New Civil War Book Takes In-Depth Look at Sherman’s 1865 Carolinas Campaign and the Battle of Averasboro

"No Such Army" Cover Photo

EL DORADO HILLS, CA: January 16, 2017 – General William T. Sherman’s 1865 Carolinas Campaign receives scant attention from most Civil War historians, largely because it was overshadowed by the Army of Northern Virginia’s final battles against the Army of the Potomac. Career military officers Mark A. Smith and Wade Sokolosky rectify this oversight with their newest title, just released by publisher Savas Beatie, “No Such Army Since the Days of Julius Caesar”: Sherman’s Carolinas Campaign from Fayetteville to Averasboro, March 1865,  a careful and impartial examination of Sherman’s army and its many accomplishments.

Following the authors’ previous work, To Prepare for Sherman’s Coming: The Battle of Wise’s Forks, March 1865, which comes to a close just prior to the Union occupation of Fayetteville, “No Such Army” continues with the next stage of the complex developments leading up to the seminal Battle of Bentonville. The authors dedicate their professional training and research and writing abilities to the critical days of March 11-16, 1865, beginning with the capture of Fayetteville and the demolition of the arsenal there, before chronicling the two-day Battle of Averasboro in more detail than any other study. At Averasboro, Lt. Gen. William J. Hardee’s Confederates conducted a well-planned and brilliantly executed defense-in-depth that held Sherman’s juggernaut in check for two days. With his objective accomplished, Hardee disengaged and marched to concentrate his corps with Gen. Joseph E. Johnston for what would become Bentonville.

This completely revised and updated edition of “No Such Army Since the Days of Julius Caesar” is based upon extensive archival and firsthand research. It includes new original maps, orders of battle, abundant illustrations, and a detailed driving and walking tour for dedicated battlefield enthusiasts. Readers with an interest in the Carolinas, Generals Sherman and Johnston, or the Civil War in general will enjoy this book.

“It is my hope that our book provides insight into a critical phase of one of the most audacious campaigns of the war,” explains Smith. “Marching 425 miles in enemy territory, faced with extremely difficult terrain, inclement weather conditions, and no viable supply line or communication was a bold and ambitious undertaking! There truly was ‘No Such Army Since the Days of Julius Caesar’!”

“‘No Such Army’ is the story of Confederate desperation in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds—Sherman’s army,” adds Sokolosky. “It is our hope that it shines a light on an almost forgotten period of the war that occurred in the Ole North State.”

About the Authors: Maj. (Ret.) Mark A. Smith holds a master’s in military studies. He is a U.S. Army veteran with 21 years of service, during which he served as a scout platoon leader, held three company commands, and was an Army ROTC instructor at Virginia Tech. Col. (Ret.) Wade Sokolosky is a graduate of East Carolina University and a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Army. Wade is the co-author (with Mark) of “To Prepare for Sherman’s Coming”: The Battle of Wise’s Forks, March 1865, and the author of Final Roll Call: Confederate Losses during the Carolinas Campaign. He was recently selected to receive the annual T. Harry Gatton Award from the Raleigh Civil War Round Table for his literary success, including “To Prepare for Sherman's Coming,” and his “constant efforts in preservation projects and…educating many people on the Civil War” (David Waller, Raleigh CWRT Program Chairman).

About Savas Beatie LLC: Savas Beatie LLC is a leading military and general history publishing company. Read more about “No Such Army,” including an excerpt from the book: http://tinyurl.com/huzkwa8.

Contact: Michele Sams, Savas Beatie LLC
Email: michele@savasbeatie.com
Phone: 916-941-6896, Fax: 916-941-6895