Booknotes: The Final Bivouac

New Arrival:

• The Final Bivouac: The Confederate Surrender Parade at Appomattox and the Disbanding of the Virginia Armies, April 10-May 20, 1865 by Chris Calkins, with Bert Dunkerly and Patrick A. Schroeder (Savas Beatie, 2025).

I don't recall exactly how many at this point have been given the treatment, but Savas Beatie has revisited a number of classic titles from the long out of print H.E. Howard Virginia Battles and Leaders series, republishing them in revised and expanded form. Around a year ago, with the assistance of Bert Dunkerly, Patrick Schroeder, and Melody Bage, the publisher released a fresh version of Chris Calkins's 1980s book The Battles of Appomattox Station and Appomattox Court House, April 8-9, 1865 under the new title "No One Wants to be the Last to Die": The Battles of Appomattox, April 8-9, 1865. Calkins's follow-up from the same period, The Final Bivouac: The Surrender Parade at Appomattox and the Disbanding of the Armies, April 10 - May 20, 1865, has now received its own new version (and slightly different title wording) with The Final Bivouac: The Confederate Surrender Parade at Appomattox and the Disbanding of the Virginia Armies, April 10-May 20, 1865, and Dunkerly and Schroeder return to assist with the project.

The book addresses a number of questions related to the surrender and its immediate aftermath. Among others, they include: "What actually happened during the first six weeks of new-found peace once General Lee surrendered the remnants of the Army of Northern Virginia to General Grant? What were the initial reactions of the soldiers and Virginia citizens to the devastating news of Lincoln’s assassination? How did they handle the situation of the emancipated slaves?"

In its coverage of the surrender parade, Calkins's work "vividly captured the intense feelings and emotions of Union and Confederate soldiers as the former enemies faced each other for the last time. The honor and respect shown by the victorious Federal troops toward the defeated Southerners is one of the most moving episodes in American history." The text, which combines author narrative with extensive blocks of material from eyewitness and participant letters, diaries, official reports, and other writings, "continues the story with marvelous firsthand accounts by homeward-bound Confederates, the members of the Union encampment at Burkeville, men involved in the Danville Expedition, and those present for the occupation of Southside Virginia. The narrative concludes as the last few regiments in blue cross the James River at Richmond on their way to Washington, D.C., and then, finally home."

In addition to support from seven maps, the volume sports an extensive appendix section filled with interesting supplemental information and data tables. The first highlights a number of archaeological investigations of the ground, the second provides insights into the condition of Lee's army during the period (particularly in areas of clothing and food), the third delves into the neverending debate over how many men Lee surrendered at Appomattox, and the final appendix reviews the sun rising and setting times over the course of the campaign.