Helpful Score: 1
After you've read a few books on the Battle of Gettysburg, and I've read more than a few, you wonder if you should read any more. I'm glad I took a good friend's advice and read this one, as I really enjoyed it.
I admit to not being impressed with the first part of it, but after that, it was almost a page turner. The first quarter of it was mostly text by the author, with some memoirs of participants. But as soon as the skirmishers opened fire on each other the first day of the battle, the entire text was almost all from the actual participants, with just linking sentences from the author. You felt like you were really there in 1863. And I learned some things from the actual accounts that conflicted with books written by historians. Plus, there was a lot more narrative from the residents of Gettysburg than I've found in almost every other book I've read about the battle.
There were many very interesting details I was unaware of before, but I'll mention just three:
Most historians, when they relate Stuart's ride, have him capturing 200 wagons full of supplies near Rockville, Maryland, which slowed his movement, further depriving Lee of battlefield intelligence. This book has a Confederate cavalry officer stating the wagons, while all new, were empty, and after the resulting confusion, only about 100 were captured intact, but they still slowed Stuart's movements.
There there was the very young Confederate soldier who wandered into a house in town on the first day of battle saying he was tired of war and asked for help, as he didn't want to fight anymore. They sent him up to the attic, he put on civilian clothes the next day and remained as a resident of the town. This is a great little story. Wish there was more about him.
Most accounts of Union forces retreating through the town have them doing so in great confusion. This book has accounts of some units retreating in good order and delaying the Confederate advance. Typical that the worst news becomes the only news.
This reminds me of Jackson's attack on the flank of the XI Corps at Chancellorsville. Most historians---and that stupid "Gods and Generals" movie---have the Union troops fleeing in great panic. I've read accounts where a Union battery of six guns leapfrogged three guns at a time in retreating, tearing huge holes in the Confederate line. Plus many regiments and brigades stood and fought, until their flanks were turned and then they had to retreat further back and fought again. Plus, when Jackson's troops met the VI corps, they were stopped cold. So it wasn't just a walk-over. Once again, Southern Mythology rewrites history.
Another book I recently read has Southern troops behaving themselves in Pennsylvania as they were ordered too. While Union troops openly looted homes in VA. This book has accounts of Rebel soldiers looting entire houses, even in the midst of battle, and rounding up free blacks to take south to sell. Something Southern mythologist and some historians pretend never happened.
So, if you are a bit jaded reading historian accounts of Gettysburg, read what the actual participants remembered.
I admit to not being impressed with the first part of it, but after that, it was almost a page turner. The first quarter of it was mostly text by the author, with some memoirs of participants. But as soon as the skirmishers opened fire on each other the first day of the battle, the entire text was almost all from the actual participants, with just linking sentences from the author. You felt like you were really there in 1863. And I learned some things from the actual accounts that conflicted with books written by historians. Plus, there was a lot more narrative from the residents of Gettysburg than I've found in almost every other book I've read about the battle.
There were many very interesting details I was unaware of before, but I'll mention just three:
Most historians, when they relate Stuart's ride, have him capturing 200 wagons full of supplies near Rockville, Maryland, which slowed his movement, further depriving Lee of battlefield intelligence. This book has a Confederate cavalry officer stating the wagons, while all new, were empty, and after the resulting confusion, only about 100 were captured intact, but they still slowed Stuart's movements.
There there was the very young Confederate soldier who wandered into a house in town on the first day of battle saying he was tired of war and asked for help, as he didn't want to fight anymore. They sent him up to the attic, he put on civilian clothes the next day and remained as a resident of the town. This is a great little story. Wish there was more about him.
Most accounts of Union forces retreating through the town have them doing so in great confusion. This book has accounts of some units retreating in good order and delaying the Confederate advance. Typical that the worst news becomes the only news.
This reminds me of Jackson's attack on the flank of the XI Corps at Chancellorsville. Most historians---and that stupid "Gods and Generals" movie---have the Union troops fleeing in great panic. I've read accounts where a Union battery of six guns leapfrogged three guns at a time in retreating, tearing huge holes in the Confederate line. Plus many regiments and brigades stood and fought, until their flanks were turned and then they had to retreat further back and fought again. Plus, when Jackson's troops met the VI corps, they were stopped cold. So it wasn't just a walk-over. Once again, Southern Mythology rewrites history.
Another book I recently read has Southern troops behaving themselves in Pennsylvania as they were ordered too. While Union troops openly looted homes in VA. This book has accounts of Rebel soldiers looting entire houses, even in the midst of battle, and rounding up free blacks to take south to sell. Something Southern mythologist and some historians pretend never happened.
So, if you are a bit jaded reading historian accounts of Gettysburg, read what the actual participants remembered.
