Special Publications

THE BATTLE OF SECOND MANASSAS: SELF-GUIDED TOUR

THE BATTLE OF SECOND MANASSAS: SELF-GUIDED TOUR

Joseph W. A. Whitehorne

Special Publications
CMH Pub 70-26, Paper
1991; 70 pages, tables, maps, illustrations, suggested readings

GPO S/N: 008-029-00221-3

The Battle of Second Manassas, prepared as a self-guided tour, is intended to help today's soldiers study the American battlefields of the past not only to better understand the complexities and inevitable pressures of warfare but also to sharpen their knowledge of the art of war and their craft. The contest around Groveton, Virginia, on 29-30 August 1862 was characterized by complex maneuvers and fighting over the same areas at several different times. New units funneled into the battle throughout its course, while others were rushed from one point to another as the action shifted. This lack of order is a reflection of the high level of confusion experienced at the time. The courage of the men on both sides was exemplary, but technology has overtaken the tactics they used. Nevertheless, the lessons in leadership, command, the use of intelligence, and the performance of men under stress shown by this battle have a lasting value.

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