The performance of an army is often evaluated by its achievements as a whole, or by that of its commanders or perhaps even its divisions. Often lost in the equation is the small unit. After the great plans are complete and the logistics preparations are accomplished, it is the collective performance of the small unit that ultimately decides the battle. This thesis analyses the campaigns, soldiers, organization, equipment, and performance of just one regiment: the 48th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry. Material concerning the 48th includes numerous primary sources: the Official Records, Confederate Veteran, The Southern Historical Papers, Southern Bivouac, local histories, and the CARL microfiche library of unit histories (Note: the 48th is not included in these unit histories). Other primary references include war diaries of two officers, three enlisted men, and copies of the 48th's Quartermaster records. This thesis concludes that, while training and equipment of the 48th was sometimes poor, it was effective in numerous engagements, despite its relative small size. The ultimate demise of the unit was due to personnel losses.

“An up-to-date, accurate, comprehensive and lively treatment of . . . arguably one of the bloodiest five hours during the American Civil War.” —The Civil War Gazette The battles at Spring Hill and Franklin, Tennessee, in the late autumn of 1864 were watershed moments in the American Civil War. Thousands of hardened veterans and a number of recruits, as well as former West Point classmates, found themselves moving through Middle Tennessee in the last great campaign of a long and bitter war. Replete with bravery, dedication, bloodshed, and controversy, these battles led directly to the conclusion of action in the Western Theater. Spring Hill and Franklin, which were once long ignored and seldom understood, have slowly been regaining their place on the national stage. They remain one of the most compelling episodes of the Civil War. Through exhaustive research and the use of sources never before published, the stories of both battles come vividly to life in For Cause & For Country. Over 100 pages of material have been added to this new edition, including new maps and photos. The genesis and early stages of the Tennessee Campaign play out in clear and readable fashion. The lost opportunity at Spring Hill is evaluated in great detail, and the truth of what happened there is finally shown based on evidence rather than conjecture. The intricate dynamics of the Confederate high command, and especially the roles of General John Bell Hood and General Frank Cheatham, are given special attention. For Cause & For Country is “a highly complex but skillfully organized, easy-to-follow campaign narrative written in stirring fashion” (Civil War Books and Authors).

This study is a historical analysis of Major General Patrick R. Cleburne’s Division during the Battle of Chickamauga. Cleburne’s Division earned a reputation as one of the best divisions in either army. This reputation also carried with it lofty expectations. This study analyzes how Cleburne’s Division performed at Chickamauga and what the effects of its actions were on the overall outcome of the battle. The Battle of Chickamauga has suffered its share of historical neglect. Fought in the forests and mountains of northern Georgia and southeastern Tennessee, the battle has not been immortalized by any stirring fictional works, nor has it inspired any feature films, but the story of the men who fought there is worth studying. Cleburne’s Division did not distinguish itself at Chickamauga. It launched a confused, disjointed night attack to close out the first day of the battle, but determined leaders succeed in capturing their objectives. Day two of the battle saw Cleburne’s Division attack four hours late. It was quickly repulsed while suffering horrific casualties. While the Confederate left wing routed the Union Army, Cleburne’s Division nursed their wounds before finally advancing at sunset, as the Union withdrew from the battlefield.

The Battle of WiseÕs (Wyse) Forks, March 7-11, 1865, has long been thought of as nothing more than an insignificant skirmish during the final days of the Civil War and relegated to a passing reference in a footnote if it is mentioned at all. Mark A. SmithÕs and Wade SokoloskyÕs ÒTo Prepare for ShermanÕs ComingÓ: The Battle of WiseÕs Forks, March 1865 erases this misconception and elevates this combat and its related operations to the historical status it deserves. By March 1865, the Confederacy was on its last legs. Its armies were depleted, food and resources were scarce, and morale was low. General Lee was barely holding on to his extended lines around Richmond and Petersburg, and Gen. William T. Sherman was operating with nearly complete freedom in North Carolina on his way north to form a junction with Union forces in Virginia. As the authors demonstrate, the fighting that is the subject of this book came about when Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant initiated a broad military operation to assist Sherman. The responsibility for ensuring a functioning railroad from New Bern to Goldsboro rested with Maj. Gen. Jacob D. Cox. On March 2, 1865, Cox ordered his hastily assembled Provisional Corps to march toward Goldsboro. In response to CoxÕs movement, Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston executed a bold but risky plan to divert troops away from Sherman by turning back CoxÕs advance. Under the command of the aggressive but controversial Gen. Braxton Bragg, the Confederates stood for four days and successfully halted Cox at WiseÕs Forks. This delay provided Johnston with the precious time he needed to concentrate his forces and fight the large and important Battle of Bentonville. ÒTo Prepare for ShermanÕs ComingÓ is the result of years of careful research in a wide variety of archival sources, and relies upon official reports, diaries, newspapers, and letter collections, all tied to a keen understanding of the terrain. Sokolosky and Smith, both career army officers, have used their expertise in military affairs to produce what is not only a valuable book on WiseÕs Forks, but what surely must be the definitive study of one of the Civil WarÕs overlooked yet significant battles. Outstanding original maps by Mark A. Moore coupled with period photographs reinforce the quality of this account and the authorsÕ commitment to excellence.

Composed almost entirely of Midwesterners and molded into a lean, skilled fighting machine by Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman, the Army of the Tennessee marched directly into the heart of the Confederacy and won major victories at Shiloh and at the rebel strongholds of Vicksburg and Atlanta.Acclaimed historian Steven Woodworth has produced the first full consideration of this remarkable unit that has received less prestige than the famed Army of the Potomac but was responsible for the decisive victories that turned the tide of war toward the Union. The Army of the Tennessee also shaped the fortunes and futures of both Grant and Sherman, liberating them from civilian life and catapulting them onto the national stage as their triumphs grew. A thrilling account of how a cohesive fighting force is forged by the heat of battle and how a confidence born of repeated success could lead soldiers to expect “nothing but victory.”