Many consider the Battle of Chancellorsville to be Confederate General Robert E. Lee's greatest offensive operation. However, the Battle of Second Manassas may be even more significant. Lee's victory at Chancellorsville resulted in the status quo. His success at Second Manassas moved the center of the war in the east from Richmond to just outside Washington, DC, and set the stage for Lee's first incursion onto Northern soil. Decisions at Second Manassas introduces readers to critical decisions made by Confederate and Union commanders. Matt Spruill III and Matt Spruill IV examine the decisions that shaped the way the campaign and battle unfolded. Rather than offering a history of the Battle of Second Manassas, the Spruills focus on the critical decisions. This account is designed to present the reader with a coherent and manageable blueprint of the battle's development. Exploring and studying the critical decisions allows the reader to progress from an understanding of "what happened" to "why events happened" as they did. Complete with maps and a guided tour, Decisions at Second Manassas is an indispensable primer, and readers looking for a digestible introduction to the Battle of Second Manassas can tour this sacred ground--or read about it at their leisure--with key insights into the battle and a deeper understanding of the Civil War itself--back cover.

Preface -- Introduction -- 1. Before the battle : June 26 to August 27, 1862 -- 2. Contact is regained : Thursday, August 28, 1862 -- 3. Day of battle : Friday, August 29, 1862 -- 4. Day of decision : Saturday, August 30, 1862 -- 5. The campaign continues : Sunday, August 31 to Tuesday, September 2, 1862 -- 6. Conclusions -- Appendix I. Battlefield guide to the critical decisions at Second Manassas -- Appendix II. Union order of battle -- Appendix III. Confederate order of battle -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index.