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Crisis at the Crossroads
“Hassler’s history will survive as our most detailed narrative of the first day’s battle, examining the day’s action so minutely that no succeeding historian of Gettysburg will be able to ignore it. Hassler’s book has solid virtues in addition to its thoroughness of detail: it offers a persuasive argument that the first day’s events largely determined the eventual outcome of the battle; Hassler displays uncommonly complete knowledge of the battlefield terrain [and] makes uniquely good use of the information that can be gleaned from the monuments and markers on the battlefield.” – American Historical Review
214 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 1, 2025
The First Day At Gettysburg
Early in the morning of July 1, 1863, the advance soldiers of Confederate General Henry Heth on reconnaissance towards Gettysburg ran into the cavalry of Union General John Burford. With this encounter, the Battle of Gettysburg was underway.
The first day of the battle is sometimes neglected in comparison to the fighting on day 2 at Little Round Top and the Peach Orchard and Pickett's charge on day 3. But the fighting on July 1 was decisive to the Union's victory at Gettysburg. From sunrise on July 1 to about 4:30 p.m, the Union first and eleventh corps held off a larger force of Confederate troops under the Corps commanders A.P. Hill and Richard Ewell. Their stand enabled the remaining elements of the Federal army to concentrate on the high ground of Cemetry Hill and Cemetry Ridge southeast of Gettysburg which was to prove an almost impregnable position. In addition, the Union Army inflicted great losses on the attacking Confederates. The Southern casualties on day 1 severely hampered the Southern attacks on days 2 and 3, particularly on the Union right on Cemetery and Culp's Hills and in the attacks on both days on the Union Center.
There are a number of detailed studies of the fighting on July 1, but I found Hassler's short book "Crisis at the Crossroads" (1970) extremely lucid and useful in explaining the confusing, frequently uncoordinated events of that day. The book begins with a discussion of the convergence of the Union and Confederate armies in the environs of Gettysburg, stressing the lack of knowledge of each side of the movements of the other side. Then there is a short but extremely helpful discussion of the topography of Gettysburg, including the ten roads leading into the town and the geographical features of the terrain that played a critical role in the troop movements and in the outcome of the fighting. Many studies do not pause to give an overview of the terrain. This makes the account of the battle more confusing and harder to follow than it needs to be. Hassler's book, after the reading of several other accounts of day 1, helped me a great deal in following what was happening.
In short, focused chapters, Hassler discusses the early morning encounter between Buford and Heth, the death of Union General Reynolds, the repeated fighting at the railroad cut in the morning and afternoon, the defeat of the Eleventh Corps north of of Gettysburg by Early, the fighting at Oak Ridge, the ultimate defeat of the Union First Corps on McPherson and Seminary Ridge, and the Union retreat through Gettysburg to Cemetery Hill. Hassler addresses the most common question arising from the first day of the Battle: whether Ewell and Lee should have pursued the attack on Cemetery and Culps Hills. He concludes that such an attack would likely have failed. The book ends with a short chapter in which Hassler gives his views and conclusions on the fighting on day 1 and on its impact on the rest of the battle. I found his discussion judicious and insightful.
Hassler describes the battle both from the perspectives of the commanders and also from the view of the foot soldiers on the line. The role of artillery in the battle receives great emphasis. There are places were more maps would have been helpful. Hassler's stresses the valor and conviction demonstrated by the soldiers of both sides on that dreadful, eventful day. His study concludes (p. 155)with the words:
"[t]heir conduct was indeed sublime".
This book lacks the detail of Henry Pfanz's study of day 1, but I found Hassler gets to the point quicker and is easier to follow. I suggest the reader with a strong interest in exploring day 1 of Gettysburg read Hassler's book first, if possible, and then follow it by a detailed reading of Pfanz. This book will help the student of the Civil War understand our country's greatest battle.
Robin Friedman
Early in the morning of July 1, 1863, the advance soldiers of Confederate General Henry Heth on reconnaissance towards Gettysburg ran into the cavalry of Union General John Burford. With this encounter, the Battle of Gettysburg was underway.
The first day of the battle is sometimes neglected in comparison to the fighting on day 2 at Little Round Top and the Peach Orchard and Pickett's charge on day 3. But the fighting on July 1 was decisive to the Union's victory at Gettysburg. From sunrise on July 1 to about 4:30 p.m, the Union first and eleventh corps held off a larger force of Confederate troops under the Corps commanders A.P. Hill and Richard Ewell. Their stand enabled the remaining elements of the Federal army to concentrate on the high ground of Cemetry Hill and Cemetry Ridge southeast of Gettysburg which was to prove an almost impregnable position. In addition, the Union Army inflicted great losses on the attacking Confederates. The Southern casualties on day 1 severely hampered the Southern attacks on days 2 and 3, particularly on the Union right on Cemetery and Culp's Hills and in the attacks on both days on the Union Center.
There are a number of detailed studies of the fighting on July 1, but I found Hassler's short book "Crisis at the Crossroads" (1970) extremely lucid and useful in explaining the confusing, frequently uncoordinated events of that day. The book begins with a discussion of the convergence of the Union and Confederate armies in the environs of Gettysburg, stressing the lack of knowledge of each side of the movements of the other side. Then there is a short but extremely helpful discussion of the topography of Gettysburg, including the ten roads leading into the town and the geographical features of the terrain that played a critical role in the troop movements and in the outcome of the fighting. Many studies do not pause to give an overview of the terrain. This makes the account of the battle more confusing and harder to follow than it needs to be. Hassler's book, after the reading of several other accounts of day 1, helped me a great deal in following what was happening.
In short, focused chapters, Hassler discusses the early morning encounter between Buford and Heth, the death of Union General Reynolds, the repeated fighting at the railroad cut in the morning and afternoon, the defeat of the Eleventh Corps north of of Gettysburg by Early, the fighting at Oak Ridge, the ultimate defeat of the Union First Corps on McPherson and Seminary Ridge, and the Union retreat through Gettysburg to Cemetery Hill. Hassler addresses the most common question arising from the first day of the Battle: whether Ewell and Lee should have pursued the attack on Cemetery and Culps Hills. He concludes that such an attack would likely have failed. The book ends with a short chapter in which Hassler gives his views and conclusions on the fighting on day 1 and on its impact on the rest of the battle. I found his discussion judicious and insightful.
Hassler describes the battle both from the perspectives of the commanders and also from the view of the foot soldiers on the line. The role of artillery in the battle receives great emphasis. There are places were more maps would have been helpful. Hassler's stresses the valor and conviction demonstrated by the soldiers of both sides on that dreadful, eventful day. His study concludes (p. 155)with the words:
"[t]heir conduct was indeed sublime".
This book lacks the detail of Henry Pfanz's study of day 1, but I found Hassler gets to the point quicker and is easier to follow. I suggest the reader with a strong interest in exploring day 1 of Gettysburg read Hassler's book first, if possible, and then follow it by a detailed reading of Pfanz. This book will help the student of the Civil War understand our country's greatest battle.
Robin Friedman
October 4, 2018
Very good detail of the first day of the battle. I liked the authors viewpoint on Howard's 11th Corps and their performance on 1 July. Particularly enjoyed the synopsis at the end of the book.
September 4, 2015
This book was written from an academic point of view. It had a few stories from the first day's battles, but was mostly factual aspects of the battle.
It was interesting and a learning experience but didn't make the battles come alive
It was interesting and a learning experience but didn't make the battles come alive
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews