September 10, 2025, 7:00 p.m. EST, I'll Talk to the Central Ohio Civil War Round Table about the Wilson-Kautz Raid

On September 10, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. EST, I'll talk to the Central Ohio Civil War Round Table about the Wilson-Kautz Raid, The talk will take place at La Navona, 154 N. Hamilton Road, Gahanna, OH 43230. My emphasis will be on the 2nd Ohio Cavalry, which participated in the raid.  I enjoy emphasizing units from the state where I'm speaking.  I also think that the 2nd deserves a regimental history, and I encourage someone else to write it.  Well-researched regimental histories function as tuning forks with which to test the credibility of histories of battles and campaigns.  

Route of Wilson-Kautz Raid in Grant's Second Petersburg Offensive (Map by Hal Jespersen)

The 2nd Ohio Cavalry participated in campaigns and battles in the West (February-December 1862), Midwest (December 1862-February 1864), and East (February 1864-May 1865).  It meets the major prerequisite for a regimental history--plenty of writings by its members.  August V. Kautz, the regiment's second colonel, left official reports, diaries, and articles.  He led a division in the Wilson-Kautz Raid that did not include the 2nd, which by that time belonged to McIntosh's brigade of Wilson's division.  Other writers in the regiment included Capt. Henry W. Chester, Lt. Luman Tenney, Sgt. Roger Hannaford, Sgt. Isaac Gause, and Pvt. William J. Smith.

Brig. Gen. August V. Kautz

The 2nd skirmished at Reams Station on the way out from Federal lines on June 22, the raid's first day.  The regiment with the rest of McIntosh's brigade remained in reserve at the battle of The Grove (also known as Black's and White's or Nottoway Court House) on June 23 and the battle of Staunton River Bridge on June 25.  On the evening of June 28, the 2nd in the lead of the raiders ran into and was halted by the infantry of the Holcombe Legion and the cavalry of Maj. Gen. Wade Hampton's cavalry division at Sappony Church on the way back to the Army of the Potomac at Petersburg.  The 2nd and the rest of McIntosh's brigade followed Kautz's division on the rerouting of the retreat by way of Reams Station and was halted there on June 29 by two brigades of Brig. Gen. William Mahone's infantry division.  After Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee's division arrived, the Confederates attacked and split the raiders in two.  The 2nd broke out to the southeast and rejoined the Army of the Potomac that evening.

Reams Station, Afternoon June 29, 1864 (Map by Hal Jespersen from Lee Besieged)

To purchase a copy of Lee Besieged: Grant's Second Petersburg Offensive, June 18-July 1, 1864 (Savas Beatie, 2025), where I describe the Wilson-Kautz Raid and the rest of Grant's Second Offensive, please click this link and the link that appears, and then the link on the redirect page.

Aug. 6, 7:30 p.m. CST: Civil War Talks Presents John Horn on His New Book, "Lee Besieged" (Savas Beatie, 2025)

At 7:30 p.m. CST, Civil War Talks will present me talking about my new book, Lee Besieged: Grant's Second Petersburg Offensive, June 18-July 1, 1864 (Savas Beatie, 2025).  The meeting ID is 858 6322 3883.  The link is                     

https://us02web.zoom.us/w/85863223883?tk=qsPOo8vH5YmyqdIqDNf5RJoNVknugmSn-i-nP8XMLoY.DQgAAAAT_djSSxZOVFdXMG1PRVNkS2o1LWxtTEYxbW9BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

The book has garnered significant praise:

I’ve edited more than half a million words on the Civil War, but this book is something else.  Elegantly written, deeply researched, it abounds with judicious assessments of commanders at all levels.  More than a thousand quotes from participants on both sides take you back in time like no other book I have ever read.  Don’t miss it!

--Keith Poulter, publisher North & South magazine

The Second Petersburg Offensive of late June 1864 is among the least understood operations of the entire campaign.  Through exhaustive research, engaging prose, and thoughtful analysis, John Horn provides the most detailed account yet written of this Union effort to conquer the Cockade City.

--A. Wilson Greene, author of A Campaign of Giants: The Battle for Petersburg

John Horn has added considerably to our knowledge of the Petersburg campaign with Lee Besieged:  Grant's Second Petersburg Offensive, June 18-July 1, 1864.  It is the first book that deals with Grant's ill-fated second offensive and is yet another excellent volume by Horn.

--Sean Michael Chick, author of The Battle of Petersburg, June 15-June 18, 1864

Horn has added a much-needed volume to his extensive writings and study of the Petersburg Campaign.  Grant’s second offensive is often overlooked and hard to comprehend but through scholarly research and writing, Lee Besieged:  Grant's Second Petersburg Offensive, June 18-July 1, 1864, takes the reader through all aspects of the offensive, providing enjoyment and understanding to the Civil War enthusiast.  First-hand accounts proliferate in the narrative adding powerful insights into the struggle and fighting of June 1864.

--Jerry Netherland, Petersburg Battlefields Foundation

This is tactical battle action at its finest. Horn's explanation for the context and consequences of every decision is grounded in hundreds of primary sources and supported by 40 original maps. Lee Besieged is the first full-length book to put Grant's second effort into its proper perspective -- not only in the context of the Petersburg siege and the Civil War, but in the context of warfare's history.

Critique: Comprehensive, meticulously researched, exceptionally well written, featuring numerous B/W illustrations. two Appendices (Strength, Casualties, Effectiveness & The Orders of Battle), a twenty-six page Bibliography, and a seventeen page Index, "Lee Besieged: Grant's Second Petersburg Offensive, June 18 - July 1, 1864" by John Horn is essential reading and a welcome addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library American Civil War History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and Civil War history buffs that this hardcover edition of "Lee Besieged" from Savas Beatie is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $20.95).

--Midwest Book Review

To purchase your copy, please click on this link.

Midwest Book Review Gives "Lee Besieged" a Stellar Review

Midwest Book Review says about "Lee Besieged:"

"This is tactical battle action at its finest. Horn's explanation for the context and consequences of every decision is grounded in hundreds of primary sources and supported by 40 original maps. Lee Besieged is the first full-length book to put Grant's second effort into its proper perspective -- not only in the context of the Petersburg siege and the Civil War, but in the context of warfare's history.

"Critique: Comprehensive, meticulously researched, exceptionally well written, featuring numerous B/W illustrations. two Appendices (Strength, Casualties, Effectiveness & The Orders of Battle), a twenty-six page Bibliography, and a seventeen page Index, "Lee Besieged: Grant's Second Petersburg Offensive, June 18 - July 1, 1864" by John Horn is essential reading and a welcome addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library American Civil War History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and Civil War history buffs that this hardcover edition of "Lee Besieged" from Savas Beatie is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $20.95)."

To purchase a copy of "Lee Besieged," just click on the links.

 

Yet Another Very Positive Review of "Lee Besieged," This One from the United Kingdom

Nigel Lambert, a distinguished author on the Petersburg Campaign from the United Kingdom who frequently publishes in Emerging Civil War, recently posted a very positive review of "Lee Besieged" on Amazon UK:

"5.0 out of 5 stars A Captivating Read
"Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 July 2025
"Having read John Horn’s previous excellent Petersburg books, I looked forward to reading his latest offering. And unsurprisingly, it did not disappoint. Horn skilfully carries the reader along the intricate actions of Grant’s 2nd Petersburg Offensive. The detailed bibliography highlights the thoroughness of the research and includes information from many rare sources. The maps are clear and help readers visualize the geography and troop movements. Until quite recently, historians have largely overlooked The Petersburg Campaign. This book contributes to John Horn’s excellent Petersburg portfolio and helps bring to life this fascinating campaign. This is a “must buy” for anyone interested in the final months of the war in the Eastern Theatre, and valuable to anyone interested in Grant, Lee and the Civil War in Virginia."

To purchase a copy of "Lee Besieged," just click on the link.

My Current Speaking Schedule, Mainly About My Most Recent Book, "Lee Besieged."

 

For at least the next year, my speaking engagements will mainly be about my most recent book, Lee Besieged: Grant's Second Petersburg Offensive, June 18-July 1, 1864 (Savas Beatie, 2025). To purchase a copy, please click the link above and then click the email address that appears. My current schedule is as follows:

Aug. 6, 2025: CivilWarTalk. "Lee Besieged." 8:30 p.m. EST. Virtual.*

Sept. 10, 2025: Central Ohio CWRT. "Lee Besieged." La Navona, 154 N. Hamilton Rd., Gahanna, OH. 7:00 p.m. EST. In person.

Oct. 22, 2025: The Dupuy Institute's Fourth Historical Analysis Annual Conference. "Livermore, Dupuy, and the Campaign of 1864." Pike & Gallows Conferance Center, 1934 Old Gallows Road, Tyson's Corners, VA, third conference room. 9:00 a.m. EST. In person.

Dec. 10, 2025. Civil War Warriors CWRT (Los Angeles). "Lee Besieged." 7:00 p.m. PST. Virtual.*

Dec. 28, 2025: Dan Sickles CWRT (NYC). "Lee Besieged." 7:00 p.m. EST. Virtual.*

Jan. 9, 2026: Kenosha Civil War Museum. 5400 1st Avenue, Kenosha, WI. 12:00 p.m. CST. In person.*

Jan. 16, 2026. CWRT Congress. "Lee Besieged." 7:00 p.m. Virtual.*

March 12, 2026: Old Baldy CWRT (Philadelphia). Camden County's William G. Rohrer Center, 1889 Marlton Pike East, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003. "Lee Besieged." 7:15 p.m. EST. In Person.*

June 13, 2026. Central Louisiana CWRT. "Lee Besieged." 6:00 p.m. CST. Virtual.*

 Aug. 27, 2026. South Suburban CWRT. Aurelio's Pizza, 19836 Wolf Road, Mokena, IL. "Lee Besieged." 7:00 p.m. CST. In Person.*

*Thanks for your help with this, Sarah Closson and SavasBeatie!

I Will Still Sell Brand New, Autographed Copies of "The Siege of Petersburg: The Battles for the Weldon Railroad, August 1864" for $20.00

On June 28 Amazon.com had my book, The Siege of Petersburg: The Battles for the Weldon Railroad, August 1864 (Savas Beatie, 2015), on sale for $49.98 new, $42.91 used.  The price when published in 2015 was $32.95.

Today Amazon.com has the book on sale for $53.67 new, $53.66 used.

I will still sell autographed copies for $20.00, and will ship media mail for free in the United States.  If you want a copy of this esteemed book, just send a check or money order to John Horn at 16710 Oak Park Avenue, Tinley Park, IL 60477. Or send money and your address to me on paypal.com at johnedwardhorn@gmail.com. 

This is still the only book focused entirely on the August 1864 fighting around Petersburg, Grant and Lee at the War's crisis. It is the revised edition of my book The Destruction of the Weldon Railroad: Deep Bottom, Globe Tavern, and Reams Station, August 14-25, 1864 (H. E. Howard, 1991). Just by attacking on August 14, Grant reminded Lee that he did not face Little Mac, Pope, Burnside, or Hooker.

Praise for The Siege of Petersburg: The Battles for the Weldon Railroad, August 1864

Grant's Fourth Offensive at Petersburg...is excellently covered in John Horn's The Siege of Petersburg: The Battles for the Weldon Railroad, August 1864.  This revised, expanded edition of his original 1991 book ranks as the foremost study of the Fourth Offensive.  It belongs in every Civil War Library.

--Richard J. Sommers, author of Richmond Redeemed: The Siege at Petersburg


A superior piece of Civil War Scholarship.

--Edwin C. Bearss, former Chief Historian of the National Park Service and award-winning author of The Petersburg Campaign: Volume I, The Eastern Front Battles and Volume II, The Western Front Battles


It's great to have John Horn's fine study of August 1864 combat actions (Richmond-Petersburg style) back in print....Utilizing manuscript and published sources, Horn untangles a complicated tale of plans gone awry and soldiers unexpectedly thrust into harm's way.  This new edition upgrades the maps and adds some fresh material.  Good battle detail, solid analysis, and strong characterizations make this a welcome addition to the Petersburg book shelf.

--Noah Andre Trudeau, author of The Last Citadel: Petersburg, June 1864-April 1865

In the course of writing my Civil War novels, there's always a book that proves especially resonant for a given subject.  This time, John Horn's The Siege of Petersburg: The Battles for the Weldon Railroad, August 1864, drew me back again and again.  It was a true labor of love for Mr. Horn to write about three battles in which the rest of us, wrongly, have shown but little interest:  Second Deep Bottom, Globe Tavern and (Second) Reams Station.  His recently revised and expanded edition is, as my old drill sergeant used to say, "Mighty fine, mighty fine."

--Ralph Peters, Fox News commentator and award-winning author of Cain at Gettysburg, Hell or Richmond, and Valley of the Shadow in the Author's Note to his forthcoming novel, The Damned of Petersburg

I highly recommend this book to the student of the Petersburg Campaign....John Horn's new edition of The Siege of Petersburg excels at filling in the gap of what what many other histories of the last two years of the war have failed to do.

--Matthew Bartlett, Gettysburg Chronicle


In cases where I own both editions of a book, I like to give prospective readers information on the differences to help them decide if the second edition is worth it.  In this particular case, it absolutely is....interested readers will what is essentially a new book to buy on Grant's Fourth Offensive.  Horn's volume stands alongside Sommers on the Fifth, Newsome on the Sixth, and Greene on the Ninth.

--Brett Schulte, The Siege of Petersburg Online


This important scholarship is very readable and balanced, has insightful analysis and permits the serious student and the novice to realize what happened and why ....This reviewer strongly recommends this book and suggests that it become part of every enthusiast's library.

--David Marshall, amazon.com


SavasBeatie should be saluted for encouraging the author to revisit and update his book.  This is an excellent military study that anyone with an interest in the campaign or the war in Virginia will want.

--John Foskett, Civil War News


Everyone interested in the Civil War should read Horn's chapter 13 which is a model of how to examine the various levels of warfare and the ultimate meaning of this campaign.

--Edgar Raines, Goodreads

I hope the book is selling well: it is an excellent campaign history, full of clear explanation, dramatic stories, and incisive analysis.  I especially appreciated the summary chapter, where Horn gave evaluations of all the key players.

--Dr. John G. Selby, author of Virginians at War 

Sample Maps

Hampton Newsome drew the 22 maps for The Siege of Petersburg: The Battles for the Weldon Railroad, August 1864.  Besides co-editing Civil War Talks with Dr. John Selby and me, Hampton is the author of Richmond Must Fall on Grant's Sixth Offensive at Petersburg, October 27, 1864,

Order Your Copy Now!

Another Good Early Review for Lee Besieged on the Anniversary of One of the Fights the Book Describes.

Booknotes gave Lee Besieged a good early review today.  It's June 23, the anniversary of the bite Mahone took out of the Vermont Brigade on this date in 1864.  For a glance at the review, please click the link above and when it appears on the redirect notice as well.