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No Quarter: The Battle of the Crater 1864

Ezekiel Cox

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By Bruce Catton

The Battle of the Crater was one of the most brutal and tragic battles of the American Civil War. Fought on July 30, 1864, near Petersburg, Virginia, the battle resulted in the deaths of thousands of Union soldiers and the ultimate failure of General Ulysses S. Grant's campaign to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond.

The battle began with a plan by Union engineers to dig a tunnel under the Confederate lines and detonate a massive explosive charge beneath their fortifications. The explosion created a crater 170 feet long, 80 feet wide, and 30 feet deep. Union troops rushed into the crater, but were met with a fierce Confederate counterattack that quickly overwhelmed them.

No Quarter: The Battle of the Crater, 1864

by Richard Slotkin

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1462 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	432 pages

The fighting was brutal and hand-to-hand. Both sides suffered heavy casualties, but the Union losses were particularly devastating. In the end, the Confederates were able to recapture the crater and drive the Union forces back.

The Battle of the Crater was a major turning point in the Civil War. It marked the end of Grant's Overland Campaign and the beginning of a long siege of Petersburg that would last for another nine months.

In his book No Quarter, Bruce Catton provides a gripping account of the Battle of the Crater. He draws on firsthand accounts from both Union and Confederate soldiers to create a vivid and detailed portrait of one of the most important battles of the war.

Catton's book is a must-read for anyone interested in the American Civil War. It is a powerful and moving account of one of the war's most tragic battles.

About the Author

Bruce Catton (1899-1978) was an American historian and journalist. He is best known for his books on the American Civil War, including The Army of the Potomac, This Hallowed Ground, and Grant Takes Command.

Catton won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1954 for his book A Stillness at Appomattox. He was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963.

Reviews

"No Quarter is a classic work of Civil War history. Catton's writing is clear, concise, and engaging, and he brings the battle to life with vivid detail." - The New York Times

"Catton's account of the Battle of the Crater is one of the most gripping and moving pieces of writing I have ever read. He captures the horror and tragedy of the battle in a way that is both unforgettable and deeply human." - The Washington Post

No Quarter: The Battle of the Crater, 1864

by Richard Slotkin

4.3 out of 5