Air Date: 020306
Subject: Mark L. Bradley: The War After Appomattox
Book: This Astounding Close: The Road to Bennett Place
Guests: Mark L. Bradley
Summary: Mark Bradley, author of This Astounding Close: The Road to Bennett Place, discusses the North Carolina campaign of 1865.
Brett’s Summary: Gerry discusses Joe Johnston’s surrender to William T. Sherman at Bennett Place in Durham, North Carolina on April 26, 1865 with Mark Bradley, author of not only This Astounding Close, but also of an excellent tactical study of The Battle of Bentonville. They cover the Battle of Bentonville and Sherman’s march through the Carolinas, noting the directed severity of Sherman’s men, and also mentioning South Carolina received the brunt of the destruction. I especially enjoyed the anecdote relating the heated discussion between Wade Hampton and Judson Kilpatrick, the opposing cavalry commanders. The stories of Kilpatrick’s exploits with the ladies were especially interesting. Finally, the surrender itself is discussed. In what I believe to be one of the all-time great ironies of the entire war, Sherman decided to grant incredibly lenient surrender terms to Johnston’s army and the South as a whole, even agreeing to allow the continuation of slavery. Needless to say, the authorities in Washington quickly put a stop to this and a surrender similar to Lee’s was agreed upon. I thought this was one of the better episodes I’ve listened to and I highly recommend it.
Check out Beyond the Crater: The Petersburg Campaign Online for the latest on the Siege of Petersburg!
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