Jim Wise’s combination tour book and history of General William T. Sherman’s invasion of North Carolina in 1865 begins in Goldsboro, North Carolina, which was Sherman’s goal. Sherman did not want to punish North Carolina as much as he had South Carolina and Georgia since there was a higher percentage of Union sympathizers in that state than in other Confederate states. Also, North Carolina was one of the last states to secede from the Union.

Wise tells the history of Sherman’s march and of the Confederate attempts, under the command of General Joseph E. Johnston, to stop him. Wise shows how one can drive to see the various sites related to this campaign and provides many black-and-white photographs and illustrations. If one wanted to take a tour of where the last major campaign in the Eastern theatre of the Civil War occurred, this book would be of help, for Wise provides stories about items in various locations that many may otherwise miss.

With a bibliography, endnotes, and a proposed itinerary for touring Civil War North Carolina, this book is recommended to Civil War enthusiasts looking for history of the last days of the Civil War in North Carolina and a guidebook to see these places.

Jim Wise is the author of Durham: A Bull City Story (2002) and of Durham County (2000).