Description: The events at Appomattox Court House in Virginia on April 9, 1865 have long been considered the end of the Civil War. However, there were still Confederate armies in the field. Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, commander of the Union armies operating in North Carolina, still faced a 31,000 man Confederate army commanded by Gen. Joseph E. Johnston.
Review Quotes:
Despite the popular wisdom, the Civil War did not end at Appomattox. In We Ride a Whirlwind: Sherman and Johnston at Bennett Place, historian Eric Wittenberg brings much needed attention to an even more momentous event: the surrender of Joseph E. Johnston to William T. Sherman at Bennett Place in North Carolina on April 26 1865, which did effectively end the war, and presaged the next chapter - Reconstruction. Here Wittenberg tells the tale with his customary verve and style, making this book a welcome addition to my personal bookshelf.
- David A. Powell, award-winning Civil War historian.
We Ride a Whirlwind brings insight and well-deserved attention to the often forgotten political and military drama that unfolded in North Carolina during the war's final weeks. Eric J. Wittenberg's narrative informs and entertains as he describes the difficulties faced by William T. Sherman and Joseph E. Johnston in bringing the war to a close in the Tar Heel state. It is a must read for students of the 1865 Carolinas Campaign who want to understand the complexity of issues faced by both sides.
- Wade Sokolosky, author of "To Prepare for Sherman's Coming" The Battle of Wise's Forks, March 1865
So many people mistake Lee's surrender at Appomattox as the end of the Civil War. They completely miss the later surrender at Bennett Place, a story that is rife with drama and controversy. In We Ride a Whirlwind: Sherman and Johnston at Bennett Place, the prolific Eric Wittenberg corrects the record, once and for all. Wittenberg brings the little-known story of Bennett Place to light, in a way that only he can. With deep research and solid writing, Wittenberg takes you from the side of Sherman, at ease with a cigar in his mouth, to the bivouac of Joe Johnston, careworn in his spotless uniform, and from the halls of the Federal government to the modest farmhouse of James Bennett. We Ride a Whirlwind belongs in every Civil War collection.
- Chris J. Hartley, Author, Stoneman's Raid, 1865