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Crown Journeys Series
Hallowed Ground: A Walk at Gettysburg
Hallowed Ground: A Walk at Gettysburg (Crown Journeys)
144 pages, Hardcover
First published March 5, 2003
116 people are currently reading
1617 people want to read
About the author
James M. McPherson
171 books713 followersJames M. McPherson, Ph.D. (Johns Hopkins University, 1963; B.A., Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter, Minnesota), 1958) is an American Civil War historian, and the George Henry Davis '86 Professor Emeritus of United States History at Princeton University. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Battle Cry of Freedom, his most famous book. He was the president of the American Historical Association in 2003, and is a member of the editorial board of Encyclopædia Britannica.
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July 4, 2025
A Walk Through Gettysburg
James McPherson, America's leading Civil War historian, is an ideal guide to the Gettysburg Battlefield. In his short, eloquent book, "Hallowed Ground," it is almost as if Professor McPherson is at the reader's side accompanying the reader as a guide to the great battle that took place from July 1 -- July 3, 1863.
McPherson is an ideal guide for many reasons. Most importantly, he is reflective. His focus is on the meaning and significance of the Battle rather than on bare fact or on a strict discussion of detailed military maneuvers. McPherson sees the Battle, and the Civil War in general, as a conflict driven by the institution of slavery. He reminds the reader of the "New Birth of Freedom" that President Lincoln saw as the meaning of the conflict in his Gettysburg Address. McPherson is alive to other meanings of the struggle, including the role it played in forging an American nationalism, and including as well the valor shown and the sacrifices endured by the many who fought at Gettysburg, from the Union and from the Confederacy. The reader comes away from the book encouraged to think through the meaning of the Battle. This would be the best result that could be achieved from a book about Gettysburg or from a visit to the Battlefield.
Professor McPherson is also an ideal guide because he resists the temptation to say too much. Several recent books such as those by Stephen Sears and Noah Trudeau offer outstanding accounts of the fighting at Gettysburg, its prelude, and its aftermath. Professor McPherson's book, in contrast, is not a detailed military study of the campaign. Rather, he gives the reader short summaries of the fighting on each of the three days of the battle. What he says is lucid and cuts to the heart of the battle. It is what a person seeing the Battlefield would need to know, and what the visitor could reasonably hope to absorb in a single visit without becoming bogged down in a welter of detail. (The detail of course is necessary for those wishing to study the battle in depth.)
McPherson is also an ideal guide because of his sense of place at the Battlefield. McPherson tells the reader that he has seen the Battlefield by walking, biking, car and bus. He has brought his classes from Princeton, as well as other groups, to see the Battlefield and to think about the role of the Battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War in American History. McPherson's account emphasizes the physical features of the battlefield --where the trees and orchards were in 1863 and where the land now differs from its topography at the time of the battle. He is full of anecdotes about people of the Battle, of great rank and of low rank, and of civilians. He has wonderfully specific information about the many monuments and statutes that await the visitor at Gettysburg and that memorialize the events of the Battle. He is also full of challenging questions and of answers that may surprise. For example, "is there any significance to whether a horse is standing on two legs in determining whether its rider survived the battle"? (see p. 40) "Who is the only enlisted soldier with his own monument on the battlefield and why? (see p.53) Also, "Did the Battle of Gettysburg result from an advance Confederate brigade entering Gettysburg in search of shoes"? (see p.35-36) McPherson's avoids pat answers to these and many other questions.
This book is a meditation on the Battle of Gettysburg by a writer who has thought long and deeply about his subject. It will move the reader and increase the reader's ability to reflect upon our history.
Robin Friedman
James McPherson, America's leading Civil War historian, is an ideal guide to the Gettysburg Battlefield. In his short, eloquent book, "Hallowed Ground," it is almost as if Professor McPherson is at the reader's side accompanying the reader as a guide to the great battle that took place from July 1 -- July 3, 1863.
McPherson is an ideal guide for many reasons. Most importantly, he is reflective. His focus is on the meaning and significance of the Battle rather than on bare fact or on a strict discussion of detailed military maneuvers. McPherson sees the Battle, and the Civil War in general, as a conflict driven by the institution of slavery. He reminds the reader of the "New Birth of Freedom" that President Lincoln saw as the meaning of the conflict in his Gettysburg Address. McPherson is alive to other meanings of the struggle, including the role it played in forging an American nationalism, and including as well the valor shown and the sacrifices endured by the many who fought at Gettysburg, from the Union and from the Confederacy. The reader comes away from the book encouraged to think through the meaning of the Battle. This would be the best result that could be achieved from a book about Gettysburg or from a visit to the Battlefield.
Professor McPherson is also an ideal guide because he resists the temptation to say too much. Several recent books such as those by Stephen Sears and Noah Trudeau offer outstanding accounts of the fighting at Gettysburg, its prelude, and its aftermath. Professor McPherson's book, in contrast, is not a detailed military study of the campaign. Rather, he gives the reader short summaries of the fighting on each of the three days of the battle. What he says is lucid and cuts to the heart of the battle. It is what a person seeing the Battlefield would need to know, and what the visitor could reasonably hope to absorb in a single visit without becoming bogged down in a welter of detail. (The detail of course is necessary for those wishing to study the battle in depth.)
McPherson is also an ideal guide because of his sense of place at the Battlefield. McPherson tells the reader that he has seen the Battlefield by walking, biking, car and bus. He has brought his classes from Princeton, as well as other groups, to see the Battlefield and to think about the role of the Battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War in American History. McPherson's account emphasizes the physical features of the battlefield --where the trees and orchards were in 1863 and where the land now differs from its topography at the time of the battle. He is full of anecdotes about people of the Battle, of great rank and of low rank, and of civilians. He has wonderfully specific information about the many monuments and statutes that await the visitor at Gettysburg and that memorialize the events of the Battle. He is also full of challenging questions and of answers that may surprise. For example, "is there any significance to whether a horse is standing on two legs in determining whether its rider survived the battle"? (see p. 40) "Who is the only enlisted soldier with his own monument on the battlefield and why? (see p.53) Also, "Did the Battle of Gettysburg result from an advance Confederate brigade entering Gettysburg in search of shoes"? (see p.35-36) McPherson's avoids pat answers to these and many other questions.
This book is a meditation on the Battle of Gettysburg by a writer who has thought long and deeply about his subject. It will move the reader and increase the reader's ability to reflect upon our history.
Robin Friedman
June 22, 2013
Hallowed Ground: A Walk at Gettysburg, Three Days in July
Although I was born in Alabama and live here still, I revere Abraham Lincoln. My first job was as a sign painter for outdoor advertising. It was a tough job, putting up metal paneled billboards. I was in high school. With my first paycheck I bought a bust of Abraham Lincoln. I've had it ever since.
This is the 150th Anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg. Three days in July; the first, second, and third. There is irony that the greatest battle on American soil ended one day before Independence Day. Or perhaps, there is no irony in it at all. For the end result was that this struggle marked the great turning point in the American Civil War that led us to be one nation, united, and we celebrate the Fourth of July as Americans, one and all.
James M. McPherson, the Pulitzer Prize winning author of Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era, has written a small gem of a book that captures personalities of the key commanders and the essential strategies and tactics of each of those three days in a mere one hundred forty one pages. McPherson includes critical maps documenting each day's actions.
Author James M. McPherson
I will be making my second pilgrimage to Gettysburg this next week. I, too, consider it "hallowed ground." My traveling companion will be Ritchie Tipton, of whom I have written in a number of other reviews. We each began our careers as Assistant District Attorneys. It will be his first trip to this little Pennsylvania town. We will be two of the estimated seventy thousand people that will swell the population of this normally quiet little town.
We will stay at an Inn originally built in 1812. It, as did every other home in the surrounding countryside, served as a hospital during and after the battle. Today the Inn sits on land aside what has been renamed Hospital Road. We were fortunate to obtain a room with two twin beds, each with a night stand for our respective C-Pap machines, as neither of us has ever been able to kick the vice of smoking, nor missed the opportunity for a fine meal.
I called Ritchie last Sunday. "Mr. Tipton, what are you doing?" He growled through the phone, "Well, Mr. Sullivan, I'm reading Stars in Their Courses: The Gettysburg Campaign, June-July 1963, by Mr. Shelby Foote."
Known for his colorful language, Ritchie continued,"It appears to me this was a real cluster f...--Ewell and Lee are coming in from the North and Meade is coming in from the South."
While not quite as colorful in his exposition, McPherson essentially agrees with my astute friend. Neither Lee nor Meade chose Gettysburg as the location where their forces would collide.
General Lee had obtained Jefferson Davis' permission for an invasion of the North following his decisive victory at Chancellorsville. The target was not Gettysburg, but Harrisburg. Lee divided his forces and sent General Richard S. Ewell to the banks of the Susquehanna River with orders to seize the town. The seizure of Harrisburg would open up the road to Philadelphia. A victory in Pennsylvania would stir up the Copperhead Democrats in Congress, causing Lincoln to sue for peace and the South would win its independence.
Robert E. Lee
But victory at Chancellorsville had been costly. Stonewall Jackson had been severely wounded by friendly fire and died of pneumonia on May 10, 1863, leaving Pete Longstreet as Lee's Field Commander in the upcoming invasion.
James Longstreet, "Old Pete"
Chancellorsville also brought about a change in command of the Army of the Potomac. Lincoln accepted Joe Hooker's resignation after Hooker expressed dismay over being denied further reinforcements. In his place Lincoln elevated a surprised and reluctant George Meade as yet another commander of the Army of the Potomac.
George Meade
Lee left a sufficient number of troops in Fredericksburg, Virginia, to disguise his movement to the North. Jeb Stuart, Lee's most renowned Cavalry Commander was to serve as his eyes and to notify Lee of any Federal movement from Fredericksburg.
Jeb Stuart, the man who left Lee in the dark
Lee would move North, hidden by the mountains of the Sheandoah, particularly South Mountain. Stuart would proceed parallel to Lee, also West of South Mountain.
But Stuart had suffered a stinging defeat at the largest cavalry engagement of the Civil War at the battle of Brandy Station. Stuart asked Lee's permission to swing East of South Mountain. Lee mistakenly gave Stuart permission to do so provided he stayed in constant contact through courier and could connect with Lee's army whenever needed.
Stuart ran into the rear of the Army of the Potomac. However, he was cut off by the rapidly moving Union forces. No courier could get through, nor could he move his cavalry back across South Mountain. Stuart's apparent attempt to overcome his embarrassment at Brandy Station would leave Lee blind.
Only word from a civilian spy informed Lee of the oncoming Union advance. Lee sent couriers recalling Ewell from Harrisburg. He then selected Gettysburg as a gathering place for his divided forces.
However, on July 1, Union forces already occupied Gettysburg. John Buford, the cavalry commander who had defeated Stuart at Brandy Station was there. Buford, seeing the oncoming Confederate forces sent couriers telling forces of the Army of the Potomac to come with all haste. Buford's men were equipped with Sharps Carbines which allowed them to fire three times as fast as Confederate infantry equipped with rifled muskets.
John Buford, the man who really chose the ground for battle
Nevertheless, the overwhelming tide of Confederate forces took the day and the town of Gettysburg. Union forces retreated to Cemetery Hill. Lee told Ewell to take the hill if practicable. With daylight waning, Ewell decided it wasn't practicable. The harsh fact is if Lee wanted the hill taken, he was the commanding general and should have ordered it.
Richard Ewell allowed Union forces to occupy the high ground
July 2 saw attempts by Lee's forces to attack both the Union left and right flanks. Ewell's men were on the right at Culp's Hill. Longstreet was on the left where fierce fighting occurred in the wheat field, the peach orchard, Devil's Den, and finally the assault on Little Round Top, the spot immortalized in The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara, which also made Bowdoin College Professor Joshua Chamberlain one of the singular heroes of Gettysburg.
Joshua Chamberlain who held the Union left
McPherson clearly points out that Chamberlain was not the only hero that prevented a Union rout. He tells of the importance of the fighting at Culp's Hill, where Colonel David Ireland had built two sets of defenses, the second a wooden wall, higher up Culp's Hill. The wall proved to be the saving grace on the right flank. Neither flank was turned. McPherson gives Chamberlain his due, but also openly points to Chamberlain's detractors who claimed perhaps accurately Chamberlain had a flair for self promotion.
Daniel Ireland, unsung hero?
Then, inevitably, we come to July 3 and what is popularly known as Pickett's Charge. Actually the men of Generals Trimble and Pettigrew were part of the mile long line of men. Longstreet bordered on insubordination, telling Lee that no fifteen thousand men could take the Union center a mile away over open ground, urging him to move to the right, choose his own ground, and make Meade attack him. Lee refused to listen, insisting that the Union center had been weakened by reinforcements to the right and left flanks on the heights.
The Confederate view of the Union center, a mile across open ground
The assault was to begin following an hour and a half artillery barrage under the command of Edwin Alexander Porter, whose skills in that capacity had established his reputation in previous engagements. However, Porter's barrage was ineffective with most of his shells exploding behind the enemy lines. McPherson points out that Porter was dealing with ammunition manufactured at armories other than Richmond and that the fuses of the shells used on July 3 burned more slowly. Alexander never knew of the inaccuracy of his shelling because of the smoke that covered the field.
It was a slaughter.
It is impossible to appreciate what occurred at Gettysburg without walking the ground. And during that walk you must consider that this ground served as a battlefield for 165,000 soldiers--75,000 Confederate and 90,000 Union. Of those, 11,000 were killed or died of their wounds. 29,000 were wounded but survived. 10,000 were simply missing, in most cases captured. These 50,000 casualties were ten times those suffered on June 6, 1944, during D-Day.
I have told my neighbor, my former Psychology Professor originally from Cleveland, Ohio, of my upcoming trip. He gave me a curious look. "I have never understood why Southerners continue to want to fight the Civil War." I could only tell him, "It is not because I was born in the South. It is a reminder of why we are all Americans. You have to go to understand it."
There are more than 1400 monuments at Gettysburg. They have been erected by states and by members of the regiments who fought there. I have seen each one. I have walked, marched, double-timed, and charged across that open field towards a copse of trees that formed the Union center on a hot July 3, at the precise hour of the final charge. I have wondered at courage in the face of futility. It still has the ability to make me shiver.
Should you make a trip to Gettysburg, I recommend you read McPherson's book. Take it with you. And if you wonder how men could fight so hard and so courageously, I recommend For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War also by James M. McPherson.
Lincoln at Gettysburg, November 19, 1863
"More than any other place in the United States, this battlefield is indeed hallowed ground. Perhaps no word in the American language has greater historical resonance than Gettysburg. For some people Lexington and Concord, or Bunker Hill, or Yorktown, or Omaha Beach would be close rivals. But more Americans visit Gettysburg each year than any of these other battlefields--perhaps than all of them combined."
Although I was born in Alabama and live here still, I revere Abraham Lincoln. My first job was as a sign painter for outdoor advertising. It was a tough job, putting up metal paneled billboards. I was in high school. With my first paycheck I bought a bust of Abraham Lincoln. I've had it ever since.
This is the 150th Anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg. Three days in July; the first, second, and third. There is irony that the greatest battle on American soil ended one day before Independence Day. Or perhaps, there is no irony in it at all. For the end result was that this struggle marked the great turning point in the American Civil War that led us to be one nation, united, and we celebrate the Fourth of July as Americans, one and all.
James M. McPherson, the Pulitzer Prize winning author of Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era, has written a small gem of a book that captures personalities of the key commanders and the essential strategies and tactics of each of those three days in a mere one hundred forty one pages. McPherson includes critical maps documenting each day's actions.
Author James M. McPherson
I will be making my second pilgrimage to Gettysburg this next week. I, too, consider it "hallowed ground." My traveling companion will be Ritchie Tipton, of whom I have written in a number of other reviews. We each began our careers as Assistant District Attorneys. It will be his first trip to this little Pennsylvania town. We will be two of the estimated seventy thousand people that will swell the population of this normally quiet little town.
We will stay at an Inn originally built in 1812. It, as did every other home in the surrounding countryside, served as a hospital during and after the battle. Today the Inn sits on land aside what has been renamed Hospital Road. We were fortunate to obtain a room with two twin beds, each with a night stand for our respective C-Pap machines, as neither of us has ever been able to kick the vice of smoking, nor missed the opportunity for a fine meal.
I called Ritchie last Sunday. "Mr. Tipton, what are you doing?" He growled through the phone, "Well, Mr. Sullivan, I'm reading Stars in Their Courses: The Gettysburg Campaign, June-July 1963, by Mr. Shelby Foote."
Known for his colorful language, Ritchie continued,"It appears to me this was a real cluster f...--Ewell and Lee are coming in from the North and Meade is coming in from the South."
While not quite as colorful in his exposition, McPherson essentially agrees with my astute friend. Neither Lee nor Meade chose Gettysburg as the location where their forces would collide.
General Lee had obtained Jefferson Davis' permission for an invasion of the North following his decisive victory at Chancellorsville. The target was not Gettysburg, but Harrisburg. Lee divided his forces and sent General Richard S. Ewell to the banks of the Susquehanna River with orders to seize the town. The seizure of Harrisburg would open up the road to Philadelphia. A victory in Pennsylvania would stir up the Copperhead Democrats in Congress, causing Lincoln to sue for peace and the South would win its independence.
Robert E. Lee
But victory at Chancellorsville had been costly. Stonewall Jackson had been severely wounded by friendly fire and died of pneumonia on May 10, 1863, leaving Pete Longstreet as Lee's Field Commander in the upcoming invasion.
James Longstreet, "Old Pete"
Chancellorsville also brought about a change in command of the Army of the Potomac. Lincoln accepted Joe Hooker's resignation after Hooker expressed dismay over being denied further reinforcements. In his place Lincoln elevated a surprised and reluctant George Meade as yet another commander of the Army of the Potomac.
George Meade
Lee left a sufficient number of troops in Fredericksburg, Virginia, to disguise his movement to the North. Jeb Stuart, Lee's most renowned Cavalry Commander was to serve as his eyes and to notify Lee of any Federal movement from Fredericksburg.
Jeb Stuart, the man who left Lee in the dark
Lee would move North, hidden by the mountains of the Sheandoah, particularly South Mountain. Stuart would proceed parallel to Lee, also West of South Mountain.
But Stuart had suffered a stinging defeat at the largest cavalry engagement of the Civil War at the battle of Brandy Station. Stuart asked Lee's permission to swing East of South Mountain. Lee mistakenly gave Stuart permission to do so provided he stayed in constant contact through courier and could connect with Lee's army whenever needed.
Stuart ran into the rear of the Army of the Potomac. However, he was cut off by the rapidly moving Union forces. No courier could get through, nor could he move his cavalry back across South Mountain. Stuart's apparent attempt to overcome his embarrassment at Brandy Station would leave Lee blind.
Only word from a civilian spy informed Lee of the oncoming Union advance. Lee sent couriers recalling Ewell from Harrisburg. He then selected Gettysburg as a gathering place for his divided forces.
However, on July 1, Union forces already occupied Gettysburg. John Buford, the cavalry commander who had defeated Stuart at Brandy Station was there. Buford, seeing the oncoming Confederate forces sent couriers telling forces of the Army of the Potomac to come with all haste. Buford's men were equipped with Sharps Carbines which allowed them to fire three times as fast as Confederate infantry equipped with rifled muskets.
John Buford, the man who really chose the ground for battle
Nevertheless, the overwhelming tide of Confederate forces took the day and the town of Gettysburg. Union forces retreated to Cemetery Hill. Lee told Ewell to take the hill if practicable. With daylight waning, Ewell decided it wasn't practicable. The harsh fact is if Lee wanted the hill taken, he was the commanding general and should have ordered it.
Richard Ewell allowed Union forces to occupy the high ground
July 2 saw attempts by Lee's forces to attack both the Union left and right flanks. Ewell's men were on the right at Culp's Hill. Longstreet was on the left where fierce fighting occurred in the wheat field, the peach orchard, Devil's Den, and finally the assault on Little Round Top, the spot immortalized in The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara, which also made Bowdoin College Professor Joshua Chamberlain one of the singular heroes of Gettysburg.
Joshua Chamberlain who held the Union left
McPherson clearly points out that Chamberlain was not the only hero that prevented a Union rout. He tells of the importance of the fighting at Culp's Hill, where Colonel David Ireland had built two sets of defenses, the second a wooden wall, higher up Culp's Hill. The wall proved to be the saving grace on the right flank. Neither flank was turned. McPherson gives Chamberlain his due, but also openly points to Chamberlain's detractors who claimed perhaps accurately Chamberlain had a flair for self promotion.
Daniel Ireland, unsung hero?
Then, inevitably, we come to July 3 and what is popularly known as Pickett's Charge. Actually the men of Generals Trimble and Pettigrew were part of the mile long line of men. Longstreet bordered on insubordination, telling Lee that no fifteen thousand men could take the Union center a mile away over open ground, urging him to move to the right, choose his own ground, and make Meade attack him. Lee refused to listen, insisting that the Union center had been weakened by reinforcements to the right and left flanks on the heights.
The Confederate view of the Union center, a mile across open ground
The assault was to begin following an hour and a half artillery barrage under the command of Edwin Alexander Porter, whose skills in that capacity had established his reputation in previous engagements. However, Porter's barrage was ineffective with most of his shells exploding behind the enemy lines. McPherson points out that Porter was dealing with ammunition manufactured at armories other than Richmond and that the fuses of the shells used on July 3 burned more slowly. Alexander never knew of the inaccuracy of his shelling because of the smoke that covered the field.
It was a slaughter.
It is impossible to appreciate what occurred at Gettysburg without walking the ground. And during that walk you must consider that this ground served as a battlefield for 165,000 soldiers--75,000 Confederate and 90,000 Union. Of those, 11,000 were killed or died of their wounds. 29,000 were wounded but survived. 10,000 were simply missing, in most cases captured. These 50,000 casualties were ten times those suffered on June 6, 1944, during D-Day.
I have told my neighbor, my former Psychology Professor originally from Cleveland, Ohio, of my upcoming trip. He gave me a curious look. "I have never understood why Southerners continue to want to fight the Civil War." I could only tell him, "It is not because I was born in the South. It is a reminder of why we are all Americans. You have to go to understand it."
There are more than 1400 monuments at Gettysburg. They have been erected by states and by members of the regiments who fought there. I have seen each one. I have walked, marched, double-timed, and charged across that open field towards a copse of trees that formed the Union center on a hot July 3, at the precise hour of the final charge. I have wondered at courage in the face of futility. It still has the ability to make me shiver.
Should you make a trip to Gettysburg, I recommend you read McPherson's book. Take it with you. And if you wonder how men could fight so hard and so courageously, I recommend For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War also by James M. McPherson.
Lincoln at Gettysburg, November 19, 1863
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
January 16, 2015
Hallowed Ground: A Walk at Gettysburg is about how the armies didn't want to fight at Gettysburg but went union soldiers saw confederate soldiers coming closer they stared to fire at them. It talked about where all the monuments are in Gettysburg. In the book it said what fights were won and what fights were lost. It said so of the tactics and attack formations.
I thought that the book was good but could be a little better at some parts in the end I would recommend it to my friends.
I thought that the book was good but could be a little better at some parts in the end I would recommend it to my friends.
May 28, 2017
As a result of reading quite a few books by the author [1], I have come to the understanding that James McPherson writes a great deal of short and topical books on various Civil War matters, and many of them are filled with a certain sense of wit as well as a highly critical attitude towards what he views as particularly poor historiography. Those tendencies are all in full evidence here, and this is a book that has a particularly narrow scope but one that handles that scope particularly well and with a sense of savage wit that I can only appreciate and enjoy given my own. Whether or not you like this book will depend on how you feel about the importance of the Battle of Gettysburg and efforts to preserve the truths of that battle in history and memory. If you have a vested interest and a concern in the Battle of Gettysburg and have or want to travel there, this is a very enjoyable book. If you have little interest in the Civil War and in Gettysburg in particular, you are not really going to get a lot out of this short volume.
In about 140 pages or so, James McPherson deals with the Battle of Gettysburg and tourism on that in a very straightforward fashion. After a prologue discussing the terrain and transportation nature of Gettysburg that made it a battlefield, the author discusses the three days of Gettysburg and the aftermath of the battle in turn, giving a look at the battlefield as it now is and giving the routes to various places where fighting appeared, a discussion of unit monuments and the controversies involving them (especially among partisans of the South), and even a discussion on the symbolism of equestrian statues. After this the author includes the text of Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address, and the text itself makes reference to the address on at least a few occasions. Despite its brevity the book does manage to have a lot to offer, including some comments about the problems of worldview and politics when it comes to history. McPherson is particularly critical about the neo-Confederate perspective as well as national reconciliation that avoids the importance of freedom to the Civil War narrative. None of these matters ought to be a surprise from someone who knows the author's perspective and background.
There are a few readers who will get a lot out of this book. For example, this is the sort of book that would be extremely useful for someone on a tour of the battlefield, especially someone who was looking at the battlefield on their own. I would not be surprised if this book was sold in many of the shops and various tourist traps around Gettysburg. I cannot remember seeing this book on such an occasion myself, but it has been a long time since I visited the town, so it is possible that this book does have a place of honor and a great deal of sales to what would be its ideal targeted audience. For those readers who are far away from the fields and woods of Gettysburg, and from its distinctive hills and ridges, the book can give one a mental picture, and has some worthwhile maps that show the three days of the battle and text that discusses some of the neglected parts of the battle, like the Union defense of Culp's Hill as well as the Cavalry action of July 3, 1863. This book is certainly small, and more than a little bit fierce, but it is also a minor classic in its own biting and witty way.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2010...
January 15, 2025
"It is best to come here at dusk, as I do when I take students to Gettysburg, and listen to the call of mourning doves as we look out over the graves in this pastoral setting. It is then that we contemplate the real meaning of 'that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.' Gettysburg is important not primarily as the high-watermark of the Confederacy, but as the place where 'this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom'" (Pg. 138)
A delightful little book about one of the greatest battles in all of history. In so few pages, James McPherson manages to pack all the pathos, facts, and importance of Gettysburg. I wish there were more maps so I could get a better idea of troop movements, but that is a mild criticism. This has made me want to get more books about Gettysburg.
A delightful little book about one of the greatest battles in all of history. In so few pages, James McPherson manages to pack all the pathos, facts, and importance of Gettysburg. I wish there were more maps so I could get a better idea of troop movements, but that is a mild criticism. This has made me want to get more books about Gettysburg.
May 5, 2022
I read this in anticipation of the NEH Landmarks of American History Summer Institute I will be attending in July at Gettysburg. Having been to Gettysburg a few times and studied it, I'm very familiar with the battle. However I'm intrigued by thinking about the memory of Gettysburg and the use of monuments on both sides at Gettysburg. This book helps by giving the back story behind the biggest monuments at Gettysburg and helping to orient what happened where. It's a quick read meant for folks visiting the battlefield. If you've never been there and aren't going, or new to the subject this is not the book to start with. Otherwise the anecdotes are engaging and it moves swiftly.
December 25, 2022
I wanted a short book to finish up the year. I could not have selected a better one. I already knew McPherson was a master writer, having previously read Battle Cry of Freedom.
McPherson's look on Gettysburg was just wonderful. He uses great knowledge and couples it with a keen sense of humor that keeps the reader enthused and hungry for more information.
He quoted Andrew Jackson saying. "I never trust anyone who knows only one way to spell a word."
McPherson's knowledge of the topic is unmatched.
McPherson's look on Gettysburg was just wonderful. He uses great knowledge and couples it with a keen sense of humor that keeps the reader enthused and hungry for more information.
He quoted Andrew Jackson saying. "I never trust anyone who knows only one way to spell a word."
McPherson's knowledge of the topic is unmatched.
May 9, 2018
Premier Civil War historian takes "a walk at Gettysburg's" three days.
July 15, 2018
Great summary review of Gettysburg that can be read in one sitting. Discussing the pivotal battle of the Civil War, he hits the high points and key movements.
August 6, 2019
I liked that he relates the events of the battle to actual locations today. I wish he had talked more about the evolution of the battlefield over time and the ways people have related to it.
February 18, 2025
Extremely brief but well written survey of the battle. Would work well as an audio guide for a tour of the battlefield.
July 25, 2024
James McPherson writes a succinct walk tracing the Battle of Gettysburg’s three days of fighting On Hallowed Ground. I was impressed by the quotes of Chamberlain and Lincoln. I love that he mentions BG Schimmelfennig’s predicament at a home on Baltimore Street, but saddened that he doesn’t indicate it was the Garlach House, which still stands today. This is a simple and precise overview of the battle. Well done!
June 5, 2011
James McPherson has done it again, just when I think that there is nothing more to be said about the battle of Gettysburg, he goes ahead and proves me wrong. "Hallowed Ground: A Walk at Gettysburg", is not intended to provide a thorough examination of this penultimate Civil War battle, instead it serves as historical guidebook.
While taking readers on a tour of the Gettysburg National Park (as well as areas of the town itself), McPherson provides the history of those sites, detailing the events that transpired on this ground, the leaders, the ordinary participants, the fighting and the outcome. It is helped in this by being presented in chronological order, from the first shot fired by a Union infantryman at a Confederate, through the near disaster due to General Sickles' mistake and the fierce battle for Little Round Top, down to Meade's decision not to attack the Confederates on 4 July 1863.
In addition, McPherson's way with words and his ability to make fascinating events all the more fascinating and compelling, leads to the success of this "historical Guidebook", bringing even me to tears at several points.
"Hallowed Ground: A Walk at Gettysburg" is an excellent read. I would recommend it enthusiastically for readers who are only familiar with the basics of the battle of Gettysburg and wish to learn more, as a good place to start their exploration. I would also recommend it for even the most knowledgeable researcher, for the new light being shed on very old events, ones which should not be forgotten. And thanks to James McPherson, they never will be.
While taking readers on a tour of the Gettysburg National Park (as well as areas of the town itself), McPherson provides the history of those sites, detailing the events that transpired on this ground, the leaders, the ordinary participants, the fighting and the outcome. It is helped in this by being presented in chronological order, from the first shot fired by a Union infantryman at a Confederate, through the near disaster due to General Sickles' mistake and the fierce battle for Little Round Top, down to Meade's decision not to attack the Confederates on 4 July 1863.
In addition, McPherson's way with words and his ability to make fascinating events all the more fascinating and compelling, leads to the success of this "historical Guidebook", bringing even me to tears at several points.
"Hallowed Ground: A Walk at Gettysburg" is an excellent read. I would recommend it enthusiastically for readers who are only familiar with the basics of the battle of Gettysburg and wish to learn more, as a good place to start their exploration. I would also recommend it for even the most knowledgeable researcher, for the new light being shed on very old events, ones which should not be forgotten. And thanks to James McPherson, they never will be.
August 18, 2022
I began this book on Veteran’s Day. There is so much I learned in this little book. I finished it with a deeper appreciation of the battles fought at Gettysburg. The only way this book could have been better is if I was actually on a tour there, so as to really take in the landscape and the monuments, along with the full understanding of where each battle took place. The barbaric and brutal carnage of Gettysburg and what they fought for is what makes it one of the most decisive battles of the world. People from all over the earth, come to this “hallowed ground” to pay tribute.
On November 19, 1863, President Lincoln stood adjacent to the cemetery of Union soldiers where some of the fighting had taken place and delivered his Gettysburg Address. A few lines that stand out to me are as follows: We cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.
Further in his Address he states: We take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.
I now have a whole new understanding of Lincoln’s speech.
On November 19, 1863, President Lincoln stood adjacent to the cemetery of Union soldiers where some of the fighting had taken place and delivered his Gettysburg Address. A few lines that stand out to me are as follows: We cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.
Further in his Address he states: We take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.
I now have a whole new understanding of Lincoln’s speech.
August 1, 2012
McPherson has a very natural, comfortable writing style and can evoke small anecdotal moments that can be clearly seen in the mind's eye as well as he can explain strategies and tactics of battle. The book has just the proper length, depth and tone and offers simple illustrative maps to help us picture the layout each day of the battle.
I was surprised and amused by his sense of humor with the exception at the very end regarding the appearance of rain after battles that seemed to misfire as a fitting conclusion to the book (prior to the epilogue).
I have been to Gettysburg twice and would welcome the opportunity to walk again the hallowed ground, only this time outfitted with his insightful, useful little guide.
I was surprised and amused by his sense of humor with the exception at the very end regarding the appearance of rain after battles that seemed to misfire as a fitting conclusion to the book (prior to the epilogue).
I have been to Gettysburg twice and would welcome the opportunity to walk again the hallowed ground, only this time outfitted with his insightful, useful little guide.
January 20, 2017
Author, Civil War scholar, and Princeton history professor James M. McPherson is your guide for a tour of the Gettysburg battlefield. The book and the tour are arranged chronologically, as you read about and visit sites important to each of the three days of the July, 1863 battle. I read the illustrated edition, which is enhanced with beautiful (and sometimes harrowing) pictures of places and people involved in the conflict. The story of the fighting is interspersed with first-person accounts and reports from commanders to their superiors, bringing a different perspective from that of the historian. This hardcover book might be a little cumbersome to tote along on a battlefield tour, but it's so comprehensive and well-written that it would still be worth having it to follow.
September 30, 2012
This is a short book about the site of the battle that is considered the turning point in the Civil War. I think it would be a good book for someone with an intermediate knowledge of Gettysburg. It would also be good for a person who has just visited Gettysburg or who is preparing to visit. This book focuses on the land of Gettysburg, which is a novel approach. It has interesting factoids that are arranged well, but I don't think it was meant to be an overview or an introduction to Gettysburg. My advice: Read this after you read The Killer Angels.
June 28, 2018
Great narrative of the battle in a very simple and elegant style, easily accessible to all. I would suggest, however, to read the hardcover of paper back editions since they have maps and photos that are referenced in the narrative (I listened to the audio book), especially if you have never visited Gettysburg and are unfamiliar with the landscape. The good news is that the narrative, written chronologically, follows the NPS self-guided auto tour (basically a loop from the Visitor's Center to the various points of interest, and not in any chronological order). It's a great resource to have, listening to the story on the audio book as you make your way through the battlefield.
April 13, 2014
This short book is written in McPherson's clear style. The historian shares brief anecdotal stories and tackles the many myths that arose from this cataclysmic and decisive Civil War battle. “Hallowed Ground” is perfect for anyone planning to visit Gettysburg, as McPherson weaves history into precise geographic spots on a battleground walk. He carefully provides perspective on the action in the context of the war and the nation's history. The walk ends at the site of President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, which is reprinted in its entirety to end the book.
June 9, 2013
Read "Hallowed Ground", watched Ken Burns "Civil War: Episode 5", about Gettysburg. Now I feel ready for our trip to Gettysburg.
October 8, 2017
I first saw this in hard copy on the shelves at Gettysburg during the summer of 2016, however they only had one copy and it wasn't for sale. As soon as it popped up as a Kindle special this September, I jumped on it.
A quick one day read as McPherson takes the reader on a journey with one of his many student groups through the grounds of Gettysburg. Rather than an overall narrative, or travel journey, McPherson follows the battlefield through the battles of July 1-3, 1863 with stops at each memorial, monument or cannon that tells a story or myth of the three days of fighting. I have a decent knowledge of the Civil War, but learned a lot in this short book -especially the myths he debunked and the positions of the various regiments. In hindsight, I should have read this while at Gettysburg as I now want to go back-both to read this as I walk and to better understand some of the places I didn't catch in my two visits. I'm also curious to see what has changed in the intervening thirteen years especially with regard to restoration of the Battlefield back to its 1863 conditions with respect to tree and ground cover.
Although McPherson is a historian and prolific writer on the Civil War, this book isn't dry at all. You felt some of his students' tears as they followed the paths of the men who fought and died there as well as those who lived and whose stories shaped the history of the War as we know it. That includes the myths - both those around the Battlefield itself such as whether the hooves on the ground in the equestrian memorials indicated whether the men were wounded, died or neither - and those that formed during Reconstruction as a means to show healing.
Hallowed Ground indeed, and this book does it justice.
A quick one day read as McPherson takes the reader on a journey with one of his many student groups through the grounds of Gettysburg. Rather than an overall narrative, or travel journey, McPherson follows the battlefield through the battles of July 1-3, 1863 with stops at each memorial, monument or cannon that tells a story or myth of the three days of fighting. I have a decent knowledge of the Civil War, but learned a lot in this short book -especially the myths he debunked and the positions of the various regiments. In hindsight, I should have read this while at Gettysburg as I now want to go back-both to read this as I walk and to better understand some of the places I didn't catch in my two visits. I'm also curious to see what has changed in the intervening thirteen years especially with regard to restoration of the Battlefield back to its 1863 conditions with respect to tree and ground cover.
Although McPherson is a historian and prolific writer on the Civil War, this book isn't dry at all. You felt some of his students' tears as they followed the paths of the men who fought and died there as well as those who lived and whose stories shaped the history of the War as we know it. That includes the myths - both those around the Battlefield itself such as whether the hooves on the ground in the equestrian memorials indicated whether the men were wounded, died or neither - and those that formed during Reconstruction as a means to show healing.
Hallowed Ground indeed, and this book does it justice.
February 2, 2025
I will be near Gettysburg this summer, on the road where the Northern Army advanced up to meet the Southern rebels massed already to meet them, having already beaten them to the battleground. Out of such facts, this veteran historian of the Civil War orients us. He observes that if he was blindfolded and then dropped onto these fields and hills, he'd be able to likely identify his spot within minutes, so familiar is he with the surroundings. While I wish maps were more and bigger, and photos or period illustrations to enhance, it's a handbook probably suited for the walker or driver across the park itself. It's more in-depth than that of an online resource, less than a tome.
So, as someone clearly unfamiliar--this is the first account I have read on the battle--I simply needed an overview. And McPherson delivers efficiently. We learn of the contradiction of Grant's men at Cold Harbor being castigated for a foolish attack, while that of the Confederates at Pickett's futile Charge get lauded. As Denys Winter in Death's Men noted about WWI and the British, so here: why did young and old alike enter into fatal fire? Because their comrades, their friends, meant that none could be called cowards, and all feared that more than even certain destruction straight ahead.
I'd like to "see" more but after all, these words are for the observer on the actual terrain to find out about the necessary military context and strategic flow of the conflicts, and one's own eyes surely will reward the tourist better. So, recommended and I may well return to check this out come July.
So, as someone clearly unfamiliar--this is the first account I have read on the battle--I simply needed an overview. And McPherson delivers efficiently. We learn of the contradiction of Grant's men at Cold Harbor being castigated for a foolish attack, while that of the Confederates at Pickett's futile Charge get lauded. As Denys Winter in Death's Men noted about WWI and the British, so here: why did young and old alike enter into fatal fire? Because their comrades, their friends, meant that none could be called cowards, and all feared that more than even certain destruction straight ahead.
I'd like to "see" more but after all, these words are for the observer on the actual terrain to find out about the necessary military context and strategic flow of the conflicts, and one's own eyes surely will reward the tourist better. So, recommended and I may well return to check this out come July.
July 2, 2021
McPherson is an accomplished and skilled story teller and an obviously thorough researcher. His “Battle Cry of Freedom” is one of the best Civil War narratives you will ever find. The level of respect he enjoys is well earned.
This book is not up to his usual standards however. Having read literally dozens of books about Gettysburg I have come to the conclusion that the popularity of Shaara’s “The Killer Angels” may be doing a disservice to the overall understanding of this monumental battle. Shaara’s work is fiction and, as such, takes liberties with the characters and events of this epic three day conflict. In particular he greatly exaggerated the significance of Joshua Chamberlain.
This would be fine if people would remind themselves that the book is fiction. Unfortunately many do not and today the true heroes of Gettysburg are often overlooked. All it takes is a quick visit to the book store at the National Park to realize this. One will find six or seven volumes on Chamberlain and nothing about Vincent, Greene, Hancock or Reynolds.
I was disappointed to see that McPherson has fallen into the same trap. He devotes 12 pages to Chamberlain and hardly a mention of Hancock for instance. This is inexcusable from an experienced historian of this caliber.
This book is not up to his usual standards however. Having read literally dozens of books about Gettysburg I have come to the conclusion that the popularity of Shaara’s “The Killer Angels” may be doing a disservice to the overall understanding of this monumental battle. Shaara’s work is fiction and, as such, takes liberties with the characters and events of this epic three day conflict. In particular he greatly exaggerated the significance of Joshua Chamberlain.
This would be fine if people would remind themselves that the book is fiction. Unfortunately many do not and today the true heroes of Gettysburg are often overlooked. All it takes is a quick visit to the book store at the National Park to realize this. One will find six or seven volumes on Chamberlain and nothing about Vincent, Greene, Hancock or Reynolds.
I was disappointed to see that McPherson has fallen into the same trap. He devotes 12 pages to Chamberlain and hardly a mention of Hancock for instance. This is inexcusable from an experienced historian of this caliber.
January 19, 2025
Knygą užmačiau viename skaitytų knygų knygyne Suomijoje, o tuo metu kaip tik klausiau „April 1865“ apie JAV Pilietinį karą, tad prigriebiau ir pigią knygelę apie svarbiausią ir garsiausią to karo mūšį – be to, dar ir su autoriaus, Pulitzerio premijos laureato, autografu. Bet gerą pusmetį ji gulėjo lentynoje, kol prieš porą dienų su bičiuliu sužaidėme stalo žaidimą „The Guns of Gettysburg“, tad nusprendžiau, kad laikas susipažinti su mūšiu kiek išsamiau.
Nors knygoje ir pristatoma mūšio eiga, pagrindiniai įvykiai, manevrai, klaidos ir t. t., bet jokio gylio čia nėra. Tiesa, knyga užmanyta kaip kelionių vadovas po Getysbergo mūšio lauką šiandien (ar veikiau prieš gerus 20 metų), todėl autorius vedžioja gatvėmis, laukais, kalvų keteromis, kurie pavadinti mūšio vadų, herojų ir dalinių garbei, bet nesilankius toje vietoje, aprašymai mažai ką sako, o žemėlapiai pernelyg neišsamūs, kad būtų galima gerai įsivaizduoti (tiesą sakant, stalo žaidimo žemėlapis buvo daug išsamesnis).
Vis tik, knyga trumpa, skaitymas pareikalavo labai nedaug laiko, tad šiaip ar taip buvo visai neblogas įvadas į vieną svarbiausių XIX a. karinių įvykių.
Nors knygoje ir pristatoma mūšio eiga, pagrindiniai įvykiai, manevrai, klaidos ir t. t., bet jokio gylio čia nėra. Tiesa, knyga užmanyta kaip kelionių vadovas po Getysbergo mūšio lauką šiandien (ar veikiau prieš gerus 20 metų), todėl autorius vedžioja gatvėmis, laukais, kalvų keteromis, kurie pavadinti mūšio vadų, herojų ir dalinių garbei, bet nesilankius toje vietoje, aprašymai mažai ką sako, o žemėlapiai pernelyg neišsamūs, kad būtų galima gerai įsivaizduoti (tiesą sakant, stalo žaidimo žemėlapis buvo daug išsamesnis).
Vis tik, knyga trumpa, skaitymas pareikalavo labai nedaug laiko, tad šiaip ar taip buvo visai neblogas įvadas į vieną svarbiausių XIX a. karinių įvykių.
June 19, 2021
This is a superb book. The author has a knowledge and grasp of the Gettysburg battlefield that is unparalleled. With humor, wit, and insider knowledge he takes you on a "walk" over arguably the most hallowed ground in the United States. Although he does take a few comical jabs at Michael Shaara's The Killer Angels (one of the best books ever written about Gettysburg in my opinion) he does so in a playful and not mean spirited manner. I have not been to Gettysburg in far too long, but I can assure you when I go in the next few years this book will be my companion. The illustrations used are stunning and I was able to find several of the linen printed 1930's post cards he mentions in the book on ebay for next to nothing. When you read this book, and I really hope you do, look at the attention to detail and color in each postcard he uses. They are amazing. I also am amused by the fact the post cards are now almost a hundred years old and are history within history. This book is a fast read and extremely well done.
May 3, 2018
Did you ever have such an awesome tour guide that you wish you could read a transcript of the tour? That’s essentially what this odd little book is. James McPherson’s the top of the heap of Civil War historians and writers (recall “Battle Cry of Freedom”). In anticipation of a visit to Gettysburg this summer, I discovered he’d written a book exclusively on Gettysburg. Must read, right? Well, kinda. Turns out McPherson has led many tours for his Princeton students of Gettysburg. This book is essentially his ‘script’ for those tours - “Now, we’re standing on Route 30 at this monument.” As someone’s who’s visited before, I have a decent idea of where he’s talking about. But if I’d not been there, I’d find this style to be bizarro-world. Net net - a fine summary ONLY IF you’ve been to Gettysburg before.
July 4, 2020
A good, light read, by one of the preeminent historians on the Civil War. Read this if you know very little about Gettysburg. He brings a couple new anecdotes to light, plus weighs in on the famous statues controversy (shedding some tidbits on the newest and likely most controversial), but otherwise it’s a light and well-written very high perspective overview. McPherson’s perspective, given his experience and standing, is interesting. I found it a chatty and light read, and appreciated the nuanced assessment of a couple contentious point: the importance and feasibility of Culp’s Hill (some of the most important and most overlooked fighting; eh, maybe could have been cone), Longstreet, Chamberlain and his cults and the subsequent backlash.
July 3, 2024
I’ll give it 5 but it was 4.5 stars actually and the loss of a half star was due to the lack of maps and illustrations that to me seems so obvious to include. Three maps were included of troop positions, one for each day of the battle, but the point of the book was to describe a very specific walk thru Gettysburg. It seemed to cry out for not only maps of the battles but maps of the path for walking. There was constant description of turn left here, proceed here.
Anyway still a great little book and if I ever get back to Gettysburg I’ll follow it. What I love most about his writing is the detail he chooses to include, in this case his inclusion of so many myths about the battle and his analysis of their accuracy.
Anyway still a great little book and if I ever get back to Gettysburg I’ll follow it. What I love most about his writing is the detail he chooses to include, in this case his inclusion of so many myths about the battle and his analysis of their accuracy.
October 24, 2024
This is not your typical battlefield guide book. James McPherson, author of Battle Cry Of Freedom, takes us on a walk on the battlefield of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. But, it is not just a typical guide book. This part-guide/history/reflective. He not only talks about the history of the battle, he connects the battle with the causes of the war, how memory was shaped at the battlefield, as well as the impact of this battle on American history. The controversies at Gettysburg are also addressed in a very nuanced way that doesn't make it dry reading. Pick this up before going to Gettysburg, once you're done reading it, you will have a much more reflective and nuanced view of Gettysburg than any other guide book.
January 10, 2019
James McPherson is well versed, studied, articulate and fun to read. In this book the author takes you on a tour of the Hallowed Ground of the Gettysburg battlefield. Although I have visited Gettysburg on four separate occasions, I have never been able to grasp the magnitude of the chaos and tragedy that swept across this sleepy Pennsylvania town. McPherson expertly explains the battle's actors, generals, mysteries, controversaries, high and low points, and most importantly the meaning to our young nation. Next time I visit Gettysburg I will bring a copy of this book to help guide my exploration across this Hallowed Ground.
- The Reading Soldier
- The Reading Soldier
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