From Library Journal
Understand the intricacies of the fierce, bloody siege of Fort Sumter and Charleston, South Carolina, by Union forces in 1863, and the fundamentals of the Civil War become clear. A historian, teacher and author (Lifeline of the Confederacy: Blockade Running During the Civil War, LJ 1/89), Wise paints a dramatic picture of gruesome, dreary trench warfare; ironclad ships; petty squabbles between commanders; and the heroism of many. Clara Barton nursed here; the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, an African American regiment under Capt. Robert G. Shaw, fought shoulder to shoulder with white troops, finding acceptance, death, and glory on the ramparts. The Confederacy ultimately held fast; both sides created new weapons and tactical innovations to be used in future battles. Wise captures it all, from the taste of battle to the pounds of shot fired per skirmish. Highly recommended as an in-depth resource for larger history collections.
Nancy L. Whitfield, Meriden P.L., Ct.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
The Charleston campaign of 1863 is currently best known for the role in it of the 54th Massachusetts in vindicating the effectiveness of African American soldiers, as was delineated in the movie Glory. There was, however, much hard fighting before the 54th's assault on Battery Wagner, and there was even more afterward, with heavy losses on both sides and eventual Union failure, due as much to Union interservice rivalries as to Confederate tenacity. Among other features of the siege were the largest naval operations of the war, technologically advanced use of artillery, and trench warfare anticipating World War I. It is a compelling story that Wise handles with high competence, clarity, and scholarly thoroughness. Roland Green
