The Passing of Armies: An Account Of The Final Campaign Of The Army Of The Potomac (Eyewitness to the Civil War)

General Chamberlain was an extraordinarily well educated man. His education was only exceeded by his bravery. His description of the victorious armies march and review in Washington was goose-bump thrilling!

Many know Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain as the hero of Gettysburg from the Shaara novels and the Turner movies. He fixed bayonets and not only held the flank on Little Round Top but initiated a rebel surrender without any ammunition.Here we learn the rest of the story in the man's own words. Despite being shot several times in the war and having mounts shot out from under him, Chamberlain lived a fruitful life until 1915, dancing on the graves of his friends and foes. After Gettysburg, Chamberlain went on to lead the battles throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Grant selected him to play a key role in managing the logistics and pagantry surrounding Lee's capitulation. After the war, Chamberlain returned to tiny Bowdoin College in Maine, where he had been a professor of obscure languages and literature. Eventually he became president of the college, then his fortunes turned black, as he entered politics. He did serve several terms as governor with distinction.Chamberlain writes with the flair of his times. Speech and writing were gentlemanly, flowing with description, and in no hurry to get to the point, as all had plenty of time for enjoyable distractions. I wish more would write in this style.An interesting episode concerns the news of the untimely death of Lincoln reaching the army. Chamberlain and the other officers got the reports and assumed the next step would be a march to Washington to install Grant as President under martial law. Fortunately this constitutional crisis was avoided and Grant had to wait a few years. At the time of Lincoln's assassination, all the confederate forces had surrendered and the war was essentially over. In fact, Lincoln and his son had already taken a tour of Richmond. However upon news of the assassination, all forces returned to a level of higher awareness and the easy collegiality with the neighboring rebels was put on hold.For reasons that are lost to history, or at least to me, one of Chamberlain's superiors was still fighting a battlefield demotion many years after the war. Chamberlain tries to show in this book that the man was in the right, as his orders were complicated and contradictory. I dont see the point in this but apparently it made an old man happy to set the record straight. Chamberlain also takes Grant to task on a few factual errors in his memoirs, and gives him a low grade in an evaluation of his technical skills in planning battles. I dont think that matters much either at this point. Grant was the only Union general who would fight, pursue, march all night, and fight again.All in all, a delightful read from the last soldier. His style is fabulous, and it is great to see a civilian advance in the army by his leadership and strategic skills.

I'm a big Civil War buff. I could not get into this book. Too slow moving.

This telling of the final months of the Civil War reads much like a Shakespearian drama.Chamberlain was there, in the midst of it, but it's his eloquent use of the languagethat brings this version of the end of America's nightmare to life.

I know this will be an amazing book

I had enjoyed this man's biography so much, that I bought this book. He was the Union officer who received the surrender of Lee's army at Appomattox. The last chapter was the best for me. It was a hard read, but interesting for understanding some of the battle strategies. I plan to donate the book to our local historical society. I recommend doing a web search of him before you read, to better understand his roll in the civil war.

This book ranks right up there with the best books written about the Civil War experience. I read it with my wife. Then I bought one for my brother for Christmas. Chamberlain speaks from personal experience not months of research into an-other's works.

It's one thing to watch the movie Gettysburg, or Ken Burns documentary. But to read one man's account, as it happened, and hear his words from the time is amazing. This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys reading about the civil war. It basically starts after The Wilderness and ends at Appomattox. And General Chamberlain uses vivid wording throughout this book. It is amazing.

I realise that being in the big circle of the top echelon of the US army was very important at the onset of the civil war.but I cannot believe thatChamberlain was almost totally ignored for higher command.this manWas an unbelievable leader of men.after suffering so many setbacks the union continued to employ ordinary generals,who continued with their shockingly naive and simplistic planning.in the process killingfar more men than necessary.Chamberlain truly was a great americanhero.and an absolute inspiration to his men,even today people can beInspired by his complete devotion to the justice of the cause he foughtSo valiantly for.

Once you get used to the way the language is phrased in this, which of course is a product of its era, then, this is an excellent book, which gives insight into the mind of one of the most famous charcters associated with the Gettysburg battle. His thoughts on some of the other famous generals also lets you see what they were actually like, Sheridan for instance.Highly recommended for anyone who is interested in the American Civil War.

Interesting if you’re a Civil War enthusiast - the account of the war by the man who was there - but wordy, factual and not terribly exciting. Written in the style of its’ day, and so full of prose - the man was a college professor after all - but I’m glad I read Michael Shaara first.

Great reports of several battles with facts and figuresAn account from a soldiers point of view on the last days of the civil warIncludes some of the intrigue and skullduggery in the winding down of thePotomac officers and men

The book is well written by a veteran who was not a professional soldier before the ACW, but ended the war as a highly respected officer. His story is partly told in the film "Gettysburg" but all his writings deserve reading