Gettysburg--The Second Day

Gettysburg Trilogy #2

by Harry W. Pfanz

The second day's fighting at Gettysburg--the assault of the Army of Northern Virginia against the Army of the Potomac on 2 July 1863--was probably the critical engagement of that decisive battle and, therefore, among the most significant actions of the Civil War.

Harry Pfanz, a former historian at Gettysburg National Military Park, has written a definitive account of the second day's brutal combat. He begins by introducing the men and units that were to do battle, analyzing the strategic intentions of Lee and Meade as commanders of the opposing armies, and describing the concentration of forces in the area around Gettysburg. He then examines the development of tactical plans and the deployment of troops for the approaching battle. But the emphasis is on the fighting itself. Pfanz provides a thorough account of the Confederates' smashing assaults -- at Devil's Den and Litle Round Top, through the Wheatfield and the Peach Orchard, and against the Union center at Cemetery Ridge. He also details the Union defense that eventually succeeded in beating back these assaults, depriving Lee's gallant army of victory.

Pfanz analyzes decisions and events that have sparked debate for more than a century. In particular he discusses factors underlying the Meade-Sickles controversy and the questions about Longstreet's delay in attacking the Union left. The narrative is also enhanced by thirteen superb maps, more than eighty illustrations, brief portraits of the leading commanders, and observations on artillery, weapons, and tactics that will be of help even to knowledgeable readers.

Gettysburg--The Second Day is certain to become a Civil War classic. What makes the work so authoritative is Pfanz' mastery of the Gettysburg literature and his unparalleled knowledge of the ground on which the fighting occurred. His sources include the Official Records , regimental histories and personal reminiscences from soldiers North and South, personal papers and diaries, newspaper files, and last -- but assuredly not least -- the Gettysburg battlefield. Pfanz's career in the National Park Service included a ten-year assignment as a park historian at Gettysburg. Without doubt, he knows the terrain of the battle as well as he knows the battle itself.

Genres: Civil War, History, American Civil War, American History, Military History, Nonfiction, Military Fiction

624 pages, Paperback

First published December 18, 1987

About the author

Harry W. Pfanz graduated from Ohio State University in 1943, followed by service in the U.S. army in World War II. He then became a historian, first for the Department of the Army then for Gettysburg National Military Park for ten years. He received a doctorate in history from Ohio State University in 1958. He has also served as the Chief Historian of the National Park Service from 1974 until his retirement in 1981.

Reviews

[robin friedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Second Day At Gettysburg

This book is part of Harry Pfanz's three-volume study of the Battle of Gettysburg, with the other two volumes exploring the first day of the battle and the fighting on the right of the Union line at Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill.

In "Gettysburg: the Second Day" (1987), Dr. Pfanz explores the fighting on the Union left at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863. This was the critical, pivotal aspect of the Battle of Gettysburg and probably has more claim to be denominated the "high-water mark of the Confederacy" than does Pickett's charge on July 3.

Pfanz offers a wealth of information and detail in presenting this confusing and complicated day of Battle. His story begins with a brief review of the Confederate invasion of the North and of the Union Army of the Potomac's successful attempt to shadow Lee and follow him into Pennsylvania. He describes General Meade assuming control of the Union Army on June 28, 1863, and his efforts to concentrate the dispersed Union forces to meet the Confederate threat. He spends substantial time, as he must, discussing the placement and movement of the two armies and the strategies adopted by both Meade and Lee following the fighting on July 1. He stresses, properly, how each commander lacked essential information about the activities of the enemy.

There is a thorough discussion of the deployment of the troops on July 2, particularly of Union General Sickles near-disastrous placement of his Third Corps in front of the rest of the Union line. He discusses judiciously and well the disagreements between Lee and Longstreet over the course to be pursued on day 2. Following these lengthy preliminaries, most of the book discusses the fierce fighting on the Union left from about 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on July 2, including the action at Devils' Den, Little Round Top, the Wheatfield, the Peach Orchard, the Union Center, and the ultimate repulse of the Confederate advance.

The detail of the book is convincing but sometimes is cluttered. In Dr. Pfanz's account, it is frequently difficult to separate the essential from the detail. Most of the account is given over to discussions of individual actions and individual company and brigade commanders. The is substantial attention to individual soldiers and units which, again, occasionally interferes with the broad picture. There are biographies of virtually every commander at the level of General as well as of many soldiers of lesser rank.

There was a factual omission that struck me: Dr. Pfanz does not mention the mortal wounding of Confederate General Dorsey Pender, a Division commander in Hill's Corps. Pender was preparing to lead his troops in an attack on the Union center in support of the attack by Anderson's troops when he was felled. I have seen many accounts of the fighting on the second day that contend that the mortal wounding of Pender was critical to the ultimate result of the Confederate attack on the Union center on day 2. Perhaps these accounts overstate the case, but I am surprised Dr. Pfanz did not mention it.

This is not an account for beginning students of the Battle of Gettysburg, but it is essential for those who are ready to and interested in exploring the Battle in detail. Further, the book is narrowly focused and makes little attempt to integrate the Battle of Gettysburg into the broader military history of the Civil War, much less into the political and social history of the times. Readers wanting to understand the Battle of Gettysburg and its place and meaning in the overall Civil War effort will need to explore detailed studies of the Civil War years in addition to Dr. Pfanz's painstaking treatment of the action at Gettysburg.

Robin Friedman

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read Harry Pfanz' book "Gettysburg: The First Day" and loved it, so was wondering how he would do on "Day 2" of Gettysburg. Well, "Gettysburg: The Second Day" is an even better book. I said on his "Gettysburg: The First Day" that it was the definitive book on that days battle, and this book is undoubtedly the definitive book on Day 2 of Gettysburg. Pfanz is unbiased (unlike many Civil War historians) on his assessments of the various military leaders and their actions. He makes every chapter interesting and makes it easy to follow the actions he describes. It is another long book (about 600 pages) and wonderfully detailed, but it does not seem overwhelming at all. I almost didn't want the book to end. And again it has great maps (as I've said, that can make or break a book). Pfanz wrote one more book about Gettysburg ("Culp's Hill & Cemetery Hill") before he passed away, and I will certainly read that soon. Another must for those interested in Civil War history.

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want detail on the second day at Gettysburg, this will give it to you! Harry Pfanz provides much information in this volume.

The book itself begins with the invasion of the North by Robert E. Lee. Chapters 2 and 3 report on key aspects of the day one fighting, on July 1st. These three chapters set the stage for the discussion of the battle on day two, July 2nd, 1863. The fourth chapter lays out the Union forces assembling at the battlefield and deploying as they arrived. Then, the events and the bloody fighting. . . . General Sickles' questionable movement of this Third Corps forward, based on his fear that Confederates would occupy somewhat higher ground on his front. This put his Corps in an awkward position, in advance of the rest of the Army of the Potomac.

Pfanz does a nice job of describing the battle, as Longstreet's troops (finally) got in position ad advanced against the Third Corps. As Sickles' position was unraveled, great numbers of Confederate and Union forces were sucked into the fighting. Then, the battle for Little Round Top. . . .

The book closes at the end of the day, with events pointing toward a climax to the battle on July 3rd. In the final analysis, a fine rendering of events on the second day at Gettysburg.

[Lynn Leatherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE book for understanding the Second Day. I really thought while I dragged through some spots it overall was very well written and couldn’t have asked for something that put me into what it felt like on the line than this. Took me way too long, but I definitely enjoyed it

[Peter F. Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is considered to be one of the best Civil War books written. It is a very detailed book regarding troop movements, identifying locations were battles were fought, and who was involved. It is a book that a Civil War fan myself would enjoy a great deal. It is not a book that I believe the average reader would enjoy as much as I did. Mr. Pfanz's knowledge of both the Civil War, and of the Gettysburg battlefield, is obvious; he is well-versed in both. I enjoyed the book.
Peter Warren, author of CONFEDERATE GOLD AND SILVER, and a co-author of THE JOURNEY NORTH

[Art · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Mr. Pfanz had made the 2d day come alive for me.
I wanted him to do the 3d day and wondered why he hadn't.

[Michael Kleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Gettysburg: The Second Day (1987), Harry W. Pfanz charts the events of the Battle of Gettysburg’s second day, July 2, 1863. July 2 was the Confederacy’s last, best hope for winning a decisive victory on Northern soil. Like the previous day, it started badly for the Union Army of the Potomac, yet ubiquitous action by generals George G. Meade and Winfield Scott Hancock staved off disaster and won what became the most famous Union victory of the American Civil War.

This book is far superior to Pfanz’s later works on Gettysburg, but it only focuses on the action on the Union left flank and not on Culp’s Hill or Cemetery Hill. That received its own book-length treatment. The omission was a relief to this reader, since its grueling 624-page length already pushed the limits of my attention span.

As a micro history, Gettysburg: The Second Day almost entirely focuses on the tactical, rather than strategic, aspects of the battle. It would be unfair to say the author never engages in higher level thinking about the events, but he devotes the lion’s share of text to describing what happened and not how or why.

The maps were helpful because in addition to giving readers a visual representation of the verbosely detailed text, they featured a chronological summary of events. That helped put everything into context.

Gettysburg: The Second Day is not a study in command, but it does highlight some key differences between the overall Union and Confederate commanders. General Lee was a passive observer of the day’s events, sending out only one report and receiving a single message.

In contrast, writes Pfanz, “General Meade… was actively and directly involved in the events of the late afternoon… Meade was in the saddle observing the course of the battle and issuing orders that would send troops to the dangerous gap and was seeing that they were obeyed.”

Longstreet’s flank attack was deceptively successful at first, but in the end its momentum was too little and Union reinforcements too numerous. In hindsight, had the Confederates attacked a few hours earlier, they may have won the day, but the author makes no such judgements. He chooses to focus on what happened, not what might have happened, with remarkable detail and precision.

Harry W. Pfanz (1921-2015), of Gaithersburg, Maryland, was a graduate of Ohio State University. He served during World War 2 and was wounded at the Battle of the Bulge. He was the historian at Gettysburg from 1956 to 1966 and chief historian of the National Park Service until 1981. His other books include Gettysburg: The First Day (2001) and Gettysburg: Culp’s Hill and Cemetery Hill (1993).

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a bit of a Gettysburg buff, largely because I grew up just an hour or so east of the battlefield, and because so many Pennsylvania regiments fought there, defending their home state against the Confederate invaders. So Harry Pfanz's comprehensive history of the fighting on Day 2 of the battle was on my reading list as an essential read.
It took me a really long time to read this book. It was interesting as all get out, but dense with information. I stopped for a few months until I could locate a large and detailed map of the battlefield showing the farms and place names not included in Pfanz's maps.
A warning to anyone who wants a novel-like approach to the battle of Gettysburg: this is not your book. This is the work of one of Gettysburg's official battlefield historians. It gathers multiple regimental histories, biographies and post-war memoirs of participants, examines them for discrepancies and aligned recollections, and extracts the story of the day's prolonged and pitched fighting from the chaos of battle and the often time-altered memories of the participants.
The first seven chapters are set up--explaining where the various key players and corps were following Day 1, explaining Lee's plan of attack, which almost immediately had to be abandoned due to changing defensive positions on the Union side, and how the first stage of the fighting opened. After that lengthy prologue, readers are plunged into pitched fighting, from Devil's Den and Little Round Top, to the Stony Hill and the Wheat Field, and on to the Peach Orchard and the Valley of Death. The narrative examines every regiment in the fight, on both sides, with detailed battle maps. If you read like me, you will pause a lot to cross reference maps and try to follow who was where, and how leaders on the Union side directed the disposition of troops that were still arriving on the field as darkness fell on Day 2.
Like Mr. Pfanz, you'll likely come away with a greater respect for brand new commander of the Army of the Potomac, George Meade, and his able underlings (Hancock, Humphreys, Sykes, et. al.). And you'll have new questions about the hands off leadership on the Confederate side, which may have contributed to the failure of the final assault that day, and came dangerously close to breaking the Union center. That so few Confederate regiments nearly overpowered a superior force with sheer "piss and vinegar" is remarkable.
Highly recommended for serious Gettysburg readers.

[Mark Blanchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basically a repeat of what I wrote for Pfanz’s Day 1 account of the Battle of Gettysburg. Gettysburg: The Second Day is a good detailed review of the primary events occurring between the closing actions of July 1 and the close of the fighting occurring primarily in the Emmitsburg Road corridor on July 2. This book does not include accounts of what occurred on East Cemetery Hill or Culp’s Hill on that day.

The great strength of this work lies in the number of anecdotes and personal accounts of the soldiers and officers engaged in the fighting. These stories personify the battle in an important way, emphasizing that these were more than just red and blue lines on a map.

While this is an important part of the Gettysburg canon, it is not the entry work for those who are just learning. Whether or not intentional, the work assumes some basic understanding of the events leading up to the events as well as a basic knowledge of the major players.

Pfanz does not offer detailed analysis, strategic or otherwise, as he sticks primarily to a description of the tactical events taking place. Every once in a while, he offers a thought on an officer’s motive, but it is infrequent.

These critiques are not meant to diminish the value of Pfanz. It’s not Sears or Trudeau, but that’s okay. It’s still a necessary read for the serious Gettysburg student.

[Bob Grove · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a casual reader of Civil War material, this book may not be for you. "Gettysburg: The Second Day" presents a detailed account that may be overwhelming for those seeking a more concise read. However, if you are already familiar with the broader context of the battle, this book is an excellent resource to deepen your understanding of what transpired on Day 2 in the southern half of the fight. It thoroughly explores the events of that day, providing a rich and intellectually stimulating experience for those with a genuine interest in Civil War history.

This is by far the most detailed account available of Longstreet's assault. It covers every aspect of the fighting on the Union left and puts it all in its proper context. Every area of the fighting is fully covered, including lesser-known actions such as Berdan's reconnaissance, the confused fighting near the Wheatfield, and the final assault on Cemetery Ridge, which advanced farther than Pickett's Charge. 

I've refrained from giving five stars because the book may be challenging to follow without prior knowledge of the Battle of Gettysburg.

[Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well researched story about the events of July 2, 1863 at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It focuses on Longstreet’s attack on the Union’s left flank and covers both sides of that story. It provides both the tactical aspect of this attack along with the details that the men who fought there experienced. These details are derived from letters, diaries and battlefield reports the participants provided. It covers the major controversies of that day; such as Longstreet’s delay, Sickles advance to the Peach Orchard, and a missing Jeb Stuart. It explains these controversies from the viewpoint of the 1863 time period using the facts and information known then to explain what happened and why, rather than a lot of second guessing with 20-20 hindsight. So, judgments about these controversies are few which is good. The reader can draw their own conclusion and hopefully be interested in doing more research into these potential turning points.

[Wes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent study of the fighting on the middle and southern parts of the battle. This is a very dense book, but easy to read. Pfanz goes into super detail about the chaotic fighting that took place, incorporating first hand accounts from Generals down to the privates. He gives equal attention to both sides. I would not read this book if you are a new student of the battle. It is good to have a good grasp on the overall picture and even better if you have visited the battlefield, so you can picture the terrain. There a good maps throughout, but I recommend having a copy of Phillip Laino's Gettysburg Campaign Atlas so you don't have to keep flipping back and forth looking for maps. I highly recommend this book for students of the battle!

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well researched history of the 2nd day at the Battle of Gettysburg. I liked the way the author cross referenced between the post battle action reports from the participants to their later writings post Civil War. He carefully evaluated the various writings and looked for what made the most sense from his comparisons between both sides' reports and the practical realities of the actual battlefield itself. It is a much better book than his one about the first day of the battle. It is not for those who are just looking for an overview of the events of the battle.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

25 stars. If you are interested in the position and actions of every regiment, brigade, division, and corps at Gettysburg...then this is the book for you.

The best part of about this book is the maps and the order of battle in the back. I found myself flipping back to those pages and the maps constantly. I would have loved even more maps...I bought an additional Gettysburg map book to help but it doesn't go to regimental level.

Anyway. I will bring this big fella with me on my next Gettysburg visit!

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

The quintessential book on the second day. Its a bit deep but well worth the effort!

[William Sawicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very in-depth look into the second day at Gettysburg. Mr. Pfanz follows up the First day with a detailed account. His research results in a first in class book.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched and written. A classic history of a critical portion of the battle at Gettysburg.

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a superb tactical analysis of the fighting that occurred late in the day on July 2, 1863, on the federal left and the Confederate right at the Battle of Gettysburg. Pfanz describes this hellish several hours of vicious combat in great detail and down to the regimental and even company level. Most of the fighting is focused on the area of the Federal line held by the Third Army Corps commanded by Major General Daniel Sickles.

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best composed work on the actions at Gettysburg on July 2nd, excluding the actions on Cemetery and Culps Hill. Pfanz's vast data base of a brain on the subject will surely be overwhelming to someone who has just started learning about the battle. But...if you're an experienced Civil War buff and well read, his books on the Gettysburg Campaign are second to no-one. His interpretation of events combined with primary source research creates a fantastic narrative on what may be our nation's most hinging historical date. Combined with his books on July 1st and Cemetery and Culps Hills, one of the greatest works of events at Gettysburg is at your fingertips and there's no shortage of "attention getters" that make you want to get on the battlefield and research for yourself. Thank you Mr. Pfanz.

[Joshua Horn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, in depth summary of the main attack on the 2nd day of the battle of Gettysburg. Mr. Pfanz has written a separate book on the fighting on Culp's Hill. It is a good book, however its biggest letdown are the maps. It could easily have twice as many maps, and the maps it has are not the best. They switch around directional orientation, the colors of the troops are opposite from normal (gray - Union, black - Confederate), the regiments are only designated by numbers without their states, and the brigade divisions are really hard to understand.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a highly technical account of the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg. It is well-written and researched, although difficult to understand at times without detailed battlefield maps at your side. Its audience seems to be primarily military historians; if you are a casual reader or tourist you'll find this a tough read. For a less-technical and more accessible explanation of the battle, I recommend Harry Stackpole's They Met at Gettysburg.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harry Pfanz writes a detailed and excellent book about the Second Day of the Battle of Gettysburg. This was the first book he wrote about Gettysburg. He starts with Lee's invasion into Pennsylvania, the first day and where the armies are on the second day. Pfanz covers all the fighting on July 2nd, 1863, with the exception of Culp's Hill, which he wrote another volume on. In my opinion, Pfanz is the definitive writer on Gettysburg, not Coddington. Pfanz is more readable and I prefer his style to Coddington's. That's my opinion.

[Andy Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely superb and detailed account of the second day of the battle of Gettysburg.
I read it before going to the battlefield, I read parts of it on the battlefield and I have read it since.
Pfanz is a master of capturing the battle through the eyes of the soldiers who fought there, without ever losing sight of the overall tactical and strategic picture.

[Dimitris Papastergiou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many details? Dunno.. maybe.
Would love if we were getting details not only on troops and places and attacks but also on names generals and stuff.
Maybe along with the locations to give some maps too? Was googling like crazy throughout the whole thing.. and I probably read more pages on articles at wikipedia than from this book.

Fan of the Civil War? Read it. No? Don't.

[Jimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly good and extremely detailed book. However, I do question the author's decision to omit the actions around Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill; while the fighting in this area might not have affected the action on the southern battlefield, I think this was due more to accident rather than due to any planning by either army commander.

[Straw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly I liked the 1st day book better. Better maps and organization. This one was written first so I'd imagine he learned from the first. Still a thorough rendition of the second day on one end of the battlefield.

[William P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must have for any Civil War buff!
Pfanz other three books about Gettysburg are also essential to studying the battle of Gettysburg.
"Gettysburg The First Day.,"
" Gettysburg "Picketts's Charge The Last Attack at Gettysburg."
"Gettysburg Culbs Hill and Cemetery Hill."

[Bap · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I am being too harsh but this account is so detailed, pedantic, and slow. Can't recommend it to anyone other than a civil war scholar.

[Avis Black · Rating 1 out of 5]

Harry Pfanz deserves an award of some sort. Although Richard Sommers is the clear possessor of the title of 'Dullest Civil War Writer,' Harry Pfanz is definitely number two on this list.

[Bob Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very detailed and enjoyed it, but more maps would have been a great help...