Missed Opportunities in the Race to the North Anna River

Emerging Civil War's Chris Mackowski explores the many missed opportunities of the North Anna River phase of the Overland Campaign with a video tour that follows the movement of the armies south from Spotsylvania to the North Anna.

[@donaldvandergriff2196]

Chris you do an excellent job. Thank you, done this similar tour. My favorite phase of the Overland Campaign.

[@howardstotler616]

Neat battlefield to visit. I visited it while returning home to Pa from a hotshot run. I drove for 17 years, and I must have visited near 100 battlefields or battlesites from New England to Florida and out West to Texas. Lots of times took Battles and Leaders with me.

[@indycoman3373]

Thank you, Chris, and all at Emerging Civil War for doing so much to keep history alive!

[@emergingcivilwar8965]

Our pleasure!

[@molipaul]

Great stuff! Thank you for these riveting videos. 👍

[@militarybooks]

Nice job, Chris. Well organized and clear. Onward.

[@emergingcivilwar8965]

Thanks!

[@Troylewe]

So much Love & Thanks to you, Chris and Justin for Echoing the history of the Civil War!

[@emergingcivilwar8965]

Thanks!

[@Jubilo1]

Appropriate blue and gray apparel Professor !

[@SmoT76]

thank you, sir. I just finished Gordon Rhea's four book series, interesting to see the area.

[@emergingcivilwar8965]

From Chris: "That was the first microtactical study I ever read, and it remains my favorite. That book also piqued what has become a career-long love affair with the North Anna. I'll always remain indebted to Gordon for that double gift."

[@bryanwiedeman3154]

As a retired Infantry man, I find this fascination about two days out of 300 of close combat strange. It seems more like tribal lore passed down from generations past. Lee’s great opportunity is everyday when fighting on familiar terrain ,interior lines , and a close supply base.

[@americancivilwarukhistory9769]

Some great information 👌 👍

[@emergingcivilwar8965]

Thanks!

[@Revolver1701]

I just subscribed. Thanks for your content. If you ever get time an episode on the battle of Nashville would be appreciated.

[@emergingcivilwar8965]

We'll get there. We have a new book on the battle of Nashville coming out in the Emerging Civil War Series, so we'll be sure to talk with author Sean Chick about it. Thanks for subscribing!

[@Revolver1701]

@@emergingcivilwar8965 Awesome. I plan to buy that. I had a multi-great grandfather who was in an artillery unit that lost their guns and horses and became infantry as a result.

[@johnresto1603]

Thank you Chris for another great video. Look forward to another tour with you. I hope the Battlefield trust will do more pop up tours and North Anna will be one. I'm curious what software do you use for editing your videos. Thank you

[@emergingcivilwar8965]

From Chris: "I have an iPhone, and I just use the iMovie software that comes with the phone. There's a lot you can do on a phone these days!"

[@paulmorales3815]

I counted at least 7 missed opportunities. Besides casualties and troops to gaurd supply lines, grant also had troops whose enlistments were ending

[@emergingcivilwar8965]

From Chris: "This phase was definitely a chess match, but the commanders kept psyching themselves out instead of trying to make moves against their enemies."

[@jonrettich4579]

Anyway to care to explain scouting and reconnoissance during this aspect of the campaign. I know Warren complained bitterly about Union cavalry at Spotsylvania. Sheridan was moved to independent command. I think careful consideration of scouting, recon and cavalry activities needs be reviewed in this context.

[@paulmorales3815]

Oh, are there any good books on the battle and campaign of the North Anna river?

[@militarybooks]

Chris's book on the North Anna (Emerging Civil War) www.savasbeatie.com/strike-them-a-blow-battle-along-the-north-anna-river-may-21-25-1864/ or if you can find it, the North Anna book done through Howard Publishing about 25 or 30 years ago.

[@emergingcivilwar8965]

We recommend Chris's book, "Strike Them a Blow," as a good overview. If you really want to get into the weeds, Gordon Rhea's "To the North Anna River" is a fantastic microtactical examination of the action.

[@carywest9256]

In a war of nutrition, man you gotta eat. Don't worry about the cannon balls& minie balls buzzing all around. Iffen ya don't feel yer meatbag, ya just dry up & blow away. Isn't it funny how a person can mistake one word for another. Attrition could be mistaken for nutrition to someone who's hard of hearing. As you can see l'm politically incorrect and proud of it. Not nary one liberal bone in my body. LEAVE OUR HISTORY ALONE!!!