Reviews
Fast-paced, comprehensive, and vividly written, The Last Battle of Winchester is a must-read for anyone interested in the 1864 Valley Campaign., Few communities in the Civil War found themselves fought over as much as Winchester, Virginia, which changed hands dozens of times. The last time was thanks to the dramatic battle of Winchester in September 1864, when Philip Sheridan and Jubal Early began their immortal Valley campaign. No battle fought in the Shenandoah has received the kind of exhaustive treatment that Scott Patchan brings to The Last Battle of Winchester, in what must instantly become the definitive work on the subject. Combining exhaustive research and skillful analysis, Patchan presents in vivid prose the story of the beginning of the end of Confederate control of that fabled Valley., This is a masterful recounting of the first major battle between Jubal Early and Phil Sheridan in the 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign, and Scott Patchan brings the combat of the 19th of September vividly to life through years of research and the use of previously untapped materials., The Last Battle of Winchester is the most detailed analysis yet of this third and final crucial battle in the Shenandoah Valley, and should stand as the definitive work on the subject. Scott Patchan, as he always does, brings his unique insight, good storytelling skills, deep research, and keen appreciation for the terrain together in one outstanding work of history., Scott Patchan's The Last Battle of Winchester is a masterpiece in Civil War campaign studies. Indeed, it is a thrilling read. Nothing that has come before it approaches this level of artistry. Unequaled research in primary sources provides the foundation for the extensive coverage of every operation leading up to and including the bloodiest battle ever fought in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. If you read one Civil War book this year, this blockbuster must be it.
