A Missed Opportunity for the Union

In this revised edition of his 2015 book, historian Chick argues that the fiercely fought four-day Battle of Petersburg was a missed opportunity for the Union, a failure that prolonged the Civil War with dramatic consequences.

In several ways one of the war’s most unusual actions, the outcome of Grant’s attempt to take Petersburg was frustrated by more than miscalculation and bad luck. Grant’s poor communications with his sometimes insubordinates, petulant generals led to missed opportunities, in a battle that might have substantially shortened the war.

Chick opens with three chapters that cover, in increasing detail, operations from June 1st through June 14th, as Grant pressed Lee ever closer to the defenses covering Richmond and Petersburg. The four days of the battle (June 15-18) each get a chapter, and the book concludes with a chapter offering an overview of subsequent events through to end of the war.

Chick offers some interesting critical evaluations of many of the generals on both sides. He is more favorable than most historians in his assessments of P.G.T. Beauregard, making the case that he merits a better reputation. While offering generally favorable comments about most of the other generals, both U.S. Grant and Robert E. Lee are brought down a notch.

The text is supported and supplemented by a recommended driving tour of the terrain, has some outstanding maps by cartographers Hal Jespersen and Edward Alexander, some helpful illustrations, and six appendices by noted War scholars giving additional details and perspectives on various aspects of the campaign, and an Order of Battle.

A Grand Opening Squandered, is intended as an introduction to a series of books on this important campaign, and admirably fulfills that role.

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Note: A Grand Opening Squandered is also available in e-editions.

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