas?) was a rock there.

Cavalry action at Gettysburg. I don't even know where it was sought relative to the main battle.

Too many to mention. And that's just the ones I know the names of. There are no doubt many unknown unknowns. Maybe the Wilderness campaign. I know the name, believe Grant may have been involved, and the Union probably won (or at least, didn't lose too badly) but after that, nothing.

But then, it's not my Civil War.

Antietam. I've played or run all the other major ones at least once.

Grant's 1864 overland campaign--once they pull back from the Wilderness, and start moving south again, it becomes a blur.
Bentonville in North Carolina--because by then it's pretty much a done deal.

Grelber

Too many to name.

Missionary Ridge.

Chancellorsville

Darryl, Smith's book on Shiloh is the best I've read.

The Vicksburg Campaign

I know it was very, very important and I know Champion's Hill was an important part of it but that is pretty much all I know about it

Where do I start ! New to the period .

Fredericksburg.

Mine run campaign 1863

I'm equally clueless about all but Gettysburg and Shiloh. I've read about the others but none of the information has really stuck around.

Knoxville, TN where Longstreet was allowed to do his own thing.

A lot of the western theater stuff. I have fairly good knowledge of the Atlanta campaign, Hood's Nashville campaign and the March to the Sea, plus up to Bentonville, but everything else is just a general outline for me just now.

About everything in Missouri before 1864.

Chickamauga: I'm not even sure I can spell it and I don't know where it is.

Just south of Chattanooga TN, just across the Georgia state line, along the west bank of West Chickamauga creek. (Subject of my next book, coming soon to a website near you – aka Amazon.)

Knoxville, TN where Longstreet was allowed to do his own thing.

That'll be part of the next book, which I'm working on currently (probably out late next year). Also Mine Run.

Seven Pines/Fair Oaks.

Do post here when your next book is available, Don.

I know nothing about the battle of ?

Cold Harbour

I think the best place to start is the multi-volume Time-Life series on the Civil War; it has one volume on each of the major battles and is very well written.

I just finished reading Brandywine by Michael C. Harris. It was the largest and longest battle of the War of the Revolution (1777). Even so, it is obscure to many people. Extensively researched, wonderfully detailed, and pretty well written.

The many battles around Richmond/Petersburg after Grant took over. I know most of the names, and that Grant couldn't break the line, but not all of the details.

I just hosted Seven Pines at our Colorado Military Historians gaming club using Altar of Freedom. One of the players is a former ACW reenactor. He said he learned a lot about fighting in woods from the game. Now I need to get a book about it.
John

As a reenactor for many years fighting in woods is very exhausting and it is almost impossible to maintain order. Fought in the wilderness and it was just like I read about. Every forward and back you were standing to a different person
But you also learn many other things about old s school soldiering.

The 7 Days Campaign battles such as Gaines Mill etc.

Hogslobber Hollow

I WHOLE HEARTEDLY AGREE WITH IRONICON AS AN EX REENACTOR FIGHTING IN THE WOODS IS A TOTAL PAIN IN THE ARSE,ORDER AND FORMATION ARE ALMOST TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE. Smoke, heat getting hit in the face constantly by every tree limb, tripping over tree roots etc..

Pleasant Hill and Champion's Hill

Malvern Hill which ended the Seven Days Battle.

Stones River (incidentally, it's also the only major battlefield I have yet to visit)

BY

mostly western theater battles like Corinth, Juka, Champions Hill and Stones River …

Since I'm pushing my own books, you can read about Champion's Hill in my book Over the River.

link

SAMURAIFREDDY,

That would be IUKA ! No wonder you would like to know more about it ! :o)

Perryville in the West, and Brandy Station in the East. Great book by Dan Beattie on the latter, but it is still a swirling, confusing scrape over a relatively large tract by mobile forces.
-George

The battle I haven't heard of.

thanks Trajanus, you're right that is in fact Iuka ! I have heard and read so little about this and Corinth battles that I got the name wrong…looking for some Orbats, battle map, troops dispositions etc for both…for whatever reason it seems Easter front battles have a much wider and more detailed coverage than Western front ones; although the latter were in many cases quite as much strategically important for both sides for the course of the war…

Donlowry: that is a good news thank you; does it provide the Orbats, battle maps/development phases , troops disposition and a detailed account of the fighting ?! I would be very much interested in buying is if so..
Thank you all.
Regards

Donlowry: that is a good news thank you; does it provide the Orbats, battle maps/development phases , troops disposition and a detailed account of the fighting ?!

Not sure which book/battle you are referring to. Each one has orders of battle for the entire armies of both sides down to the brigade level, and a few maps (terrain only). The books deal with the whole war, all fronts, day-to-day. So more strategic than tactical, but major battles are covered in considerable detail. In the book that will deal with Chickamauga, the battle itself takes up several long chapters. It's all written, but George Skoch is still working on the maps.

Stones River

Mostly the western battles, especially in the Trans Mississippi area.