Struggle for the Round Tops: Law's Alabama Brigade at the Battle of Gettysburg

by Morris M. Penny

Morris M. Penny and J. Gary Laine have produced a compelling story of Law's Alabama Brigade's attempt to wrest the Round Tops from Federal hands. In July 1863, Evander McIver Law, age 26, was one of Robert E. Lee's most promising generals. His brigade of Alabamians shared the Army of Northern Virginia's sense of invincibility. After a grueling 25-mile march to the battlefield, Law's men made a valiant three-hour effort to gain control of the high ground on the Federal right. Struggle for the Round Tops describes the vicious fighting around Devil's Den, in the Devil's Kitchen, and the heartbreaking repulse from Little Round Top. Law's Alabamians participated in the defense of the Confederate right on July 3 and delighted in unhorsing a number of Federal troopers in Farnsworth's charge. Two days after it arrived, the brigade retired from the field with the realization that the Federals had matched their own fighting ability. Law himself departed with the seeds of discord planted that would ultimately culminate in a devastating feud between himself and Longstreet. Much has been written about the conduct of the Confederate commanders on July 2. Some historians have suggested that Law deliberately disobeyed an order to launch his assault up the Emmitsburg Road. The authors examine the implications of Lee's orders and offer new insight into Hood'snd Law's perspective of the situation and the leeway Hood assumed as a division commander.

Genres: Civil War

276 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1999

Reviews

[Dennis Phillips]

In all honesty, this is not a book for the casual reader. I have spent many hours prowling around the battlefield at Gettysburg and on occasion I had trouble keeping up with what regiment was where. Taking that problem into account, the authors have included numerous maps showing the troop movements in great detail. The maps are a huge help. This book also does an excellent job of keeping things interesting, even while getting into a good deal of minutia.

This is an excellent book for anyone fascinated by those three July days in Pennsylvania. Anyone doing research on the battle needs a copy of this book. Penny and Laine allow us to follow Law's Brigade from Virginia to Gettysburg, and back again. I would love to have the time to run up to Gettysburg, climb up and sit on a big boulder at Devil's Den and read this book. While sitting there, able to look around me and see the places described, this book's vivid account of July 2nd, 1863 would almost transport me back in time and allow me to see it all for myself. Great Job!