This is an adequate book. Trudeau is very vivid in his details of the bloodiest portion of the US Civil War. One can nearly smell the stench of death on the pages.

At the same time, Trudeau's use of varying sources (none of which are footnoted) comes across very choppy and difficult to follow. ( )

Trudeau writes a fine narrative on Grant's 1864 spring offensive. He captures the tenacity of the battles at Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor and the other actions fought on the way to the siege of Petersburg. ( )

DEN