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A stillness at Appomattox

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This is the story of the last desperate, heartbreaking, cruel year of the Civil War. In the winter of 1864, the Army of the Potomac stood at the crossroads. The old army, fired with the spirit of men who had joined out of love of country and who had long since become disillusioned, was gone. The new army, made up of mercenaries, bounty-jumpers, and a hard core of seasoned and embittered veterans, had lost sight of its original goal of radiant victory and had become a ruthless machine of war. Its leader was general Ulysses S. Grant, a seedy little man who instilled no enthusiasm in his followers and little respect in his enemies. Opposing Grant and the Army of the Potomac was Robert E. Lee, the last great knight of battle. He was a god to his men and scourge to his antagonists. The stage was set. Somehow everyone knew that from now on there would be little glory in victory; little pity in defeat. With unmatched brilliance, Bruce Catton takes the reader through the battles of the Wilderness, the Bloody Angle, Cold Harbor, the Crater, and on through the horrible months to a moment at Appomattox. He makes Grant, Meade, Sheridan, and others come alive in all their failings and triumphs and humanness. For the writing of "A Stillness at Appomattox," Mr. Catton won the National Book Award for distinguished non-fiction.

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Summary Note

This is the story of the last desperate, heartbreaking, cruel year of the Civil War. In the winter of 1864, the Army of the Potomac stood at the crossroads. The old army, fired with the spirit of men who had joined out of love of country and who had long since become disillusioned, was gone. The new army, made up of mercenaries, bounty-jumpers, and a hard core of seasoned and embittered veterans, had lost sight of its original goal of radiant victory and had become a ruthless machine of war. Its leader was general Ulysses S. Grant, a seedy little man who instilled no enthusiasm in his followers and little respect in his enemies. Opposing Grant and the Army of the Potomac was Robert E. Lee, the last great knight of battle. He was a god to his men and scourge to his antagonists. The stage was set. Somehow everyone knew that from now on there would be little glory in victory; little pity in defeat. With unmatched brilliance, Bruce Catton takes the reader through the battles of the Wilderness, the Bloody Angle, Cold Harbor, the Crater, and on through the horrible months to a moment at Appomattox. He makes Grant, Meade, Sheridan, and others come alive in all their failings and triumphs and humanness.  For the writing of "A Stillness at Appomattox," Mr. Catton won the National Book Award for distinguished non-fiction.

General Note

Reprint. Originally published: Garden City, N.Y. : Doubleday, 1962. (The Army of the Potomac ; v. 3).
Reprint. Originally published: Garden City, N.Y. : Doubleday, 1962. (The Army of the Potomac ; volume 3).

Content Note

Glory is out of date -- A boy named Martin -- Turkey at a shooting match -- From a mountain top -- Roads leading south -- Where the dogwood blossomed -- Shadow in the night -- All their yesterdays -- Surpassing all former experiences -- One more river to cross -- The cripples who could not run -- Judgment trump of the almighty -- Secondhand clothes -- Lie down, you damn fools -- White iron on the anvil -- Changing the guard -- I know star-rise -- Like the noise of great thunders -- Away, you rolling river -- Special train for Monocacy Junction -- To peel this land -- On the upgrade -- No more doubt -- Endless road ahead -- Except by the sword -- Great light in the sky -- The soldiers saw daylight -- The enormous silence.