Inferno at Petersburg (review)

Book Reviews335 considerable stature of its author as a student of Lincoln, attained through earher studies of Lincoln's 1860 campaign and his patronage policies as President. This volume is not original in its realism, for most of its judgments have been widely accepted for a generation. Its uniqueness rests rather in its methodology. In his effort to discover the real Lincoln, the author has focused all significant evidence on each point of dispute in the Lincoln story. This permits an impressive review of the Lincoln sources. The author traces many of the Lincoln legends from their beginnings after Lincoln's death when enthusiasts were willing to believe anything that suggested Lincoln's superior human qualities. Whereas his own conclusions differ imperceptibly from those of other scholars, his device of presenting the countering evidence reminds the reader of the vast amount of legend and conjecture with which the serious student of Lincoln must contend. This biography reveals throughout the two decades of preparation and effort that have gone into its creation. It cuts a broad swath through an exciting and significant era of the nation's history, often encompassing men and events only remotely connected with Lincoln's career. Its chronological organization has forced the author to resort to considerable repetition to maintain the strands of his many themes. Some repetition was undoubtedly unavoidable , but much of it appears excessive. The book is without documentation , but the author, in addition to his general essay on Lincoln authorities, has included a bibliographical essay for each chapter. These suggest in detail the precise sources involved in the construction of the book. The narrative generally does justice to the many dramatic episodes in Lincoln's life. If the style is somewhat uneven, it is never confused. Finally, die volume achieves the ambitions of its author, for it reveals, within the limitations of historical evidence, the "real Abraham Lincoln." Norman A. Graebner University of Illinois Inferno at Petersburg. By Henry Pleasants, Jr., and George H. Straley. (Philadelphia: Chilton Co., 1961. Pp. x, 181. $3.95.) Whenever die forward progress of an army is temporarily halted, tiiere is an effort to thrust at die flank of its opponent to retain die initiative and continue the forward drive. When this too is frustrated by the need for men and the time factor, the only dimensions left are over and under. During the Civil War, aeronautics was practically nil and had been grossly neglected since 1862. The only avenue left to the Union troops in front of Petersburg was straight through the Confederate line. If a portion of that line could be momentarily paralyzed the line could be breached and Petersburg would fall. Hence the idea to tunnel under and destroy the closest Confederate position by means of raining evolved. In their book, Inferno at Petersburg, Henry Pleasants, Jr., and George H. Straley endeavor to present the story of the Crater. 336civil wa ß histoby Although the book is well written and is very readable, it should be noted that it is more a biography of Colonel Henry Pleasants, with emphasis on his very important part in the planning and construction of the mine, than a study of the "inferno at Petersburg." Readability is not enough. It suffers from a malady which is prevalent in Civil War books now being published: a lack of research in depth. The authors did not go deep enough into the facts of the story surrounding the Crater. Their surface mining is adequate for some; however, it does not present the true and complete picture. A great deal more could have been told from both sides. From a letter dated July 12, 1864, we know tiie Confederates were countermining. They had extended two mines from Pegram's Battery, which passed on either side of the Union mine. When the mine exploded, it destroyed Pegram No. 1 but did not destroy Pegram No. 2. No mention is made of Sergeant A. H. Smyth, who was in charge of a Confederate detail down in Pegram No. 2 when the mine exploded. The sergeant and his men lived to report the effects of the blast. The authors do not deal with the aftermath of the Crater...