Blue & Gray Magazine Presents: "A Wilderness of Woe" - The Battle of the Wilderness: History and Tour Guide

Blue & Gray Magazine was founded by David and Robin Roth in 1983. Neither had any formal training in publishing, but they shared an abiding love for the Civil War. Their vision for a publication was to approach the war from a serious, unbiased perspective, with primary emphasis on battles and campaigns. They sought to utilize the talents of the country's finest authors and historians, and just as important, they wanted to satisfy a battlefield tramper's passion, complete with sites-to-see touring information and maps, as well as color photographs of sites as they are today, many showcasing then-and-now perspectives. While Blue & Gray, since 2017, no longer produces a bi-monthly magazine, and co-founder Robin Roth passed away in 1998, Editor/Publisher Dave Roth is dedicated to publishing important out-of-print material through Amazon. In addition to bringing back past historical narratives in book form, Blue & Gray will also present new material on all things 'War Between the States," and even an occasional Indian Wars topic. This first book is on the Battle of the Wilderness and was originally published as a download in 2017. It is the first publication in what is being referred to as Blue & Gray Magazine Phase 2, and includes the history of the 1864 Wilderness Campaign and Battle, written by historians Chris Mackowski and Kris White. And of course it includes Blue & Gray's signature feature, the "General's Tour," with sights-to-see, tour maps, and modern color photographs. The Wilderness battle in 1864 marked the first appearance of General Ulysses S. Grant in the Eastern Theater of the war. Grant had just been elevated by President Lincoln to command all United States armies with four stars on his shoulders and an admonition to bring this terrible war to an end. Grant knew well that as spring approached, General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia was the principal Confederate force to reckon with. Therefore, Grant placed the very capable General William T. Sherman in command of United States forces in the Western Theater, and made his headquarters in the East with the Army of the Potomac. Grant retained General George G. Meade in command of that army, which had fought Lee at Gettysburg in July 1863. The Battle of the Wilderness, fought May 5-6, 1864, a few miles west of Fredericksburg, Virginia, proved to be a brutal two-day affair as the armies clashed in a tangled undergrowth that gave the battle its name. Combined casualties were more than 30,000. This book on the Battle of the Wilderness includes two interesting appendices that focus on the principal commanders. "Mr. Grant Goes to Washington" describes his visit to Washington in March 1864 to meet President Lincoln and accept his promotion. It includes the story of Grant's close call at Mathew Brady's photographic studio that could have altered the course of the war before the general had a chance to face Lee. "Gentle Annie Goes Home" details the problems and heartbreak that weighed upon Robert E. Lee as he prepared for a showdown with Grant.