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Shelby Foote, who cut such a courtly figure in Ken Burns's PBS series The Civil War, is an uncommonly graceful writer as well, and this careful study of the 1863 Gettysburg campaign assumes the contours of a classical tragedy. Foote positions readers on the field of battle itself, among swirling smoke and clattering grapeshot, and invites us to feel for ourselves its hellishness: "men on both sides were hollering as they milled about and fired, some cursing, others praying ... not a commingling of shouts and yells but rather like a vast mournful roar." Foote's fine book is history as literature, and a welcome addition to any Civil War buff's library.
Customer Reviews:
As Good as it gets.......2007-06-27
I could write a long review about how good this book is but that would be a diservice to the author. We lost a great historian when Shelby Foote passed. He was a historian who prefered to be remembered as a novelist. As a proud Vermont Yankee, professional historian, and living historian of that period, I tend to get cranky about revisionist views or the whole Sourthern "lost cause" foolishness. However, Mr. Foote, a proud southerner, wrote about the most important event in our nation's history without the prejudice or regionalism, so many bring to the topic. He could write excellent history and tell the story with the readability of a novelist.
We are poorer for his passing but the body of work he left behind on the Civil War will remain some of the must have items in any serious collection of books about that second birth of our nation.
We'll miss you Shelby but thank you for what you left behind.
"They will attack you in the morning and they will come booming--skirmishers three-deep. You will have to fight like the devil.".......2006-07-04
Heth upon hearing a rumour that Early's men had over looked a suppy of shoes (many of his men were barefooted) when they passed though Gettysburg the week Sent his lead brigade under Johnston Pettigrew to investigate. Johnston Pettigrew returned on thr 30th of June, mindeful of Lee's warning not to bring on a battle till the whole army was at hand, prudently withdrew when he encountered Federal troopers along a creekbank west of town.
Heth still wanted those shoes so he took Pettigrew with him to repeat what he had seen to Hill. Hill responded "The only force at Gettysburg is calvalry, probably a detachment of oberservation. Mead's infantry are still down in Maryland and have not struck their tents." Heth was quick to reply "If there is no objection, I will take my division tommorrow and go to Gettysburg and get those shoes." "None in the world" said Hill.
Thus what started out as a movement for shoes ended in prehaps the most important battle of the War!
Sheby Foote is a master story teller who turns history in to classical literature. He includes many maps to help understand the grand movement of both armies.
Standing in the way of Heth's men to'get those shoes' was John Buford, a tough, Kentucky-born regular with a fondness for hard fighting. Though Hill was correct that at the moment there were only cavalry in Gettysburg, these troops (two brigades) were armed with the new seven shot Spencer carbine. They belong to Reynold's Corps who's infantry were that night camped just six miles from Gettysburg.
What would you do to 'get those shoes'?
*The title is from John Buford addressing his troops on 30 June 1863. "....You will have to fight like the devil until supports arrive."
A wonderful read, and a sincere search for truth.......2006-03-28
Imagine, if you can, a book written by a modern historian that actually seeks the truth. Imagine a book written by a modern historian that is not slanted to promote his/her politics. Imagine a 20th century historian that does not even mention the sexuality (alternative or otherwise), of any historical figures in an entire book.
If you are looking for "the truth" at Gettysburg, "Stars In Their Courses" is for you. Shelby Foote is a fine author, and has written the book in a captivating manner that I highly esteem. Pick this book up and give it a try, one chapter should do the trick. You will have a good feeling afterward that you have learned something worthwhile about American History.
The Tragedy of Gettysburg.......2006-01-22
"Stars in Their Courses" is a superb narrative account of the Battle of Gettysburg, excerpted from Foote's three volume history of the Civil War. Shelby Foote, a novelist and a son of the South before becoming an historian, approaches the Gettysburg Campaign as a tragic human drama, the high tide of Confederate arms for General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and the turning point of redemption for General George Meade's Army of the Potomac.
Foote's account of Gettysburg is absolutely gripping, full of the human details that make those events come alive for the student of the Civil War and the casual reader alike. Foote captures both the heroism of individuals and the sometimes blind blundering of large armies. Gettysburg is not Lee's finest hour; Foote's narrative may be fairly read to show that Lee's normally sure hand was absent over the three days of battle, allowing the Army of Northern Virginia to stumble into an unexpected battle. Lee's desire for a decisive victory and his underestimation of the long-suffering Army of the Potomac probably led him to persist in a clumsy and costly fight his army could not afford.
On the Union side, General Meade seems more driven than a driver of events, but his willingness to fight it out made possible the victory that his various valiant subordinates delivered. Meade's failure to vigorously follow up in the days after the battle probably cost the Union a chance to do much more damage to Lee's Army.
This book is highly recommended to the student of the Civil War and to the casual reader looking for a highly readable account of this critical battle.
Superb Account of the Gettysburg Campaign.......2005-02-06
Shelby Foote's monumental, three volume history of the American Civil War is widely recognized as one of the great works of the twentieth century. However, its great length - roughly three thousand pages - is undoubtedly intimidating to many readers. Fortunately, this 1994 Modern Library edition, Stars in Their Courses, the Gettysburg Campaign, circumvents this difficulty.
Stars in Their Courses is the middle chapter in the middle volume of Shelby Foote's remarkable history. This extract offers an easy way for a reader new to Shelby Foote to become acquainted with his masterpiece.
The editors of the Modern Library series should be commended for selecting this particular chapter. It is hard to imagine a better introduction to the Gettysburg Campaign. Stars in Their Courses is not only great history, it is great literature. Shelby Foote is an outstanding writer, one that happens, fortunately for us, to write history. In reviewing Foote's acclaimed historical narrative, one critic said, "It seems to me unlikely that it ever will be superseded."
Remarkably, Stars in Their Courses is entirely self-contained. A reader not familiar with Shelby Foote's writing would not realize that this Modern Library edition was actually a single chapter drawn from a much larger work. The reader has no need to reference any other sources.
Stars in Their Courses would make an excellent gift for that friend or family member that enjoys good literature, but heretofore has not developed an enthusiasm for the Civil War. The Modern Library edition is attractively bound, and printed on acid-free paper.
Michael Shaara's Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Killer Angels, would be a great companion gift to Stars in Their Courses. Shaara's focus is on specific participants in the three-day battle, especially Lee, Buford, Longstreet, Chamberlain, and Armistead. The Killer Angels was the basis for the epic movie, Gettysburg.
Book Description
In this companion to his celebrated earlier book, Gettysburg—The Second Day, Harry Pfanz provides the first definitive account of the fighting between the Army of the Potomac and Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia at Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill—two of the most critical engagements fought at Gettysburg on 2 and 3 July 1863.
Pfanz provides detailed tactical accounts of each stage of the contest and explores the interactions between—and decisions made by—generals on both sides. In particular, he illuminates Confederate lieutenant general Richard S. Ewell's controversial decision not to attack Cemetery Hill after the initial southern victory on 1 July. Pfanz also explores other salient features of the fighting, including the Confederate occupation of the town of Gettysburg, the skirmishing in the south end of town and in front of the hills, the use of breastworks on Culp's Hill, and the small but decisive fight between Union cavalry and the Stonewall Brigade.
Customer Reviews:
Experience readers only...........2005-12-13
I found Harry W. Pfanz's book to be well written, well researched and highly informative on the events that took in and around Culp's Hill and Cemetary Hill during the Battle of Gettysburg. Its pretty obvious to anyone who read this book that the author have great deal of understanding and knowledge of this part of Gettysburg and he spared no expense in writing about it.
However, its pretty clear that this book was not written for novice reader on the battle. Its highly detail, at time almost tedious in some areas, so much information that someone who may not be familiar with Gettysburg may have some sort of an information overload. I would recommend that anyone who's starting out on this battle, should skip this book until later on.
But on the other hand, if you're a experience Gettysburg reader, then this book is for you. I think its probably the best book written on the subject matter at hand, which was the actions around Culp's Hill and Cemetary Hill.
The book comes well illstrated with black and white paintings and photos of leaders. The maps are very useful and detail but I agreed with one previous reviewer, we could use more maps. The book is thick and but I would recommended it highly to any experenced Gettysburg reader who wishes to know more about this battle.
Detailed Account of the Fighting at Culp's and Cemetery Hill.......2005-05-27
Pfanz' final book in his trilogy of Gettysburg covers a relatively forgotten area of the Battle of Gettysburg. Granted, while I have visited Culp's and Cemetery Hill during each of my Gettysburg visits, I tended to spend most of my time around the second day's fighting (Little Round Top, Devil's Den, Wheatfield, Rose Farm and Woods, Peach Orchard, Trostle Farm) and Pickett's Charge. Pfanz has done the public a great service by providing a book of the actions around Culp's and Cemetery Hill. Indeed, no one probably knows more about Gettysburg than Pfanz.
As usual, he provides sometimes overwhelming details of the actions. His narrative is interesting and I enjoyed reading anecdotes of the main characters (Greene, Steuart, Howard, Meade, Ewell, Early, etc.). Pfanz describes terrain features, battle participants, battle actions, and other details like only he can.
However, there is one sticking point that I have noticed in other Civil War books and have noted in other reviews - there simply are not enough maps. While the maps provided are of excellent detail and contain helpful summaries of the actions represented in the maps, there could have been at least 10 more. I believe there are about 15 maps in the book - there easily could have been 25. I say this because of Pfanz' attention to detail - having more maps to support the battle actions would have made it easier for me to follow the actions. On more than one occasion I was bug-eyed trying to follow what Pfanz was describing!
I am certainly not a military expert (although I am an ex-Air Force Officer) nor an armchair general. I simply enjoy reading more about the heroic actions of soldiers on both sides during a tragic period of our great nation's history.
Complaint aside, I highly recommend Pfanz' title as the definitive account of Culp's and Cemetery Hill. Read, enjoy, and be prepared to follow the large amount of detail - you will need to put on your thinking cap for this and the other Pfanz titles!
A must for the serious student of Gettysburg.......2004-11-29
This is an outstanding and complete account of the events that occured on the Culp's Hill/Cemetery Hill line during the battle. This is not for the passing reader but a must for those serious about the battle. For best use of the book, read it THEN take a day and actually walk the Hills using the book as a reference. Far to many people visit the battlefield and never know what occured here or even visit this part of the field. Few know of Gen. George Greene and his role but all who read about the battle know of Col.'s Vincent and Chamberlain. Even fewer know that at one point a Confederate brigade was only a few hundred yards from the Baltimore Pike and for an hour the unguarded Federal Artillery Reserve. W. Culp couldn't have died on Culp's Hill if Co. B, 2nd VA was across Rock Creek on the skirmish line with elements of the 1st NC. Careful study of this material and the times will bring out many not so well known facts that occured on this "forgotten" part of the field and prove other myths wrong.
Perhaps Pfanz's best.......2004-04-08
Harry Pfanz likely knows Gettysburg better than any man around. Head historian for the NPS for many years, he has literally made Gettysburg his life's work. His books on the first and second days of the battle are considered must haves but this book on Culps Hill could be his best.
The battle for Culps Hill and especially East Cemetery Hill are today the most forgotten part of Gettysburg. Look around and you will find many books pertaining to Pickett's Charge, Devil's Den and Little Round Top but how many aimed at Culps Hill? Not many. Even at the park the auto tour has Culps Hill simply as an extra add towards the end of the tour.
With this book Pfanz takes a hard look at this forgotten area. We're use to the names of Chamberlain, Hancock and Pickett but here we hear names like Greene, Avery, Geary and Williams.
The advantage of this book is it's not aimed at the casual reader but the serious Civil War buff. The information included is extensive and detailed. While well written, it is not a piece of fluff or a light read. If you seriously want to find out what happened on Culps Hill this is the book for you.
A splendid historical book.......2004-01-07
My master's thesis was on George Sears Greene and his defense of Culps Hill, so as one can guess this was a very valuable source for information.
Pfanz's book is a continuation of his studies on the various areas of the Gettysburg battlefield. Culp's Hill and East Cemetery Hill are not considered "hotspots" of the national park and therefore have not received the same attention as "The Angle" and Little Round Top. Pfanz's book has and will change that outlook.
Pfanz's look at Culps Hill was both well researched and well written. He argues that the battle itself was determined on its flanks, both on Little Round Top and Culps Hill. The fighting on Culps Hill was not as destructive as the other areas of the battlefield, mostly due to the relatively low casualty figures from the breastworks constructed earlier on July 2nd, but its importance in the overall scheme has been unfairly overlooked.
This book boasts an impressive bibliography that includes various primary accounts that were largely unheard of until this book's publication. In short, it opened my eyes to the real story of Gettysburg.
Book Description
Called a "masterpiece" by Civil War News, this is the most detailed regimental analysis of the first day of the battle of Gettysburg.
Gettysburg, July 1 presents the most detailed regimental-level account ever written of the critical first day of the Civil War's greatest battle. Using firsthand sources, most of which are unpublished and some never before cited, Gettysburg, July 1, combines recent scholarly interpretations of the action with original analysis by the author. It takes a fresh approach to the battle at the tactical level, with emphasis on the experience and competence of regimental and brigade commanders.
Customer Reviews:
One of the best Gettysburg books I've read.......2005-03-06
First off, when you get this book, make sure it's the revised edition. Amazon only carries the revised one now so if you order through them you'll be sure to get it. It has eliminated the errors in the first edition that previous reviews make mention of.
As far as the book itself, I have read a lot of Gettysburg books and this one ranks up there with the very best such as Harry Phanz's book on the second day. It is an incredibly detailed account of the event of the 1st day.
There are two things about this book that most impressed me. First is the way Martin approached the battle itself. Rather than cover the entire battlefield together in one timeline, he approaches sections of the battle separately. It's almost like the book is a series of smaller books. He will take a brigade such as Cutler's Brigade and concentrate on them rather than try and insert into that narrative what was going on on other parts of the field. Then he will back up and cover in detail other regiments or Brigades that were going on simultaneously that are connected to the previous section and so on.
The result is he'll do Cutler's Brigade and then back up a bit and cover the 6th Wisconsin and how they connected to what was happening and then Stones Brigade. It allows the reader not to be overwhelmed with to many units at one time and develope a clear view about how it all fits together.
The second thing is Martin goes into details on certain controversies. Rather than say "this is definitely what happened" he will explain that there were alternate views of the same thing and then explain why he believes one has more merit than the other.
The only criticism I have of this book are the maps. I've walked the areas of the battle numerous times so I am familiar with the terrain but not everyone has had that chance. Many of the maps in the book cover the entire Gettysburg area as far south as Big Round Top. Far to wide ranging when you are dealing with regimental level actions on McPherson Ridge. The book would have served the reader better with more maps that covered a smaller area and just a few showing the entire Gettysburg area.
In short, this is a book that belongs in the library of anyone who has a strong interest in Gettysburg. It covers the first day in a way no other book does. It will become a prize book of reference for those who own it.
Excellent.......2004-12-24
This book is soooooo good. I read Pfanz Day One and Martin's July 1st back to back, and without a doubt, Martin gets the nod. Pfanz book is wonderful, don't get me wrong, but it reads too matter of factly and there weren't as many of the analytical remarks I was expecting. However, Martin provides many more details, but also a lot of the analytical questions and answers that makes reading about the battles interesting.
Maps are excellent and numerous. As usual, a few more wouldn't have hurt, but I'm happy with the ones they had.
I read the "revised" version so I had no troubles with the editorial mistakes like some others. Just make sure you get the revised copy.
The flow of battle is a little tricky to handle because you have multiple troop movements, engagements, important orders going on at the same exact time. Martin's style is to stick with one "action" all the way through. For instance, the action at Barlow's Knoll leads to Kryz's moving in reenforcements, which leads to Union retreat on the right, which leads to Coster's stand, etc. Then he goes back and handles the entire action of Pender's action which was happening at about the same time. I prefer the style that jumps around from section to section so you can read the actions in a chronological order, but Martin handles his style quite well.
Simiply put, the amount of research, details, and nuggets of info (i.e. stories of valor, etc.) are excellent and well worth the price, and make an excellent addition to your civil war book shelf and most certainly your GB collection. This book is for the more advanced student, so beginners are better off starting with an entire campaign or battle book (like Trudeau or Sears) before tackling the micro study.
A Comprehensive Study of the First Day of Gettysburg.......2004-10-28
The battle of Gettysburg (July 1 -- 3, 1863) continues to fascinate scholarly and lay readers alike. The battle can be explored from innumerable perspectives and with a greater or lesser degree of depth depending upon the interests of the reader.
David Martin's study, "Gettysburg, July 1" is a thorough, detailed study of the first day of the battle, of the events leading up to it, and of the impact of the first day's fight on the remainder of the contest. The book examines day 1 of Gettysburg on the macro and micro levels. Martin discusses the strategies of the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia after they stumbled into each other on July 1. But in addition to command decisions, Martin gives great attention to the battle on the division and regimental levels. He also painstakingly describes and analyzes many anecdotes, legends, and accounts of individual soldiers. The detail may make it difficult for the reader to separate the important from the secondary, and it makes the account repetitious at times.
Together with his account, Martin offers his own assessment of the course of the battle and of the decisions of the commanders. At times he falls into speculation and into "what-ifs", but he is clear to indicate to the reader when he is doing so. Martin is critical of the Union 11th Corps, of Union Generals Howard and Slocum, of Confederate commander Robert E. Lee and of Confederate Third Corps commander A.P. Hill. He praises the Union First Corps and Generals Meade, Hancock,Reynolds Doubleday, and Buford. His analyses flow well if slowly from his factual presentation. Martin treats his subject with seriousness and respect.
The reader would be well advised to begin this book with appendix 2 which is an outstanding account of the topography of the first day's battlefield and of the road network surrounding Gettysburg. These factors are critical in understanding the events of July 1. I also thought the maps in this book were highly useful in understanding the battle. The maps are of two kinds: a "situation" map showing the position of the troops at a given point in time and an "action" map focusing on an incident of the battle -- for example Confederate General Iverson's ill-conceived attack on Baxter's troops early in the afternoon.
Discussion of July 1 at Gettysburg almost always focuses on the Confederate's apparent failure to follow-up on their success and attack the heights -- Cemetery and Culp's Hills. Martin does a masterful job of showing how the Confederate decision was in fact a sum of many small decisions. I found his analysis helped me a great deal in sorting out and understanding this controversial issue. Martin concludes that General Lee (not General Ewell, comander of the Confederate Second Corps) was responsible for the decision not to advance on the heights and the attack probably would have been unsuccessful if it had been attempted.
As I indicated at the beginning of this review, there are many ways of approaching the Battle of Gettysburg and many levels of detail that may interest different readers. I suggest that this book can best be read by readers who have a good grounding in the Civil War and, more particularly, a good background in the battle of Gettysburg itself. But because of the detail of this book, I suggest the reader also have examined something of the first day's actions before tackling this study. I recommend Warren Hassler's shorter account of day 1 "Crisis at the Crossroads." Harry Pfanz's study of day 1 is also a detailed and lucid account, and shorter than Martin's book.
This is a thorough account of day 1 at Getttysburg that will appeal to readers with a passion to learn everything they can about this important event in our Nation's history.
Very extensive study.......2004-10-20
Martin can easily rank up with Harry Pfanz's work. Martin has taken the first day at Gettysburg and offered an absolute, extensive and highly detailed study of the events. Martin rarely misses a regiment's detailed movement that can often be over looked in books that consider only the first day of battle at Gettysburg. It was interesting reading about the 1st Corps movements with General Reynolds and what I liked about Martin's book, was that he was fair and brought myths or otherwise cloudy possibilities to better reasonable conclusion. Events such as where Cavalry was positioned, the death of General Reynolds and even Slocum's slow cautious movements towards Gettysburg where very thorough. Martin also considers the time elements as well. He brings in various witness accounts and has well over 100 pages in references to back up his points.
I highly recommend this book for those seeking a very deep understanding of the events on July 1st at Gettysburg. This book may be too deep for novices or people just starting to read about the battle.
Spelling Counts.......2002-02-02
I was so taken by the Regimental Strenths book I was among the first to buy this book. WHO did the proof reading? WHO did the editing? And why can no one do a decent map, considering the technology? Aside of that is the issue of "military probability" and "informed speculation". They are legtimate as long as that point is made clear. My copy is the only book I own that has as many markings of corrections, completely wrong Generals, and questions marks as this one. A work that strove for greatness, insteads rates the status of "Great Verbal Hulk". The man who brought numbers to history in a substantive way, should have put as much care in the editing. Complexity is an inherant quality, it cannot be made simple, but can be made CLEAR!. CLARITY - the only true hope of a historian. Thus the lousey editing and errors mage what could have been a great work amuddled confusing mess. Next time, Mr Martin edit, edit, edit - think clarity and hire Mr Pfranz's mapmaker. It was a work of love, but love is not enough.
Average customer rating:
- Excellent
- Explosive history from Devils Den to Cemetery Ridge by Harry W. Pfanz
- Genious
- Excellent Account of Gettysburg's Second Day
- Excellent
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Gettysburg--The Second Day
Harry W. Pfanz
Manufacturer: The University of North Carolina Press
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Gettysburg--The First Day (Civil War America)
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Gettysburg--Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill
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The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command
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Gettysburg, July 1
ASIN: 0807847305
Release Date: 1998-02-18 |
Book Description
The second day's fighting at Gettysburg—the assault of the Army of Northern Virginia against the Army of the Potomac on 2 July 1863—was probably the critical engagement of that decisive battle and, therefore, among the most significant actions of the Civil War.
Harry Pfanz, a former historian at Gettysburg National Military Park, has written a definitive account of the second day's brutal combat. He begins by introducing the men and units that were to do battle, analyzing the strategic intentions of Lee and Meade as commanders of the opposing armies, and describing the concentration of forces in the area around Gettysburg. He then examines the development of tactical plans and the deployment of troops for the approaching battle. But the emphasis is on the fighting itself. Pfanz provides a thorough account of the Confederates' smashing assaults—at Devil's Den and Litle Round Top, through the Wheatfield and the Peach Orchard, and against the Union center at Cemetery Ridge. He also details the Union defense that eventually succeeded in beating back these assaults, depriving Lee's gallant army of victory.
Pfanz analyzes decisions and events that have sparked debate for more than a century. In particular he discusses factors underlying the Meade-Sickles controversy and the questions about Longstreet's delay in attacking the Union left. The narrative is also enhanced by thirteen superb maps, more than eighty illustrations, brief portraits of the leading commanders, and observations on artillery, weapons, and tactics that will be of help even to knowledgeable readers.
Gettysburg—The Second Day is certain to become a Civil War classic. What makes the work so authoritative is Pfanz' mastery of the Gettysburg literature and his unparalleled knowledge of the ground on which the fighting occurred. His sources include the Official Records, regimental histories and personal reminiscences from soldiers North and South, personal papers and diaries, newspaper files, and last—but assuredly not least—the Gettysburg battlefield. Pfanz's career in the National Park Service included a ten-year assignment as a park historian at Gettysburg. Without doubt, he knows the terrain of the battle as well as he knows the battle itself.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent.......2007-08-10
Considering the author was a former historian at the battlefield, this book offers the most in-depth account of what occurred before, during, and after the three-day battle at Gettysburg. A must-read for anyone interested in the Civil War, but take note that it is very detailed, listing countless names and locations.
Explosive history from Devils Den to Cemetery Ridge by Harry W. Pfanz.......2006-05-14
Harry W. Pfanz attention to detail is what I love the most about this incredible research. Harry spent 10 year assign as a park historian at Gettysburg and he spent it well. Harry learn and walked over every inch of the terrain. Harry's knowledge of the battle is unsurpassed. Harry knows more about this battle then Lee or Meade ever learned. Harry I salute you and thank you for the detail and amazing research you have preformed for our country's history. AWESOME AND HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
*** WARNING this book is not for someone who is looking for the "Cliff Notes" for their history class.
Genious.......2005-05-12
Harry W. Pfanz has written down the most information about the Gettsburg battle in the Civil War then anyother author. The facts just surprise you. I knew alot about Gettsburg before this book but I learned so much more by reading this. I want the world to know that Gettsburg was worse then what people believe it was.
Excellent Account of Gettysburg's Second Day.......2005-04-14
I have heard that Harry Pfanz has probably forgotten more about Gettysburg than many will ever learn about the battle. In my humble opinion, after reading Gettysburg The Second Day, there is much truth to that statement.
Pfanz' narrative is full of details about Little Round Top, Devil's Den, the Stony Hill, the Wheatfield, Rose Farm and Woods, and other important landmarks during the July 2 conflict. He weaves terrain features in with descriptions of several units in the conflicts.
While some people criticize Pfanz for too much battle narrative and little analysis (saves it for the last chapter), I personally enjoyed the book. If you are the kind of reader who enjoys reading battle narratives and descriptions of the participants, then this is the book for you.
The main gripe I have with the book concerns the maps. While excellent (goes down to the regimental level, clear terrain features, and has a unique description of the action portrayed in the map), there are not enough. Unfortunately, this is an all too common weakness in many Civil War titles. While Pfanz' narrative is full of interesting details, not having enough maps is distracting when trying to comprehend the actions of several units during the engagements. While there are 13 maps in the book, there easily could have been at least 20 total to provide more clarity to the action.
Complaint aside, I recommend this book as the definitive title on the second day at Gettysburg. I plan to refer to this book often during my next trip to Gettysburg. Read and enjoy! Recommended.
Excellent.......2005-01-06
Pfanz is the champion of Day 2 at Gettysburg. Although his First Day treatment was very good, he excels with the focus on the Day 2 action.
The action is very detailed and certainly not for a newbie. Definitely read a good one volume account of the entire battle first (maybe even read it twice).
Many will claim that the meat and the potatoes of the battle of GB is on the second day, particularly in the area of The Peach Orchard, Wheatfield, and Little Round Top. Longstreet called it "the best three hours of fighting" and I tend to agree.
Pfanz does an excellent job of setting up the different regimental, brigade, divison, and corps leaders who were in charge of these certain subsections of the fight, along with providing some grunt reports to present a complete picture. Of course the book is meticulously footnoted and you will not doubt his knowledge on the subject.
Movements and phases of battle tend to overlap. The Wheatfield is probably one of the most complex actiions to understand because of the involvement of 2 different Confederate divisions and at least 3 different Union corps, not to mention the ebb and flow of battle. Pfanz handles this action superbly.
Little Round Top, although not as complex a movement, has potential to become magnified in importance and to actual events. However, Pfanz relies of meticulous research and tempers any far flung notions, but simply presents the events as they happen. Well done.
Pfanz is not a big Sickle's fan. Most would agree with him. I'd like to have seen a more neutral stance or at least present the counter argument, but that's okay. When it comes to Sickles, you can write a book alone about his decision to move his corps forward.
There are several maps. The complex action might require a more thorough set if you really want to break down the details. I'd suggest getting a copy of Imhoff's Day Two A Study in Maps. It's an excellent source of about 50 beautiful maps covering all the Day 2 action. Reading Pfanz and comparing against Imhoff's maps is the perfect one two punch you'll ever come across.
Simiply put, if you are student of the battle of gettysburb, your bookshelf is extremely incomplete without a copy of The Second Day, and his other book on the Culp's Hill and Cemetary Hill part of the field. Skip his First Day book and go with Martin there who has written the definitive account.
Book Description
*30 b/w photos
* 20 color photos
* 25 full-color maps
* 20 charts * 7 x 9
The first day of fighting at Gettysburg appeared to belong to the Confederates, as they hounded Union soldiers through the streets of the town. The new Order of Battle Series detail the organization, historical background, and performance of each army unit that converged at Gettysburg. Individual acts of courage are counterposed against the Confederate commanders'inability or unwillingness to capitalize on their first day's success. July 1 ended with the Army of Northern Virginia in the familiar position of having driven their foes in near route. However, at dusk, in the failing light, the Army of the Potomac could be seen gathering itself on the forbidding heights south of Gettysburg.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent addition to students of Gettysburg campaign........1999-08-03
This book is a superb addition to students of the Gettysburg Campaign as well as those of Lee's army. It details the Confederate order of battle on the first day of the great Pennsylvania battle. If one is seeking a more dramatic,enlarged account of the first day they might look elswhere. This book however is best suited for those of us that seek sterile details such as unit strengths, and individual company names of individual units(although not complete).The text is well written and informative. There are photos of the brigade commanders,color drawings of many of the unit flags and good maps. A minor mistake was in identifying a photo of Brig.General McGowan as that of Brig.General Iverson. This however is tiny flaw in a book filled with the minute detail many of us hunger for when it comes to that vaunted American Army..the Army of Northern Virginia.
Book Description
The encounter near the quiet hamlet of Gettysburg determined the choice of ground on which the success or failure of Lee's 1863 invasion of the North would be decided. Hour-by-hour battle accounts, enlivened by tales of individual acts of courage, tell of command decisions that committed the I and XI Corps to a forward defence of the terrain north and west of Gettysburg in an effort to delay the Confederate convergence on the strategic crossroads. The accomplishments of the Federal I and XI Corps emboldened General George Meade to hold the ground and offer battle. No one knew that two more days of desperate conflict lay ahead.
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.
Product Description
This volume is produced from digital images from the Cornell University Library Samuel J. May Anti-Slavery Collection
Average customer rating:
- Gettysburg (American Battlefields) Review...
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Gettysburg: July 1-3, 1863 (American Battlefields)
Brendan January
Manufacturer: Enchanted Lion Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Military & Wars
| History & Historical Fiction
| Children's Books
| Subjects
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1800s
| United States
| History & Historical Fiction
| Children's Books
| Subjects
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General
| Ages 9-12
| Children's Books
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Battlefields
| Civil War
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
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Gettysburg
| Campaigns
| Civil War
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
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ASIN: 159270025X |
Book Description
The battle of Gettysburg is acknowledged to have been the greatest battle of the Civil War, as well as one of the most remarkable in the history of war. Over a period of three days, 160,000 combatants were involved in a struggle in which approximately 33,000 were wounded, some mortally, and about 7,000 were killed.
Gettysburg is a dramatic and poignant re-telling of these events, from the first skirmishes of the battle to the final, heroic phase known as Pickett’s Charge, when 15,000 Confederate soldiers in a line a mile wide marched 1,000 yards over open ground towards the Union center in the face of concentrated rifle and canon fire.
In these pages, Brendan January vividly captures the dramatic and surprising course of events and the tragic loss of life that occurred over three days of fighting. By setting the scene, using contemporary quotations to great effect, providing profiles of the major participants and detailed coverage of each day of the battle, the author achieves a thoughtful and engaging account of the battle that proved to be the Civil War’s turning point.
Richly illustrated and enriched with maps, a timeline and a glossary, Gettysburg tells a moving and unforgettable story in a compelling way.
The American Battlefilds series:
The concept of American Battlefields is to show how military conflicts influence history. It does this by describing three stages of historical events: first, the situation that exists as prelude to the battle, second, the details of the battle itself; third, how future events are influenced, or even determined, by the outcome of the battle. It also shows how lost battles can lead to larger victories, and how battles won can fail to help an overall lost cause.
Customer Reviews:
Gettysburg (American Battlefields) Review..........2005-07-01
Gettysburg: July 1-3, 1863, is an excellent, albeit all-to-brief, examination of the three day battle in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Given that it is less than 20 pages, there really isn't space for detailed analysis of the strategy and tactics employed by both sides nor of the men who fought the battles. If you want those details, look elsewhere.
This is a good way to introduce young travelers to the Gettysburg battlefield prior to a visit to the national park.
Books:
- The Art of War: New Translation
- The Atlas Of The Civil War
- The Blue Edge of Midnight
- The Cambridge Illustrated History of Warfare (Cambridge Illustrated Histories)
- The Civil War Reminiscences of Major Silas T. Grisamore, C.S.A.
- The Company They Keep: C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien as Writers in Community
- The Complete Visual Dictionary of Star Wars: The Ultimate Guide to Characters and Creatures from the Entire Star Wars Saga
- The Cousins' Wars: Religion, Politics, and the Triumph of Anglo-America
- The Face of Battle: A Study of Agincourt, Waterloo, and the Somme
- The Killer Angels
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