Out of the Storm: The End of the Civil War

Most people assume the war and Grant's strategy to end it, concluded on April 9, 1865 with Lee's surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House. Not so. Appomattox closed Eastern Theater operations only. On the first day of April, Richmond claimed sovereignty over an area that stretched from Texas to Virginia. After Appomattox there remained then, significant, intact, active forces in North Carolina, Alabama and Trans-Mississippi, all of which still needed to be subdued. Out of the Storm is the story of the final months of the Civil War when Grant's grand strategy to end the conflict is executed with impunity and in detail. The author details Appomattox, the completion of Sherman's amazing march culminating with the surrender of Joe Johnston in North Carolina, and Wilson's relentless sweep through central Alabama and Georgia including his ultimate capture of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. After Appomattox and despite the North's intense focus on Lincoln's assassination, from a military perspective the broader Southern Confederacy came apart like a house of cards. As a result of Grant's overall strategy, Union troops, it seemed, were on the move everywhere. Mopping up operations were conducted with efficiency and dispatch. Mobile and south Alabama fall, Charleston surrenders, Union prisoners are freed, Galveston is occupied, Texas is subdued, Lincoln is buried and the South is subsequently partitioned into 5 conquered Military Districts. With the end of active combat operations the unremitting blood lust finally abates. During the war over 600,000 soldiers, 5% of the US prewar population, die. The nation emerges with whole generations of men missing, with the majority of the South's industrial sector, agriculture, railroads and ports decimated. But through it all one uniquely American trait shows through. At the end, there were over a million Union soldiers under arms and by the end of summer only something like 50,000 remained. Union forces were by far the largest, best trained, equipped and most practiced professional Armed Forces in the world. Demobilization was so rapid and so swift, men were returned to peace so quickly, Europe was thunderstruck. The war was over and the end came more rapidly than anyone could have imagined. It also cost more, in terms of personal sacrifice, than we today will likely ever realize.

The end of any war or battle usually concludes with a whimper and is always messy and never pretty. So does the great American Civil War. As the sound of the guns died away the cleanup began. Mr. Trudeau's concise history of the conclusion of the American Civil War is an excellent synoptical overview of those chaotic times. It is by far the best history of how the Civil War actually ended and what happened after the fighting stopped. Mr. Trudeau examines what happened after the Generals went home and answers many nagging questions like: What did the Confederate Government do? Where did Jefferson Davis go? What happened to all the soldiers once the guns fell silent? Who was the last soldier killed and what happened to all the major participants? So many questions, and Mr. Trudeau does a good job of answering them all. The history also examines many of the controversies that seemed to plague the War's ending. The Warren-Sheridan flap was noteworthy. All in all an excellent history of a topic not generally covered. Many think the Civil War concluded with General Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox, not so. Battles continued and the sound of the guns did not conclude until the battle of Palmito Ranch, May 13, 1865. When the last volley was fired, LTC David Branson of the 62nd U.S.C.T. simply said, "That winds up the war." And so the fighting stopped, but then the hardest part began: reuniting the Union and healing the wounds of a battle scared nation. It would not be easy but nothing difficult ever is. The soldiers had done their glorious duty now the politicians had to do their difficult work. The fighting was over now America must move on: And move on the unified nation did. Highly recommended for anyone interested in America's Civil War. A good solid windup to the end of that most difficult time. The best overview book on this subject - 5+ stars.

The Civil War did not end at Appomattox or Bentonville but dragged on for several months. This is the only book that covers those months, the men, battles and the surrender. The author writes well and keeps us interested even though we know that this is all in vain. The battle of Palmito Ranch could be the saddest battle history you will ever read. "When Johnny comes marching home" is an excellent chapter on what happened to the men that fought the war, something we all to often do not have. Including this keep s the war from being an isolated instance but shows it to be part of their lives. I have all of the author's books but chose this and "Like Men of War" to be signed.

In School, books, and TV it's ingrained that the Civil War began with the First shot at Fort Sumter, and ended in April of 65 with the surrender of Lee, and the Death of Lincoln. However, at the ending of April and beginning of May the Confederates may have been on the run, but the government was still in function with Davis on the move but still the President - Johnston was still somewhat of a threat, and Kirby Smith still had a hold in Texas. This book wonderfully explains those last months to June, not April of 1865. I recommend this book highly, and another writer states that "The Long Surrender" surpassed this book. Well, in some sense both of these books cover the same time period, but I think both book are excellent. In "Out Of The Storm," the focus is on the remaining holdouts beginning April 1st 1865. In "The Long Surrender" is a fascinating tale of the collapse of the confederate government, and the escape of Davis and his cabinet, even when it seemed all was lost, Davis still had hope of making it to Texas - Both books are different enough and interesting enough that I would recommend both books.

Mr Trudeau's final Civil War book was spelendidly told in neat and organized sections. The events leading up to and after Lee' surrender are detailed and written in a compelling style. The known and unknown characters that peopled the era are unique, interesting and in some cases mysterious. The final battles are well researched and the maps are superbly drawn allowing the reader to follow the course of action. I highly recommend his other fine works, "Bloody Roads South" and "The Citadel" to round out the most critical and bloody years of the conflict.