The Battle of Gettysburg: A Guided Tour

Book Description

24 b/w photos 12 maps 5 x 8 A fully revised and updated classic Perfect for both tourists and armchair visitors Originally published in 1960, this guidebook combines the drama of the battle with complete information about each tour stop. Clear directions and knowledgeable commentary on the town of Gettysburg work in conjunction with the day-by-day narrative of the skirmishes and pitched fights that make up the Battle of Gettysburg. By including the order of battle, then and now photographs, concise battle maps, and a suggested reading list, this small but comprehensive introduction to Gettysburg will be invaluable to any Civil War buff, amateur and professional alike. General Edward J. Stackpole, the founder of Stackpole Books, wrote several classic texts on the Civil War. Colonel Wilbur S. Nye, graduate of West Point and noted cartographer, has produced numerous maps for Stackpole in years past. Bradley Gottfried is Dean of Academic Affairs at Montgomery County Community College and has had a life-long interest in the Civil War.

Customer Reviews:

Concise yet complete tour guide with great graphics.......2003-02-28

The editorial reviews on this paperback are right on the mark. It is an excellent 124-page booklet that follows the formal tour guide route.
The front tour section starts by providing just the right amount of "selected" detail (with some well-cropped and selected photos)on each of the 16 stops (36 pages). I was able to take the book out and use it as a quick stop tour. I found the positons easily (as they were concisely marked), then read the short, but complete narrative. I really got the context of the complete battle by putting all the tour stops together because the "important details" were included at each stop.

After the tour, an account of the fighting is described by day, hours and short descriptor, e.g."Action of Buford's Calvary, 8:00 to 10:00 am, July 1" (78 pages). Superb graphics that clearly sketch out positions with key topography markers help you fix on the formations. They are very distingushable as they are marked with reference to the modern day road structure in he park (e.g. you can tell the bulk of Pickett's division-by brigade-was originally lined up much farther south than the positon of Lee's statue in their charge by the Spangler house).

The final pages of the book summarize the strength and losses by unit (i.e. numbers by brigade level, but specifying the regiments included) and a good one-page suggested reading list (that shows the better Gettysburg books).

I have been to this field five times. It is a very good book for new and repeat visitors.

The History Buff's Guide to Gettysburg (Key People, Places, and Events) (Key People, Places, and Events)
Average customer rating:

A fascinating and compelling book!

The History Buffs Guide To Gettysburg

The History Buff's Guide to Gettysburg (Key People, Places, and Events) (Key People, Places, and Events)
Thomas R. Flagel And Ken Allers Jr.
Manufacturer: Cumberland House Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
General | Civil War | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
Gettysburg | Campaigns | Civil War | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
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Insiders' Guide to Gettysburg (Insiders' Guide Series)

The History Buff's Guide to the Civil War

The Maps of Gettysburg: The Gettysburg Campaign, June 3 - July 13, 1863

The Battle Between the Farm Lanes: Hancock Saves the Union Center: Gettysburg July 2, 1863 (Discovering Civil War America Series, V. 4)

The Battle of Gettysburg: A Guided Tour

ASIN: 1581825099

Book Description

Prior to the battle of Gettysburg in July 1-3, 1863, the costliest battle of the Civil War had been Antietam, in September 1862, in which more than 23,000 were killed or wounded in eleven hours. At Gettysburg, approximately 33,000 were killed or wounded and another 10,000 missing in action.

The History Buff's Guide™ to Gettysburg covers the action of those days and the surrounding area by means of detailed top-ten lists, ranking the best, worst, first, and most significant elements of the largest and deadliest battle of the Civil War.

Chapters include:

• Coming to the Crossroads: Why the battle was fought, the people involved, key events leading up to the battle, and the role of the environment
• The Battle: Why Confederate forces prevailed on the first day and Union forces on the second, why Pickett's Charge failed, the bloodiest fields of fire, and the actions of civilians during the battle
• The Last Full Measure: The regiments with the worst losses, the highest-ranking officers wounded or killed, the most common causes of death
• The Wake of the Battle: Military and civilian reactions, civilian activities after the battle, and lasting effects
• In Retrospect: The best and worst performing commanders, myths and misconceptions, and enduring controversies
• Pursuing Gettysburg: Points of interest on the battlefield and in town, the best monuments, Lincoln sites in the area, sites that have been lost to development, and the best books on Gettysburg

From the days leading up to the historic battle and the aftermath in which the townsfolk were left to rebuild their lives and town (and the later establishment of the national battlefield park), The History Buff's Guide™ to Gettysburg is a fresh, new approach to the subject.

Customer Reviews:

A fascinating and compelling book!.......2006-07-01

I took this volume off of the bookstore shelf out of reflex; I look at any new publication on the battle of Gettysburg. Based on the rather commonplace title and the terrible cover design I opened the book expecting to read "Take the next left turn to visit the Jennie Wade house." This book, however, was nothing of the kind, much to my delight. It is in fact a superbly written examination of the battle through a series of highly readable mini-analyses. Who were the best commanders on the field, and why? Who were the worst? What are the facts behind the most common myths and misconceptions about the battle? What are the best books about the battle ?(My own list would now include this one). The authors are exceptionally knowledgable about this battle, and they write in a style that is engaging and literate, providing splendid insights into many often (and some interesting not-so-often) asked questions. Whether you have read any of the dozens of books available on this battle, or whether you are new to the subject, I think that you will find this wonderful volume a welcome adition to your Civil War bookshelf.

The History Buffs Guide To Gettysburg.......2006-06-29

This is an excellent publication dealing with a pivotal moment in the maturation of the American statement of democracy. Gettysburg is far more than a Civil War battle. Those three days in July 1863 restated clearly the definition of what America was, and would become. Gettysburg re-emphasised the notion of the break from "old world ways". Gettysburg ultimately came to define the courage, committment and re-statement of Liberty as espoused by the "New World". Good men and women of the South sought to hang on to what was ebbing away. The goodness and dignity of the South was epitomised in R.E.Lee. However the moving on, and the break with what had been, and simply could be no more, was epitomised in Lincoln. He was the vision of the New Republic. Gettysburg was the beginning of the end of the old, whilst at the same time the re-statement and re-enforcement of what had begun in 1776 and continues to this day.
This publication sets in stark contrast the results of good men hanging on to what has had its day, as opposed to good men striving to materialise a noble idea. The past lost.

Gettysburg: A Battlefield Guide (This Hallowed Ground: Guides to Civil Wa)

Average customer rating:

Take what you want, this is the only book you'll need
Made it crystal clear
A Must for the Civil War buff
A great guidebook for first-time visitors!
The best Gettysburg guidebook around

Gettysburg: A Battlefield Guide (This Hallowed Ground: Guides to Civil Wa)
Mark Grimsley , and Brooks D. Simpson
Manufacturer: Bison Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

Reference | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

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Tourist Destinations & Museums | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Gettysburg National Military Park (Civil War battlefield series)
Hallowed Ground: A Walk at Gettysburg (Crown Journeys)
The Battle of Gettysburg: A Guided Tour
Gettysburg, Then & Now: Touring the Battlefield With Old Photos
Guide to the Battle of Gettysburg (U.S. Army War College Guides to Civil War Battles)

ASIN: 0803270771

Book Description

Little Round Top, the Railroad Cut, Pickett’s Charge—these are the turning points within the most important battle of the Civil War. Even careful students of Gettysburg, however, can find themselves disoriented when visiting the site itself. Here, finally, is a convenient guide for serious student and casual visitor alike that makes plain the sweep of events and the geography of the battlefield.

This invaluable guidebook was created by scholars who have walked the battlegrounds, consulted with local experts and park guides, and studied the testimony left behind by the participants. Gettysburg will help you find all the important locales and understand what the participants saw in 1863, even if you have no prior knowledge of the battle. Designed to enhance the experience of both first-time and returning visitors, this guide can be used alone or as a supplement to a tour. Clearly written and illustrated with maps and photographs, this is the book to have when you explore Gettysburg.

Customer Reviews:

Take what you want, this is the only book you'll need.......2004-11-24

A masterful guide to the Gettysburg battlefield. I took several books on my trip to Gettysburg earlier this year but this was the only one I carried on the battlefield. It is organized around the tour stops, but also contains several side trips to lesser known areas, and simply tells you all you need to know about the events in that area at the time of the battle. It contains several maps and the directions it provides to areas on the battlefield are concise and easy to follow. If you wish to seriously tour Gettysburg National Park, this book is essential.

Made it crystal clear.......2002-10-23

I grew up near Gettysburg & have been there numerous times. I just spent 2 days there with this book on the battlefield--this book made the battle crystal clear! I ran out of time exploring the battlefield (it takes more than the 6 hours described in the book--my only criticism). This book brings the battle to life and explains the terrain like never before. I learned a lot about the battle that I never knew and many components of the battle came into focus in new and exciting ways. In particular, this book does a good job on overviews of each day and with it's clear directions, leads the reader through each stop--I really felt as if I had an expert by my side explaining all the facets of each aspect of the battle. Along the way, everything was just as the book described. The maps were excellent & it's nicely complimented with various portraits of leaders, common soldiers, etc. The guide brings the 3 days together as a cohesive whole. This is the book to get if you're going to visit Gettysburg; forget all the others.

I now live near Chickamauga and I plan on getting their book on that battle!

A Must for the Civil War buff.......2001-10-23

I recently took a trip to Gettysburg (my 3rd) and carried this tour guide for the 1st time. It is far and away the best experience I've had seeing the battlefield. It follows the battle chronologically and offers several sites and insights not offered on the audio tours available at the local shops. Many of the stops are multifaceted. At several points the stops feature 7 to 10 asides which often involve only a minor shift in position to point out various phases of the battle. It includes a side trip to the cavalry field which I've never run into on the audio tours. The driving directions are easy to follow but do veer from the order of the Military Park brochure and the audio tours to give greater detail to the battle. The book says to allow for 6 hours-it's more like 10 hours to give time for exploring beyond some of the "stand here and turn left" instructions. 11 hours total if you include a break for lunch. We started at nine on one morning, toured until about 4 with a break for lunch and finished the following day. Sites included on the audio and Park tours tend to start getting crowded from 11 to 3, so this will add to the tour time depending on time of year and crowd. To sum it all up and paraphrase a popular commercial-when going on a tour of Gettysburg-"Don't leave home without it!"

A great guidebook for first-time visitors!.......2001-06-10

An excellent, well-written guidebook and the best I've seen on the subject. I carried this book on my first visit to Gettysburg in Spring 2001, and it greatly enhanced the experience. The directions are clear and up to date, and the text is precise and detailed enough to be compelling without trying to be an exhaustive treatment of every minute detail. If used as a companion to an actual visit, I would strongly recommend reading the book in advance of your visit, then bringing it with you for reference. There are only a few very minor faults I might find with this guidebook. On the maps, it would be helpful to have present-day landmarks indicated in some way to help with orientation. Also, the book suggests the full tour can be completed in six hours, but in my experience to make all the stops and fully enjoy it you'd need at least a full day, or preferably two. You'll want to leave some time for reflection at such places as McPherson's Ridge, Little Round Top, the High Water Mark, and others to think about the enormity of what occurred on that ground.

Read this book and you'll come away with a good working knowledge of the three-day battle. Highly recommended!

The best Gettysburg guidebook around.......2000-02-14

I have tramped over the Gettysburg Battlefield a half dozen times with various books in hand. My hat is off to Mark Grimsley & Brooks D. Simpson. I found this book to be the most thorough and well written of any text I have used. In November, 1999 I went to the battlefield with the main purpose of studying the fighting around the Peach Orchard and Wheatfield. This book was very helpful in helping me understand the chain of events that occured in these places July 2, 1863. I also found the descriptions of the fighting July 1st around the McPherson Farm to be excellent.

Book Description

Little Round Top was the site of a climactic struggle between Union and Confederate troops at the Battle of Gettysburg. Many books have dealt with the history of Little Round Top, but none have adequately tied the known history to the rocky hill itself. Adelman, a licensed battlefield guide, presents a tour which solidifies the reader's understanding of troop movements while detailing the fascinating history of Little Round Top's memorialization and visitation over the years. Twenty tour stops, ten maps, and over 40 photographs make this book a must for all Little Round Top enthusiasts.

Customer Reviews:

Garry Adelman's done it again!.......2000-08-05

Being a smaller book, I was skeptical that I would learn so much! I had been to Little Round Top on more than 15 occasions before and when I took this book to Little Round Top, I understood things about the hill and the battle there like never before. Maps and lots of photographs make the tour easy to follow for first timers and veterans of the Gettysburg Battlefield. The section where the author challenges the reader to locate the positions of certain photographs is an interesting twist. Just like his Devil's Den book, I highly recommend this work.

The Storm Tide: A History And Tour Guide Of The War In The East, From Fredericksburg To Mine Run, 1862 to 1863 (The Civil War Explorer Series)

Average customer rating:

The Storm Tide: A History And Tour Guide Of The War In The East, From Fredericksburg To Mine Run, 1862 to 1863 (The Civil War Explorer Series)
Jim Miles
Manufacturer: Cumberland House Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Forged in Fire: A History and Tour Guide of the War in the East, From Manassas to Antietam, 1861-1862 (Miles, Jim. Civil War Explorer Series.)
Into the Valley: A History and Tour Guide of Civil War in the Shennandoah Valley, 1861-1865 (The Civil War Explorer Series)
Paths to Victory: A History and Tour Guide of the Stone's River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Nashville Campaigns (Miles, Jim. Civil War Campaigns Series.)
To the Sea: A History and Tour Guide of the War in the West Shermans March Across Georgia, 1864 (The Civil War Explorer Series) (The Civil War Explorer Series)
Fields of Glory: A History and Tour Guide of the War in the West, the Atlanta Campaign, 1864 (Miles, Jim. Civil War Explorer Series.)

ASIN: 1581822979

Book Description

Eighteen sixty-three began with Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia in the field and ended with the Southern armies in tatters but still engaging George C. Meade's Army of the Potomac. THE STORM TIDE traces the history of the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg, and provides a series of easy-to-follow tour guides to the battlefields today.

Book Description

This guide uses first-hand accounts to illustrate how this skirmish, only three days long, turned into one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War.

Eyewitness accounts by battle participants make these guides an invaluable resource for travelers and nontravelers who want a greater understanding of five of the most devastating yet influential years in our nation's history. Explicit directions to points of interest and maps--illustrating the action and showing the detail of troop position, roads, rivers, elevations, and tree lines as they were 130 years ago--help bring the battles to life. In the field, these guides can be used to recreate each battle's setting and proportions, giving the reader a sense of the tension and fear each soldier must have felt as he faced his enemy.

This book is part of the U.S. Army War College Guides to Civil War Battles series.

Customer Reviews:

A very good guide, but maybe not the best.......2000-02-08

I generally agree with the other reviewers that this guide book is informative and useful. I have had it in had twice when I visited Gettysburg. A solid resource with some very interesting historical exerpts from after action reports etc.

I would also encourge people considering this book to take a look at Gettysburg: A Battlefield Guide by Mark Grimsley. (ISBN 0803270771) In my opinion the Grimsley book is a bit clearer on some of the more confusing parts of the battle - the fighting in the Wheatfield for example.

All things considered both books are quite good.

Perfect for the dedicated or amateur Civil War student.......1999-04-23

I just returned from my first Antietam visit after reading many books about the battle. The Staff Ride Guide gave me a thoroughly detailed, comprehensive, fascinating look at the battle. I brought along my father, not a Civil War buff, and he got a lot out of it as well. Good clear driving directions, great choices of accounts from both the O.R. and individual letters and diaries. Superb. I can't wait to use the other battlefield guides.

ACW Battlefield Tour Bibles.......1998-08-27

These series of books from the U. S. Army War College are the best available resource for conducting ACW battlefield tours - assuming that your purpose in touring battlefields is to study and understand the applicable tactics, strategy and terrain and to develop an appreciation for the objectives and efforts of the participants. If you go to ACW battlefields to gawk and gossip as an everyday tourist then an investment in these guides is unnecessary. If you have an active interest in ACW history, military history in general or fascinating chapters in human history, then these guides are remarkable values, "Best Buys". Helpful maps illustrate troop engagements and key terrain features, excerpts from the Official Records provide first person commentary from the participants at each "Stop" on your tour and concise analysis is provided to tie the story together. Thorough but not intimidating, insightful and objective, with no deficiencies noted.

The U.S. Army War College: Guide to the Battle of Gettysburg

Average customer rating:

Excellent Aid for Touring Gettysburg!
ACW Battlefield Tour Bibles

The U.S. Army War College: Guide to the Battle of Gettysburg
Jay Luvaa
Manufacturer: South Mountain Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0937339059

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Aid for Touring Gettysburg!.......2004-07-05

Luvaas has written an excellent guide for anyone wishing to know more about the Gettysburg battlefield and the actions of July 1-3, 1863.

The book's format is different from what you might expect from a typical Civil War book. Each chapter focuses on either a particular day and/or action of the battle and basically is formatted as follows:

1. Precise driving directions are provided for reaching the particular battlefield feature.
2. Description of what happened at the site.
3. A report of the action by an actual participant at the site.
4. A map of troop dispositions at the site.

I have attended one of Luvaas' staff rides (at the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Battlefields in Virginia) and thoroughly enjoyed listening to him describing an account of the battle. During that time I was an active duy Air Force Officer and gained a greater appreciation of strategies and difficulties a commander faced in battle.

You do not have to be an active-duty military or veteran to enjoy this book. The only gripe I really have are the quality of maps - I wish they were more detailed!

Complaint aside, I highly recommend the book - read and enjoy!

ACW Battlefield Tour Bibles.......1998-08-24

These series of books are the best available resource for conducting ACW battlefield tours - assuming that your purpose in touring battlefields is to study and understand the applicable tactics, strategy and terrain and to develop an appreciation for the objectives and efforts of the participants. If you go to ACW battlefields to gawk and gossip as an everyday tourist then you do not need to study these guides. If you have an active interest in ACW history, military history in general or fascinating chapters in human history, then these guides are remarkable values, "Best Buys". Thorough but not intimidating, insightful and objective, with no deficiencies noted.

McPherson's Ridge: Gettysburg (Battleground America Guides)

Average customer rating:

This book is one of the WORST
Reynolds or Wadsworth?
This one's a stinker, don't waste your money

McPherson's Ridge: Gettysburg (Battleground America Guides)
Steven H. Newton
Manufacturer: Da Capo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

jp-unknown1 | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Cemetery Hill: The Struggle for the High Ground, July 1-3, 1863

ASIN: 0306811723
Release Date: 2002-12-24

Book Description

The opening engagement of the battle of Gettysburg was crucial in determining the outcome of the battle three days later. In what is often seen as the Civil War's Waterloo, the early contest for the wooded McPherson's Ridge is considered by many to be the battle's most crucial stage.

Da Capo's new "Battleground America" series offers a unique approach to the battles and battlefields of America. Each book in the series highlights a small American battlefield-sometimes a small portion of a much larger battlefield-and tells the story of the brave soldiers who fought there. Using soldiers' memoirs, letters and diaries, as well as contemporary illustrations, the human ordeal of battle comes to life on the page.

All of the units, important individuals, and actions of each engagement on the battlefield are described in a clear and concise narrative. Detailed maps complement the text and illustrate small unit action at each stage of the battle. Then-and-now photographs tie the dramatic events of the past to the modern battlefield site and highlight the importance of terrain in battle. The present-day historical site of the battle is described in detail with suggestions for touring.

Customer Reviews:

This book is one of the WORST.......2004-04-07

I highly doubt that Newton has ever been near Gettysburg, to have written such a lousy book. Even though he purports to be a "history" teacher, his area of expertise is obviously NOT the Civil War or anything having to do with it. He has absolutely no conception of what happened on July 1 at Gettysburg, anything about the terrain, cavalry tactics, etc. I sincerely hope that the classes he teaches are on another subject, because if it has anything to do with 19th-century American history, there are a while lot of students out there who didn't learn anything worthwhile from this guy.

Reynolds or Wadsworth?.......2003-03-05

As a supplement to the review above, please note
that this book includes a photograph of what is identified
as a statue of John F. Reynolds. Although there are three
bronze portrait statues of Reynolds at Gettysburg, the
photograph is one of the statue of Brigadier General James
S. Wadsworth. Did the author actually visit the battlefield?

This one's a stinker, don't waste your money.......2003-02-12

If this is an example of this new "Battleground America" series, I won't make the mistake of buying another one. Newton has a ton of errors in this book, ones that have been corrected by much better researchers than he years ago. First, he makes the disastrous error of claiming that Union Gen. John Buford's cavalry division was armed with "repeating carbines." The fact is, all ordnance returns for the division as of June 30, 1863, show that none of the troopers had such a weapon. In fact, only about 5 existed in the world at the time. They didn't go into mass production until a few months later. Buford's brigades were armed with ONLY single-shot breechloading carbines. If Newton had only done a modicum of research before writing this thing, he'd have caught his error.
In one section, he refers to the commander of Buford's 2nd Brigade, Colonel Thomas C. Devin, as a "brigadier." Devin wasn't promoted to Brigadier General until Jan. 1865.
He also fouls up quotes attributed to Buford. Due to many such mistakes thoughout the text, it appears that Newton relied heavily on secondary resources instead of primary sources. You can't write a decent book by basing it on coffee-table works, folks.
There are many tactical errors and misinterpretations throughout the book, which will give the reader an incorrect view of what happened to open the Battle of Gettysburg. This is not the way to introduce a reader to either the ground there or the battle itself.
A photograph is also misidentified... a photo of Union dead, long proven to be bodies of those on the Rose Farm some 3 miles away from McPherson Ridge, is identified here as being on the ridge. Anyone with even a passing interest in Gettysburg photography knows full well that this famous photo is NOT from the ridge.
The worst thing about the book is that there isn't a single footnote in the entire work. This causes serious scholars to dismiss it out of hand. Perhaps Newton chose not to footnote the work because he used mostly secondary sources, instead of first-hand primary sources, and it certainly shows in the multitude of errors, poor tactical comments and terrain evaluation.
It's also expensive...
... It's a poor start to this series...

The World Will Long Remember: A Guide to the Battle of Gettysburg

Average customer rating:

Gettysburg For the Non-Historian and Novice
Learn Hisory the Practical Way

The World Will Long Remember: A Guide to the Battle of Gettysburg
Joanna M. McDonald
Manufacturer: White Mane Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Customer Reviews:

Gettysburg For the Non-Historian and Novice.......2000-07-29

The World Will Long Remember is as the rest of the title states a guide to the battle of Gettysburg. This book is very good for the non-historian, for the person wanting to know about the battle. The book includes pictures of the generals commanding divisions and/or regiments. It takes the reader through each day at each point on the battlefield. Included in the appendix are the official rosters of both the northern and southern armies at Gettysburg. The book is written as if the reader is on a tour as each major section includes not only the location but also the fact that it states this is Stop 1 or Stop 2, etc. The book is also written as guide for the individual who wants to tour the battlefield for the first time or for the umpteenth time. With this bok in hand and time, the visitor can get a good picture on what took place on the battlefield.

Learn Hisory the Practical Way.......2000-05-24

Ms. McDonald's book makes it easy for someone who is not so interested in learning all the details of the U.S. Civil War to have a solid understanding and appreciation of what took place at Gettybury in July 1865. This book is a must-read for anyone who really wants to enjoy the Gettysburg National Military Park. It gives the reader a basic, solid and easy-to-read background of the Civil War. The book includes maps and photographs that really help you get a feel for where you are and what each part of the Battlefield looked like during the war. The only problem with the book is that it's a bit too bulky to take along if you actually want to do a field trip to the Battlefield.

A Vast Sea of Misery: A History and Guide to the Union and Confederate Field Hospitals at Gettysburg, July 1-November 20, 1863

Average customer rating:

"A Vast Sea Of Misery" first book of its kind

A Vast Sea of Misery: A History and Guide to the Union and Confederate Field Hospitals at Gettysburg, July 1-November 20, 1863
Gregory A. Coco
Manufacturer: Thomas Publications (PA)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

A Strange and Blighted Land: Gettysburg, The Aftermath of a Battle
The Maps of Gettysburg: The Gettysburg Campaign, June 3 - July 13, 1863
Plenty of Blame to Go Around: Jeb Stuart's Controversial Ride to Gettysburg
The Battle Between the Farm Lanes: Hancock Saves the Union Center: Gettysburg July 2, 1863 (Discovering Civil War America Series, V. 4)

ASIN: 0939631881

Book Description

A History and Guide to the Union and Confederate Field Hospitals at Gettysburg, July 1- November 20, 1863

Customer Reviews:

"A Vast Sea Of Misery" first book of its kind.......2001-07-18

Being the great-great grandson of one of the surgeons mentioned in this book I had a special interest in this book. Over the years books abut Gettysburg have always been about the military strategies involved, key players in the battle, etc. Nothing was ever truly written about the aftermath of the battle the dark side of war with all it's carnage and bloodshed. As Walt Whitman once said "the real war will never get into the books" that is until now. Gregory CoCo's "A Vast Sea Of Misery" is the first real book of its kind and long over due. Much of the battlefield has been saved from destruction over the years with the exception of the hospital sites. Many of these sites have been lost forever to real estate developments and shopping centers. Mr. CoCo set out to document the 162 hospital sites in and around the Town of Gettysburg not only as a record for future generations but in the hopes that its readers would care enough to maybe save some of the surviving sites from future development. These hospitals were truly the second battle of Gettysburg with over 21,000 maimed, wounded, and dying soldiers fighting for their lives. The surgeons of these hospitals along with the townspeople, ambulance corpsman, nurses, and civilian agencies who supplied medicines, foodstuffs, and care for the wounded soldiers on both sides are some of the real unknown heroes of Gettysburg. Mr. CoCo does an excellent job of not only identifying the location of these hospital sites through photographs and maps, but takes you back 138 years into these field hospitals through the eyes of many of the actual participants of this great struggle for survival. My great-great grandfather's Union Second Corps Hospitals had over 3260 wounded with only 14 doctors to take care of them. They worked virtually around the clock to save the human refuse of war. This book is a fitting tribute to those who not only fought and died at Gettysburg, but who gave of their time, money, talent, and skills to save so many lives. This book is certainly not the whole story of this struggle for survival and Mr. CoCo points this out. He states "It is my anticipation that a Vast Sea of Misery will serve as only a forerunner of a more complete and elaborate work by some other writer in a not-too-distant day". This book is a must read for students of the Civil War and those just plain interested in what the aftermath of battle is all about. You won't be disappointed.

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