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Civil War America
Pickett's Charge--The Last Attack at Gettysburg
Sweeping away many of the myths that have long surrounded Pickett's Charge, Earl Hess offers the definitive history of the most famous military action of the Civil War. He transforms exhaustive research into a moving narrative account of the assault from both Union and Confederate perspectives, analyzing its planning, execution, aftermath, and legacy.
520 pages, Paperback
First published November 5, 2001
About the author
Earl J. Hess
53 books28 followersEarl J. Hess is Stewart W. McClelland Chair in History at Lincoln Memorial University and the author of numerous books on the Civil War.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 3, 2025
Pickett's Charge
For many people, Pickett's July 3, 1863 charge up Cemetery Ridge is the climactic event of the Battle of Gettysburg and the defining moment of the Civil War. Earl J. Hess has written a detailed, scholarly account of Pickett's charge which draws copiously upon contemporary sources. His book is clear and easy to follow, given the subject matter, and is poignant to read. I found myself riveted to his account.
I found a major virtue of the book was the manner in which Hess shifted his focus back and forth from the Confederate to the Union side of the line. The book begins with a discussion of the planning of the charge, focusing on the interactions between Lee and Longstreet. This is followed by two chapters dealing with, respectively, the disposition of the Confederate troops before the attack and the Union lines before the attack. I found this invaluable in helping me understand the events of the day and their sequence.
Hess follows this discussion with a discussion of the Confederate cannonading barrage, and the Union response, that proceeded the infantry advance. Again, he shifts his focus from the Confederate side of the line, and the effect of the cannonading on the Union, to the Union response and its effect on the Confederacy. He spends a great deal of time explaining the decision of the Union artillerists to hold their fire and the disagreement this decision provoked with General Hancock. This theme pervades the book and is well-treated. Hess concludes that the cannonading was about one hour in duration before the infantry charge,(i.e. from about 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.) contrary to some other accounts which make it substantially longer.
Hess offers a detailed discussions of the Confederate infantry advance to the Emmitsburg Road, to the Stone Fence, and, for a small number of intrepid southern soldiers, over the wall and into the Union lines. He also describes the Union artillery and infantry responses and their effect on the charge at each stage.
An excellent but somewhat brief chapter covers the repulse of the charge and the subsequent Confederate retreat back to Virginia. Hess then discusses the careers of the principle protagonists of the battle following the events of July 3 through the end of the War and beyond.
The book lays a great deal of emphasis on the topography of the battlefield, the hills, ridges, swales, and fences which played a major role in the fighting of July 3. But the key emphasis on the book is on the fighting men on both sides -- on their determination and their heroism. Hess argues that the activities of the troops and their immediate commanders were more important to the results of the day than the decisions of the generals.
Hess has many thoughtful things to say about the attack, its planning, and about its possibilities for success. He finds the attack a long chance indeed but is able to present a convincing case about why Lee believed he needed to try. Hess is highly critical of James Longstreet for the manner in which he deployed the attacking divisions and for his failure to provide support to the attack. But he does not believe the attack would have succeeded even if Longstreet had carried out his responsibilities more aggressively. I learned a great deal from Hess's study.
This book will help the reader understand the events of July 3. It shows why Pickett's charge, with its suffering, its folly, and its glory retains its hold on the imagination of many Americans.
Robin Friedman
For many people, Pickett's July 3, 1863 charge up Cemetery Ridge is the climactic event of the Battle of Gettysburg and the defining moment of the Civil War. Earl J. Hess has written a detailed, scholarly account of Pickett's charge which draws copiously upon contemporary sources. His book is clear and easy to follow, given the subject matter, and is poignant to read. I found myself riveted to his account.
I found a major virtue of the book was the manner in which Hess shifted his focus back and forth from the Confederate to the Union side of the line. The book begins with a discussion of the planning of the charge, focusing on the interactions between Lee and Longstreet. This is followed by two chapters dealing with, respectively, the disposition of the Confederate troops before the attack and the Union lines before the attack. I found this invaluable in helping me understand the events of the day and their sequence.
Hess follows this discussion with a discussion of the Confederate cannonading barrage, and the Union response, that proceeded the infantry advance. Again, he shifts his focus from the Confederate side of the line, and the effect of the cannonading on the Union, to the Union response and its effect on the Confederacy. He spends a great deal of time explaining the decision of the Union artillerists to hold their fire and the disagreement this decision provoked with General Hancock. This theme pervades the book and is well-treated. Hess concludes that the cannonading was about one hour in duration before the infantry charge,(i.e. from about 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.) contrary to some other accounts which make it substantially longer.
Hess offers a detailed discussions of the Confederate infantry advance to the Emmitsburg Road, to the Stone Fence, and, for a small number of intrepid southern soldiers, over the wall and into the Union lines. He also describes the Union artillery and infantry responses and their effect on the charge at each stage.
An excellent but somewhat brief chapter covers the repulse of the charge and the subsequent Confederate retreat back to Virginia. Hess then discusses the careers of the principle protagonists of the battle following the events of July 3 through the end of the War and beyond.
The book lays a great deal of emphasis on the topography of the battlefield, the hills, ridges, swales, and fences which played a major role in the fighting of July 3. But the key emphasis on the book is on the fighting men on both sides -- on their determination and their heroism. Hess argues that the activities of the troops and their immediate commanders were more important to the results of the day than the decisions of the generals.
Hess has many thoughtful things to say about the attack, its planning, and about its possibilities for success. He finds the attack a long chance indeed but is able to present a convincing case about why Lee believed he needed to try. Hess is highly critical of James Longstreet for the manner in which he deployed the attacking divisions and for his failure to provide support to the attack. But he does not believe the attack would have succeeded even if Longstreet had carried out his responsibilities more aggressively. I learned a great deal from Hess's study.
This book will help the reader understand the events of July 3. It shows why Pickett's charge, with its suffering, its folly, and its glory retains its hold on the imagination of many Americans.
Robin Friedman
October 9, 2020
Definitive and magisterial. Details on every aspect of the attack for both sides, but presented in an intense and engaging narrative. Deals with everything from the top level generals planning to the individual soldier personal reminiscences and everything in between. The authoritative account.
February 21, 2023
Certainly a must read for any serious student of the Battle of Gettysburg. Hess’s microhistory certainly doesn’t lack details of the tactical aspects of one of the most infamous military actions in American history. His writing style is a bit dry and academic, but the book is still quite readable. The way he breaks down the different aspects of the assault into sections (e.g. Pickett’s division, Union Second Corps infantry, Confederate artillery, etc) makes this easier to digest. Ultimately I think I just disagree with some of Hess’s interpretations. His anti-Longstreet bias leads to contradictory conclusions about the efficacy of the charge. He also takes some weird potshots at Carol Reardon’s fantastic work “Pickett’s Charge in History and Memory”, a book which I found to be a more worthwhile read in understanding the symbolic importance of the charge.
January 25, 2021
Until I began to read Earl Hess’ account of Pickett’s Charge, I had not fully appreciated how it was truly organized chaos. It was far from a 20 minute walk in the park land! Hess provides a minute by minute almost man by man account of that attempt to break to Union defensive line. It is a gripping tale of gore and courage.
Hess surmises that by Day 3 Lee was truly desperate and was in search a miracle result of this last-ditch effort.
In short, he does a masterful job of describing exquisite details of a 20 minute battle, but falls short in his end-piece analysis of same. Hess has published a well-written description of an important event in American history, but falls short in providing a well thought out analysis of the event. Perhaps that simply wasn’t his intention.
Hess surmises that by Day 3 Lee was truly desperate and was in search a miracle result of this last-ditch effort.
In short, he does a masterful job of describing exquisite details of a 20 minute battle, but falls short in his end-piece analysis of same. Hess has published a well-written description of an important event in American history, but falls short in providing a well thought out analysis of the event. Perhaps that simply wasn’t his intention.
September 12, 2019
This book is about as well a researched work as I have seen in a while. That in itself is enough to gain high marks for Mr. Hess and his effort but there is more. The writing style is super. It is very hard for any writer to go into the details of a military action without the account becoming very dry. Mr. Hess however does a great job of this.
November 18, 2018
While good overall account of the whys and hows, it can be convoluted in places. But i enjoyed it thoroughly.
August 18, 2021
Mr. Hess does an excellent job of preparing an engaging, easy to read, and follow book. The book reads like a novel with great attention to historical detail of the 3rd day at Gettysburg.
August 6, 2023
10 maps
Order/s of Battle
Endnotes
Bibliography
What’s not to like!
Order/s of Battle
Endnotes
Bibliography
What’s not to like!
June 2, 2009
Tactical historian Earl Hess sets out to compile the most comprehensive account yet written on the Pickett-Pettigrew-Trimble Assault. Hess's volume is impressively researched, particularly his tapping previously unused Confederate reports. Despite a commendable approach overall, Pickett's Charge suffers from a few critical errors. First and most glaring is the complete misinterpretation of Col. Norman Hall's brigade. Hess diverts from all previous works written on Pickett's Charge and Gettysburg by placing the 20th MA on Hall's right and the 59th NY on the brigade's left (all historians, corresponding with the unanimous consensus of those engaged, placed these regiments directly opposite Hess's revisionist approach). The author takes to ludicrous extremes the flawed notion that the 59th NY broke to the rear during the action, going so far as to declare that those who did not run away simply surrendered to assaulting Confederates. Finally, Hess brusquely disregards Federal accounts stating that Confederates entered the Copse of Trees through the lines of the 69th PA; instead, Hess notes, these Union soldiers were suffering from an optical illusion. With all these in mind, Pickett's Charge could have been a much stronger work. As such, George R. Stewart's volume (which boasts a much more balanced approach and much better maps) remains the single best book on the July 3 action.
February 3, 2023
Pickett's Charge is the most famous charge in the history of this country, but it is not the largest. There is so much myth and story behind this attack that occurred on July 3rd, 1863. I have been to Gettysburg many times and I am currently reading up to pass the Licensed Battlefield Guide exam whenever it is offered again. I have stood at the Virginia Monument and looked across the field and ask, "What was Lee thinking?" Earl Hess does an amazing job providing both sides perspectives and pieces together what happened that day. What I like about Hess' book the most is that he focuses on the other Confederates that participated in that assault. He doesn't just write about Pickett and his men. He talks about the North Carolinians, Mississippians, Floridians, men from Tennessee and Alabama that fought. Hess also shows the Confederate assault was longer than most people think. I never knew the extent of the length of the Confederate line as they attacked that day. This book is also very readable. In my opinion, it is one of the best Civil War books ever. It helped me understand why Lee made this assault. Longstreet was right here.
November 9, 2008
An incredibly detailed description of the battle at Gettysburg (although the majority of the text focuses on the last day of the attack).
The only reason I give it 3 stars instead of 4 is because I actually don't like _that_ much detail when I read. It was too much for my poor little brain to retain much of the time.
However, it really gave me an intense feeling of what it must have been like on that day, along with the reasons that these men fought.
The only reason I give it 3 stars instead of 4 is because I actually don't like _that_ much detail when I read. It was too much for my poor little brain to retain much of the time.
However, it really gave me an intense feeling of what it must have been like on that day, along with the reasons that these men fought.
February 26, 2008
This was an excellent book for those who enjoy an in-depth tactical and strategic study of a Civil War battle. There were many maps that accompanied the text as well as still pictures of the area being discussed. I found it a fascinating read, but laborious at times as I worked my way through each segment.
June 26, 2013
Good book, a detailed look at Pickett's Charge. Very well written and easy to read. Tells both sides of the story, terrain, and some of the "what if's. Enjoyed it just wish, like always, that it had more maps.
October 27, 2014
I love detail but sometimes the specifics get lost in the detail.
Overall, well done as a presentation of information.
Overall, well done as a presentation of information.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews