Mr. Rhea is a nationally acclaimed historian. He has lectured extensively on topics of military history at the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, at several National Military Parks, and at historical societies and civil war round tables across the country. He had been a member of numerous boards of directors of historical societies, magazines, and historic preservation organizations, including the Civil War Library and Museum, Philadelphia, and North and South magazine. Mr. Rhea has appeared on History Channel, A&E Channel, and Discovery Channel in programs related to American history and has written scores of articles for various scholarly and popular publications. His books, which are considered authoritative in their fields, include:
To Appomattox, HBO Mini series (2013)
Historical Advisor
Considered the foremost authority on the Overland Campaign, historian Gordon C. Rhea has written several books on the subject, including those focusing on the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor, as well as the North Anna River Campaign. He has joined the long list of historians that will be advising on the screenplay and production of the To Appomattox miniseries.
The Battle of the Wilderness, May 5-6, 1864 (LSU Press: Baton Rouge, 1994). (History Book Club Main Selection, Book of the Month Club Selection, winner of Landry Award, Civil War Regiments’ Award).
The Battles for Spotsylvania Court House and the Road to Yellow Tavern: May 7-12, 1864(LSU Press: Baton Rouge, 1997) (History Book Club Dual Main Selection, winner of Landry Award).
To the North Anna River: Grant and Lee, May 13-25, 1864 (LSU Press: Baton Rouge, 2000) (History Book Club Main Selection, winner of Landry Award, 2000, and the Fletcher Pratt Award, 2001).
Cold Harbor: Grant and Lee, May 26-June 3, 1864 (LSU Press: Baton Rouge, 2002) (History Book Club Dual Main Selection, Military History Book Club Dual Main Selection; winner of Daniel M. Laney Award, Austin, and Richard Barksdale Harwell Award, Atlanta.
On To Petersburg: Grant and Lee, June 4 – 15, 1864 (LSU Press: Baton Rouge, 2017).
Carrying the Flag (Perseus, New York, 2003)
In the Footsteps of Grant and Lee: From the Wilderness to Cold Harbor (LSU Press: Baton Rouge, 2007) (with Chris Heisey, photographer)
The Battles of Wilderness and Spotsylvania (National Park Civil War Series: Eastern National Park and Monument Association, 1995).
The Battle of Cold Harbor (National Park Civil War Series: Eastern National Park and Monument Association, 2001).
“Federal Cavalry in the Wilderness: The Education of Phil Sheridan and James Wilson,” in Gary W. Gallagher, comp., The Wilderness Campaign (UNC Press: Chapel Hill, 1997).
“The Testing of a Corps Commander: Gouverneur Kemble Warren at the Wilderness and Spotsylvania.” In Gary W. Gallagher, comp., The Spotsylvania Campaign (UNC Press: Chapel Hill, 1998).
“Lee, Grant, and ‘Prescience’ in the Overland Campaign.” In Peter S. Carmichael, comp., Audacity Personified: The Generalship of Robert E. Lee (LSU Press: Baron Rouge, 2004).
Consultant, Voices of the War: The Wilderness (Time-Life Books, Alexandria, Virginia, 1998).
Contributor, The Oxford Companion to American Military History (Oxford University Press, New York, 1999).