The Crater: Burnside's Assault on the Confederate Trenches July 30, 1864

The infamous battle of The Crater, July 30, 1864, was one of the biggest "what ifs" of the Civil War; had the assault succeeded, and a breakthrough to Petersburg effected, the war would likely have ended much sooner than it did. But apathy on the part of Grant and Meade, pettiness and insubordination on the part of Burnside, questionable leadership on the field, and the unforseen obstacle that The Crater itself ended up being, all played a part turning the potention stalemate-ending breakthrough into a humiliating defeat for the Union. The author covers all of these aspects in a lucid manner, making this an excellent book for those who want a concise overview of this significant event in the Seige of Petersburg. The only real fault is that the book was not better proofed; as a result, there are a few awkward sentences and grammatical errors.