A masterful, single-volume history of the Civil War's greatest campaign. Drawing on original source material, from soldiers' letters to official ...
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Sep 01, 2008
I was visiting Gettysburg the weekend I started reading this book and brought the book along as my textbook. I've read other books about Gettysburg, but I understand this is an especially good overview of the battle. During the weekend I was in Gettysburg, I got to see the monument that commemorates the first shot fired at Gettysburg. It's easy to miss because it's quite small and, until recently, was on private land. The Park Service recently purchased the house and property on which the mo
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Jan 13, 2012
Bookwormgirl
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Every time I visit Gettysburg (when I lived in MD it was usually once a year to play guide to visitors) I will re-read this book. The book makes the battle come alive in ways that just the facts and photos can't. Stephen Sears humanizes what to most is just historical facts learned in school.
If you are unable to visit Gettysburg, you can with this book, the details and descriptions are that good. If you can visit Gettysburg, reading this book will enhance the visit. You feel the sic More...
If you are unable to visit Gettysburg, you can with this book, the details and descriptions are that good. If you can visit Gettysburg, reading this book will enhance the visit. You feel the sic More...
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Jun 16, 2009
Josh
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An exhaustive but not exhausting tome on the battle of Gettysburg. Sears does a great job of covering every last bit of the battle in depth. He includes the lead up to the battle, with Lee's initial discussions with Jefferson Davis about invading Pennsylvania and the fallout from Chancellorsville in Hooker's army which eventually leads to Hooker's resignation (and replacement by Meade) when he is in the midst of chasing the Rebel army.
The book paints quite an interesting picture of More...
The book paints quite an interesting picture of More...
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Jul 26, 2011
Sweetwilliam
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This is an outstanding compilation on the Gettysburg campaign. I have read the Landscape Turned Red, Chancellorsville, and now Gettysburg. I enjoyed every page of every book. This book explains Lee’s reason for the invasion of Pennsylvania…. first the Army of Northern Virginia needed food and supplies for their men and forage for their horses and secondly the South needed a victory to offset the pending loss of Vicksburg. Lee believed reinforcing Vicksburg would do nothing more than dilute t
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Apr 12, 2009
David
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If you are fascinated by civil war history and enjoy a well researched history book than you should give Stephen Sears a try. I read this book last year in expectation of a trip to the Gettysburg battlefield in Pennsylvania. It was a slow read for me but one well worth the time. I found myself re-reading sections of the book as I traversed the town and battlfield upon finishing the book. A fantastic piece of historical documentation. The best thing about Sear's books are the variety of sour
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Jun 20, 2011
Bank
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I am going to Gettysburg this autumn and plan to read or re - read several of the most authoratative books of the battle. Sear's has written an excellent and gripping chronicle of the battle and the military and political context around it. His source material for the military intelligence and command decisions of Army of the Potomac is excellent. On the other hand , there is not any new insight or perspective on the reasons for the most controversial actions of Lee's army. Lots of speculati
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Dec 20, 2009
W
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Faulted Sears's Chancellorsville for spending too much time locating every bullet that was ever fired. Then my National park ranger and old room mate took me on a trip through Fredricksburg, Marys Heights, and on to Chancellorship where he forced marched us along Stonewall Jackson's flanking maneuver. Made me appreciate Sear's detail.
His Gettysburg is even better. Here he not only locates the bullets but the soldiers that fired them and all but climbs into the minds of the field ge More...
His Gettysburg is even better. Here he not only locates the bullets but the soldiers that fired them and all but climbs into the minds of the field ge More...
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Feb 21, 2011
Matt
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The sesquicentennial of the American Civil War fast approaches and I couldn’t be more excited. It promises to be a bonanza of books, movies, documentaries, and various other retrospectives, including the New York Times’ laudable and addicting Disunion blog. I can hardly contain myself, and have spent a bit of time preparing for the celebrations. Fireworks. Check. Flask of whiskey. Check. Stale crackers that I will substitute for hardtack. Check. Irritatingly pedagogic emails to be sent to my fri
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Jul 14, 2011
Sue
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This is probably the most comprehensive and indepth study of what's arguably the most famous battle of the Civil War, and possibly of American history. It covers more than just the events of those three fateful days; it delves briefly into the events of the war so far that led up to the battle, the personalities of the generals and their subordinates, and attempts to explain the rationalizations for the decisions (both good and bad) that ultimately helped decide the victor. In particular, I love
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Dec 25, 2009
Link
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Once I began this I was unable to do much else except read it to the end. A good battle story should cover both the top-level political and strategic context and decisions as well as the view of the soldiers on the ground, bringing out both the exhaustion, horror and heroism. Sears does all of this well and in detail. General Lee, brilliant in earlier victories, is portrayed as out of action here. General Meade, later criticized for not pursuing the confederates afterward, comes across well as i
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Oct 03, 2007
Christian
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The word 'meticulous' was invented for this book. The sheer detail is amazing, and it has a positive and a negative effect.
First the negatives: at some points it reads like a college textbook, especially in the opening few chapters when it is listing the various corps and their commanders. You can not easily breeze-read this book (unless you don't sweat comprehension). There's also the problem with keeping track of the seemingly thousands of regiments and divisions and their leade More...
First the negatives: at some points it reads like a college textbook, especially in the opening few chapters when it is listing the various corps and their commanders. You can not easily breeze-read this book (unless you don't sweat comprehension). There's also the problem with keeping track of the seemingly thousands of regiments and divisions and their leade More...
Jan 23, 2009
Don
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This was a very well researched book on the 3 day battle. It took me a long time to read because of the extraordinary amount of information presented, which can be both a blessing and a curse with historical texts. But, hey, you read a historian, you get a historians view. The Killer Angels by Shaara, a historical novel, was also very good and may be preferred by people who are looking for the basic facts about the battle without all the minutia.
Jun 30, 2011
Steven
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One of, if not the, most amazing volume of history I've ever read. He not only dives into the details of each day's battle, but he goes to great lengths to examine the events the lead up to and essentially set up the battle of Gettysburg. He lends a very fair and intellectual curious eye and writes with the power and suspense of fiction.
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Sep 23, 2010
Drew
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While I was reading this book my reaction was that the detail was way over the top (for a casual read), but I am currently reading "A Short History of WWI" and find myself wanting to know all the backstories and step-by-steps.
Main insight: inept leaders tend to play much larger roles in events than heroes.
Main insight: inept leaders tend to play much larger roles in events than heroes.
Jun 21, 2011
Mark
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This is by far the best history of the battle of Gettysburg that I've ever read (and I've read too many). I would, however, recommend that you have a basic knowledge of the military jargon of the time, specifically dealing with the organization of the respective armies.
Highly Recommended.
Highly Recommended.
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Jan 23, 2012
Linds
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SUPER informative. Learned a TON.
That being said, it is mostly "This guy and this guy and this General and all his Sergeants stood here, and they stood there."
I thought it would be more prose and description, less...facts.
That being said, it is mostly "This guy and this guy and this General and all his Sergeants stood here, and they stood there."
I thought it would be more prose and description, less...facts.
Aug 31, 2011
Monte
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This is an outstanding book on the battle. It has enough detail for the serious student of the battle yet the story doesn't bog down with too much detail. The writing is clear and all facets of the fighting are covered.
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Aug 01, 2011
Fuzzy
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Listening was the only way to read this book I think. Great if you really want to know all the details of the battle, such as which soldiers were where and who fought when, and details about all the military leaders.
Jan 02, 2009
Dabear
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Brilliant, should be read after the "The Killer Angels." This book replaces the emotion of the latter with the factual details of the overall execution of these horrific days.
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Oct 20, 2011
Neil
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A truly great work on the battle. Does a very good job of covering the transition from Hooker to Meade and addresses the many questions regarding Lee and his subordinates during the battle.
I would recommend this work to anyone interested in the battle. Detailed, even-handed without being non-judgmental just a great work.
I would recommend this work to anyone interested in the battle. Detailed, even-handed without being non-judgmental just a great work.
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Sep 17, 2010
This is a mammoth book on a gigantic battle, one of the most important of the Civil War. I look forward to reading this, to compare with another work. Nothing yet written, in my estimation, could ever surpass Shelby Foote's description of the battle in his trilogy.
Dec 16, 2009
Matt
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On a whim, I decided to take a crack at reading some Civil War military history. Not normally the type of book or the historical period that I'm into. The style is to focus on the details of the armies: personalities, positions at different points times, organizational structure. There is much less (to none) of a focus on the historical context & social background. There is a cursory look at how civilians in occupied and affected territories reacted. The best part is that the author quotes
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May 15, 2009
Alan
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May be the best of the many Gettysburg books. The author captures the human experience as well as explaining the military tatics.
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Sep 12, 2011
Kimberlyann
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Thorough. Very thorough. Everything you could want to know and then some. Perfect read before I head to Gettysburg next week.
Dec 14, 2009
Takipsilim
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The high-water mark of the Confederacy, and one of the crucial battles that determined American and world history.
Jul 24, 2010
Sandy
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What a great account of the entire battle of Gettysburg!!! I want to go back now sooo bad.
Nov 11, 2009
Rich
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Spoiler alert: The Union wins the battle on the third day, but Meade doesn't follow the insane traitor Lee to the river to destroy his army and end the war, and Lincoln is despondent. (More spoiler alert: Lincoln gets SHOT three years later! Dead!)
