Three years in the Sixth Corps

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21976

Title

Three years in the Sixth Corps

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A firsthand account by Surgeon George T. Stevens of the Sixth Corps' grueling three-year campaign in the Army of the Potomac. Blending graphic battle narratives with poignant hospital scenes, this memoir offers an unvarnished, heroic, and deeply human perspective on the Civil War's final days.

Summary up to 500 words

In *Three Years in the Sixth Corps*, Surgeon George T. Stevens provides a soldier's-eye account of the Sixth Corps' journey from its 1861 organization to the war's conclusion. The narrative chronicles the regiment's march to Washington, the Peninsula Campaign, and the harrowing Seven Days' Battles, where chaos, disease, and retreats tested the resolve of the men. Stevens vividly depicts the grim realities of field hospitals and the ravages of malaria that claimed many lives before the fighting even began. A major focus of the book is the Corps' pivotal role in the Wilderness and Spottsylvania campaigns. Stevens praises the bravery of officers like Major-General John Sedgwick and General Wright, while mourning the heavy casualties suffered by regiments such as the Seventy-seventh New York. The narrative details the tragic death of Sedgwick at Spottsylvania and the subsequent leadership of General Wright, who took command after Sedgwick's fall. The story culminates in the daring charge of April 2, 1865, at Petersburg. Stevens describes how the Sixth Corps, forming a mighty wedge, broke Lee's formidable lines, capturing thousands of prisoners and numerous guns. This victory paved the way for the pursuit of Lee's army to Appomattox and the eventual surrender that ended the rebellion. The book concludes with the Corps' return to Washington, a review under the scorching sun, and the subsequent disbanding of the unit. Throughout, Stevens offers a faithful, unembellished picture of army life, honoring the noble dead and the enduring spirit of the Sixth Corps.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Biography
• History