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Battle of Falling Waters 1863: Custer, Pettigrew and the End of the Gettysburg Campaign
The story of the Gettysburg Campaign, both before and after the July 1-3, 1863, battle, has recently received increased attention from historians. The movement of the Army of Northern Virginia from Gettysburg and its pursuit by the Army of the Potomac are every bit as important to the study of the American Civil War as the events in and around the small crossroads town in Pennsylvania. Many historians agree the Gettysburg Campaign concluded with the Battle of Falling Waters, Maryland, on July 14, 1863. Although not the climactic battle of the war desired by President Abraham Lincoln, it remains a story of miscalculation, bravery, larger-than-life personalities, tragedy and a cover-up. This new book tells the story of that final battle.
The story does not end with the battle. Included is an intriguing tale about veterans of the Battle of Falling Waters, Maryland decades after Gen. Robert E. Lee’s rear guard clashed with Maj. Gen. George G. Meade’s cavalry. The book concludes with a detailed description of the battlefield today and efforts to preserve portions of the land for future generations.
George Franks has made extensive use of first-hand accounts, detailed maps, period drawings and photographs to breathe life into the crucial yet little remembered end of the Gettysburg Campaign.
The story does not end with the battle. Included is an intriguing tale about veterans of the Battle of Falling Waters, Maryland decades after Gen. Robert E. Lee’s rear guard clashed with Maj. Gen. George G. Meade’s cavalry. The book concludes with a detailed description of the battlefield today and efforts to preserve portions of the land for future generations.
George Franks has made extensive use of first-hand accounts, detailed maps, period drawings and photographs to breathe life into the crucial yet little remembered end of the Gettysburg Campaign.
118 pages, Paperback
First published July 16, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 17, 2016
What a disappointment. I did not like this book. At All.
Battle of Falling Water 1863 by George F. Franks III was published in 2013 just after the 150th anniversary of the battle.
Such a let down.
Before I get into my review let me suggest Kent Masterson Brown’s book "Retreat from Gettysburg", published in 2005. While the section on the Battle of Falling Waters is short, it is much better written than Franks’ book.
This was the final battle of the Gettysburg campaign. Robert E. Lee’s Confederates had retreated from that small Pennsylvania town and were now trapped between George G. Meade’s Union army and the flood waters of the Potomac River. Across the river was home - Virginia.
I wanted to read this book because the the 7th Tennessee took part in this battle and I am a reenactor in Company D, 7th Tennessee. I am also a Civil War historian.
The writing is poor. Several times I found Franks repeating a paragraph - word for word - from one chapter to another.
It was dull - no life in the narrative. I felt I was in a junior high school history class with the teacher droning on about some unimportant bit of historical drivel which I would forget the moment I walked out of the door.
Whereas some authors will weave the primary sources into their narrative, Franks keeps them separate. The effect is disjointed and dull.
He begins each chapter with a general overview of that day or week and then has a section entitled “Official Reports and First-Hand Accounts”. He quotes sections from the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion (known as OR) and information from another 9 (count them - NINE) primary sources.
Franks was to have spent a decade researching this July 14, 1863, battle. Really? And this is all he could come up with - 9 primary sources ?
When I was researching a paper in college back in 1973 I didn’t have a decade to finish it - I had 8 weeks. My professor, the esteemed Civil War historian Grady McWhinney, had the 100+ volumes of the OR in his office which I poured over them. He also said “Get the regimental histories. You can’t always believe what the people wrote in their reports.”
And so through the inter-library loan system I ordered dozens of regimental histories written by the men who actually fought in the battles. Again I had to sift through the hyperbole but at least I got to see what the the rank and file had to say.
Shame on you Mr. Franks - and you had the internet and I didn’t.
The back cover bulb said the book include “detailed maps. period drawings and photographs to breathe life …” blah blah blah.
MAPS - there are four small maps - two of which were printed upside down. Really. They are upside down.
The first map was an overview of Lee’s retreat and Meade’s pursuit. The second map showed the position of the armies on July 13. The third map - which is upside down - is of the town Williamsport which was just north of Falling Waters. I don’t know why it was included - to fill space? Take up a page? . Finally, the fourth map (also upside down) was so small I couldn’t make out anything. I found a much better copy while looking for maps on the Library of Congress web site. On the LoC map I could see the position of the armies clearly around Williamsport and south to Falling Waters.
NOTE - there is a much better map of the battle found on page 329 in Brown’s "Retreat from Gettysburg."
DRAWINGS - one by Alfred Waud and one by Edwin Forbes are small and reproduced very dark in the copy of my book. Difficult to make out any details.
PHOTOGRAPHS - there were two photographs in the book. I can understand why Franks chose to have one of Confederate General Pettigrew; he was mortally wounded at Falling Warers. But the photo was of a young Pettigrew. The war time photograph found on page 341 of Brown’s book is from the war years. He’s got one sweet looking beard.
The second photograph is of George Custer. Yes, it was Custer’s 6th Michigan cavalry the made the initial charge into the Confederal line, but … of all of the people - Custer?
The book is 99 pages long. In the first third of the book he sets the scene - Lee’s retreat to the Potomac and Meade’s pursuit.
Then he spends just 22 pages on the battle.
The remaining 40 some pages details movements of the two armies after the battle - quote after quote from the OR - “On July 16 we were here” “On July 17 we stopped and made camp here”.
There is a 3 page description of the battlefield today and efforts to preserve the ground. He gives driving instructions to various spots - a map here would have been most useful.
I can see where he would want to present some sort of summary about Lee’s retreat and the Battle of Falling Waters buy why did he include page after page of OR reports of troop movement a week after the battle took place?
And then - to top it off - he included 2 pages about the New York City draft riots which were happening at the same time - with detailed OR reports. The only connection I can see with the riots and Falling Waters is that the one of the Union cavalry generals at the battle, Hugh Kilpatrick, was sent to NYC to help quell the fighting. Granted it’s only a couple of pages but what has that to do with the battle on July 14? It made no sense to me.
Again extremely disappointed.
March 10, 2014
Fascinating history of the weeks after the Battle Of Gettysburg fought by the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia. A great book written by George F. Franks.
December 19, 2023
This is a short monograph on one of the last battles of the Gettysburg campaign. It gives a good coverage of the battle but his lack of analysis and strict use of the Official Records in a raw format is more appropriate for 1963 publishing than 2023. While I know he is passionate about this history this work could use a better editor and more in-depth conclusions and bibliography. I offer 3 stars instead of 2 as it is an engagement little covered.
April 7, 2014
George F. Franks III, has delivered something different than previous Gettysburg historians: he has written more than a few paragraphs about the encounter at Falling Waters at the end of the campaign. While the battle was a small engagement in the aftermath of one of the largest battles in the war, it truly is the end of the campaign. Franks gives due attention to the battle, but does he give enough attention to it?
George F. Franks III has spent the past ten years writing this account of the battle while delving into firsthand accounts, photographs and has even uses maps and drawings from his own collection for this book. He studied American History at both the U.S. Naval Academy and the University of Pittsburg and is the former president of the Capitol Hill Civil War Round Table along with being a member of the Hagerstown Civil War Round Table and with many other affiliations of military history.
In 2007, Franks published an article about the Battle of Falling Waters and because of that, he spent six years writing this book. The narrative he presents in this book is flowing and easy to follow but there is one thing which is desired in the realm of historical narrative. He separates the primary sources from the narrative and gives the reader an opportunity to read those accounts without his descriptions. This is purely a preference of reading which Franks has given us. While the narrative is flowing, there is a wonder if there is enough narrative to cover this pivotal moment of the campaign. One of the greatest parts of the book is the death of General Pettigrew. To gain a clear idea of what happened to the most intellectual man in the Confederacy during the American Civil War gives the reader closure as to what happened after Longstreet’s Assault also known as Pickett’s Charge. Franks also presents more of a Confederate view on the battle and the bibliography boasts more primary sources from Confederate writers than Union writers. This gives the work a one sided feeling throughout and has the style of modern “Lost Cause” historians. During the Battle of Falling Waters, Franks makes the Union cavalry out to be a harassing force instead of fighting force.
The Battle of Falling Waters, however, is worth reading for the most avid Gettysburg historian. Besides being treated to a page of history as many other Gettysburg works dedicate itself, Franks has given us a book filled with both narrative and primary sources. The best part of the work is the final chapter which describes the battlefield today. Being a smaller battle in the larger Gettysburg Campaign, the field can get lost, but with Franks’ directions, it should be an easy find for anyone. In conclusion, The Battle of Falling Waters leaves much to be desired in the realm of the narrative and the details of battle, but it is a good book for those not as familiar with the engagement.
Matthew Bartlett - Gettysburg Chronicle, Author
George F. Franks III has spent the past ten years writing this account of the battle while delving into firsthand accounts, photographs and has even uses maps and drawings from his own collection for this book. He studied American History at both the U.S. Naval Academy and the University of Pittsburg and is the former president of the Capitol Hill Civil War Round Table along with being a member of the Hagerstown Civil War Round Table and with many other affiliations of military history.
In 2007, Franks published an article about the Battle of Falling Waters and because of that, he spent six years writing this book. The narrative he presents in this book is flowing and easy to follow but there is one thing which is desired in the realm of historical narrative. He separates the primary sources from the narrative and gives the reader an opportunity to read those accounts without his descriptions. This is purely a preference of reading which Franks has given us. While the narrative is flowing, there is a wonder if there is enough narrative to cover this pivotal moment of the campaign. One of the greatest parts of the book is the death of General Pettigrew. To gain a clear idea of what happened to the most intellectual man in the Confederacy during the American Civil War gives the reader closure as to what happened after Longstreet’s Assault also known as Pickett’s Charge. Franks also presents more of a Confederate view on the battle and the bibliography boasts more primary sources from Confederate writers than Union writers. This gives the work a one sided feeling throughout and has the style of modern “Lost Cause” historians. During the Battle of Falling Waters, Franks makes the Union cavalry out to be a harassing force instead of fighting force.
The Battle of Falling Waters, however, is worth reading for the most avid Gettysburg historian. Besides being treated to a page of history as many other Gettysburg works dedicate itself, Franks has given us a book filled with both narrative and primary sources. The best part of the work is the final chapter which describes the battlefield today. Being a smaller battle in the larger Gettysburg Campaign, the field can get lost, but with Franks’ directions, it should be an easy find for anyone. In conclusion, The Battle of Falling Waters leaves much to be desired in the realm of the narrative and the details of battle, but it is a good book for those not as familiar with the engagement.
Matthew Bartlett - Gettysburg Chronicle, Author
June 13, 2014
I've been to Gettyburg many times and thought I was fairly well versed on the battle and even the generalities of the Army of Northern Virginia's retreat, but I was not well-versed at all on the specifics of the Battle of Falling Waters. This book helped fill in the gaps in my understanding not only of the battle itself, but of the extreme ramifications of its results. Had the Army of the Potomac been more aggressive, or if things had gone just a little differently, the war could have been over much sooner.
The author spent almost 10 years researching the battle. This is a very detailed account of what happened. The narrative sections told the story itself, but I found the reports from men who fought the battle fascinating. Particularly interesting were direct accounts of the same event from both sides of the battle.
From the Confederate side, I found the accounts which mentioned the death of Pettigrew telling in that they were a clear indication of how high a regard he was held. On the Union side, I was taken, and not in a positive light on the man making the reports, with how Kilpatrick "praised" the men who he basically sent on a suicide charge.
This book offers both an academic approach on the battle as well as a very personal approach, and I think this was a good marriage. I recommend this book not only to those with a serious interest in the Civil War, but to anyone. This is a very good read.
The author spent almost 10 years researching the battle. This is a very detailed account of what happened. The narrative sections told the story itself, but I found the reports from men who fought the battle fascinating. Particularly interesting were direct accounts of the same event from both sides of the battle.
From the Confederate side, I found the accounts which mentioned the death of Pettigrew telling in that they were a clear indication of how high a regard he was held. On the Union side, I was taken, and not in a positive light on the man making the reports, with how Kilpatrick "praised" the men who he basically sent on a suicide charge.
This book offers both an academic approach on the battle as well as a very personal approach, and I think this was a good marriage. I recommend this book not only to those with a serious interest in the Civil War, but to anyone. This is a very good read.
August 16, 2014
The Battle of Falling Waters is one of those engagements that flies under the radar for many students of the Civil War. It is qualified as a rear guard engagement and so dismissed. Franks does an excellent job of showing readers the true nature of the engagement. The Battle was fierce and even thought the Confederate Army was retreating, they first stood and fought with Union Cavalry.
Franks takes the battle and breaks it down in small pieces, writing knowledgeable accounts and supporting the detail with the words of the soldiers who fought it - noting first hand accounts - ORs and other memoirs that mention this action in detail. This style adds greatly to the book, as readers see the impressions of soldiers who lived it, fought it, suffered through it. It also emphasizes the style and personalities of some of the Generals involved in the conflict.
Franks closes the book, with short bios on the major participants and directions to the Falling Water Battlefield site - which is endangered by progress.
I love the intimacy of this account, as if Franks is sharing with a friend his understanding of the actions backed up with the documents. Would say this is a must for students of Gettysburg.
GREAT BOOK!!!!!
Franks takes the battle and breaks it down in small pieces, writing knowledgeable accounts and supporting the detail with the words of the soldiers who fought it - noting first hand accounts - ORs and other memoirs that mention this action in detail. This style adds greatly to the book, as readers see the impressions of soldiers who lived it, fought it, suffered through it. It also emphasizes the style and personalities of some of the Generals involved in the conflict.
Franks closes the book, with short bios on the major participants and directions to the Falling Water Battlefield site - which is endangered by progress.
I love the intimacy of this account, as if Franks is sharing with a friend his understanding of the actions backed up with the documents. Would say this is a must for students of Gettysburg.
GREAT BOOK!!!!!
August 11, 2016
A short treatise on an often-neglected aspect of the Battle of Gettysburg. The writing could have been more inspiring. I have been spoiled by such writers as Doris Kearns Goodwin (Team of Rivals) and Kent Masterson Brown(Retreat from Gettysburg); I was expecting a more in-depth analysis of the battle at Falling Waters, not just a bare-bones rendition of chronological facts and excerpts of official reports and diaries written by (mostly) officers of both sides of the conflict.
August 27, 2016
It took longer to find the Battle site than it did to read the book! Good read to prepare for a visit to the area. Hope to visit there again when the author is doing a talk at the site.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews