What I liked about the book: The Wilderness was a confusing battle for the participants and for anyone trying to understand what happened. Rhea did a good job explaining who was where doing what, and the frequent maps helped explain things.

What I didn’t like about the book: It lacked a certain touch, a way of telling a story that made the participants come alive. I know there are only so many ways of saying “the soldiers advanced through the thick woods, lost sight of each other, became confused and were repulsed by the enemy.” And since that’s pretty much what happened for two solid days, it was bound to be repetitive.

The most interesting quote: Blasted through the lungs with a minié ball, one of Barlow’s sergeants complained when no one offered to help him from the field. “Why, Cassidy,” called out a nearby soldier, “there’s a man with all of his head blow off and he is not making half as much fuss as you are!”

Recommendation: A clear, non-technical but detailed account of the first Civil War battle in which Grant and Lee faced off against each other. If you enjoy military history, this one is pretty good. Rhea has written (or is still writing) an entire series on all the battles in which Grant faced off against Lee, from The Wilderness to Appomattox. This is the first.