David A. Powell

David A. Powell is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute (1983) with a BA in history. He has published numerous articles in various magazines, and more than fifteen historical simulations of different battles. For many years David’s focus has been on the epic battle of Chickamauga, and he is nationally recognized for his tours of that important battlefield and for publishing six books on that campaign, including The Chickamauga Campaign Trilogy completed in 2016. Dave has also written on the battle of New Market, co-authored The Tullahoma Campaign with renowned historian Eric Wittenberg, and published The Impulse of Victory: Ulysses S. Grant at Chattanooga. Both the latter two books appeared in 2020. His current project is a five-volume study of the Atlanta Campaign. The Atlanta Campaign, Volume One: Dalton to Cassville, May 1-19, 1864 was published in July 2024, with Volume 2 following in October 2025.

David, his wife Anne, and their three bloodhounds live and work in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. He is retired and writes full time.

Publications:

Books

The Atlanta Campaign, Volume II: From the Etowah River to Kennesaw Mountain, May 20 to June 27, 1864 (Savas Beatie, 2025)

The Atlanta Campaign, Volume I: From Dalton to Cassville (Savas Beatie, 2024)

Atlanta Illustrated, Vol. I (Casemate, 2024)

Atlanta Illustrated, Vol. II (Casemate, 2024)

Outwitting Forrest: The Tupelo Campaign in Mississippi (Savas Beatie, 2023) By Ed Bearss, Dave Powell, ed.

Decisions at Shiloh: The Twenty-Two Critical Decisions at Shiloh (University of Tennessee Press, 2023)

Tullahoma: The Forgotten Campaign that Changed the Course of the Civil War, June 23—July 4, 1863 (Savas Beatie, 2020) co-authored with Eric Wittenberg. Winner, Albert Castel Book Award, Kalamazoo (MI) CWRT, 2022.

Impulse of Victory: Ulysses S. Grant at Chattanooga (Southern Illinois University Press, 2020)

All Hell Can’t Stop Them: The Battles for Chattanooga – Missionary Ridge and Ringgold, November 24-27, 1863 (Emerging Civil War, Savas Beatie, 2019)

Decisions at Chickamauga: The Twenty-Four Critical Decisions that Defined the Battle (University of Tennessee Press, 2018)

Battle Above the Clouds: Lifting the Siege of Chattanooga and the Battle of Lookout Mountain, October 16-November 24, 1863 (Emerging Civil War, Savas Beatie, 2017)

Union Command Failure in the Shenandoah Valley: Major General Franz Sigel and the War in the Valley of Virginia, May 1864 (Savas-Beatie, 2019)

The Chickamauga Campaign. Barren Victory: The Retreat into Chattanooga, The Confederate Pursuit, and the Aftermath of the Battle, September 21 to October 20, 1863 (Savas Beatie, 2016)

The Chickamauga Campaign. Glory or the Grave: The Breakthrough, the Union Collapse, and the Defense of Horseshoe Ridge, September 20, 1863 (Savas Beatie, 2015) Winner, Richard B. Harwell Award, Atlanta CWRT, 2016

The Chickamauga Campaign. A Mad Irregular Battle: From the Crossing of the Tennessee River Through the Second Day, August 22-September 19, 1863 (Savas Beatie, 2014)

Failure in the Saddle: Nathan Bedford Forrest, Joseph Wheeler, and the Confederate Cavalry in the Chickamauga Campaign (Savas Beatie, 2010) Winner, Richard B. Harwell Award, Atlanta CWRT, 2011  

The Maps of Chickamauga. An Atlas of the Chickamauga Campaign, Including the Tullahoma Operations, June 22- September 23, 1863 (Savas Beatie, 2009)

Essays:

David A. Powell, “Nathan Bedford Forrest at Chickamauga,” In Evan C. Jones and Wiley Sword, eds., Gateway to the Confederacy. Louisiana State University Press, 2014.

David A. Powell, “The Army of the Cumberland and the Spirit of Innovation in 1863,” In Evan C. Jones and Wiley Sword, eds., Gateway to the Confederacy. Louisiana State University Press, 2014.

David A. Powell, “Negley at Horseshoe Ridge,” In Steven E. Woodworth, Ed. The Chickamauga Campaign. Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Press, 2010.

Magazine Articles:

David A. Powell, “Failure in the Saddle: Forrest at Chickamauga.” North & South Magazine, Vol. 13, No. 2 (July, 2011). pp. 34-45.

David A. Powell, “Citizen Soldier: John Beatty and His Brigade at Chickamauga.” North & South Magazine, Vol. 10, No. 1 (May, 2007). pp. 58-67.

David A. Powell, “the Battles for Horseshoe Ridge.” North & South Magazine, Vol. 8, No, 2 (March, 2005). pp. 48-58.

David A. Powell, “Advance to Disaster: Sickles, Longstreet, and July 2nd, 1863.” Gettysburg Magazine, Issue No. 28 (January, 2003). pp. 40-48.

David A. Powell, “A Reconnaissance Gone Awry:  Captain Samuel R. Johnston’s Fateful Trip to Little Round Top.” Gettysburg Magazine, Issue No. 23. (June, 2000) pp. 88-99.

David A. Powell, “Stuart’s Ride: Lee, Stuart, and the Confederate Cavalry in the Gettysburg Campaign.” Gettysburg Magazine, Issue No. 20. (January, 1999) pp. 27-43.