Monday, August 1, 2016

Booknotes: Decision at Tom's Brook

New Arrival:
Decision at Tom's Brook: George Custer, Thomas Rosser, and the Joy of the Fight
by William J. Miller (Savas Beatie, 2016).

By the time of the October 9, 1864 Battle of Tom's Brook, the Union position in the Shenandoah Valley was finally one of permanent ascendance over their Confederate opponents. A deeply researched treatment of events, William Miller's Decision at Tom's Brook covers in great detail the battle and the Confederate rout and flight derisively called the "Woodstock Races." The battle famously pitted two West Point classmates and friends, generals George Custer and Thomas Rosser, against one another and this personal aspect of Tom's Brook is also prominently featured. While Custer has been written about in exhaustive fashion, Miller's book "presents significant new material on Thomas Rosser and argues that his character was his destiny." In terms of supporting materials, the book has the typical fine maps that the publisher is known for, with an order of battle appendix and a numbers & losses discussion.

1 comment:

  1. Thanks Drew.

    I was very excited to publish this one, and Bill did a wonderful job. His research is impeccable. I had no idea this fight was so rich and complex, and had so many fascinating angles to explore.

    I hope your readers enjoy it as well.

    Onward.

    ReplyDelete

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