@Mare yeah his feel for the terrian was great, it realy gives you a sense as to where things actually were and the focus on the 2nd day is great because everyone makes it out to seem like a cake walk but it really wasn't. Also he sort of fights back at the notion that the morning assulats were rolled over as quickly as people say. I agree with @long2821 , him working at the park for so long really helps with his knowledge on the book. And I found it to be an easy read!

I think you'd really like Tim's writing Mare, he's great! He's one of my favorites to read. He also has books about Forts Henry/Donelson, Shiloh (his book on Shiloh is probably one of my favorites) and Corinth. Along with some other stuff too!

nice! I was actaully thinking that when I was reading the Champion Hill book, I was a bit more familiar with the names and I've read Grant Invades Tennesee so it'll be nice to have that refernce when I read the book.

This book is next in line for my books to read! I love Smith's work, I've read a handful of his books and he has such a good and easy way of writing. I actually just finished his book up about Champion Hill last week so this book on the Vicksburg assaults is perfect timing. I also believe he's writing a book that will come out this summer I believe specifically about the siege operations. I gotta see if I can get my hands on that Ed Bearss trilogy.

I live around King of Prussia, PA right by Valley Forge actually! So I go there all the time, a quick drive around the corner. I've always been into history but I've jumped from a few different time periods (being around Valley Forge and Philly, I tended to lean toward the Revolutionary War). But I just got more into Civil War history! I watched the Grant miniseries back in May (which seems so long now) and I got hooked...and my poor wallet pleads with me to stop buying books.

I agree with ya @theknightirish regarding Charles F. Smith, the more I learn about him the more interesting he becomes in relation to his relationship with Grant and Sherman. It makes me wonder if Smith was still there if maybe he kinda takes up that spot that McPherson grew into in regards to him being one of Grant's corps commanders. The idea of a Smith and Sherman sort of double punch is kinda amazing and bums me out that he died in such an odd way, I believe it was jumping from a boat and hurting his leg correct? The Emerging Civil War actual has a great blog post about Smith and Grant : https://emergingcivilwar.com/2018/02/19/placeholder-franks-c-f-smith-piece/ and with some book enabling, which I believe you already @theknightirish , there's a book about Smith called Teacher of Civil War Generals: Major General Charles Ferguson Smith, Soldier and West Point Commandant , I'm getting it in the mail soon and I'm really stoked to check it out.