Barksdale's Charge: The True High Tide of the Confederacy at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863

by Phillip Thomas Tucker

There is “never a dull moment” in this “excellent account” of an overlooked Confederate triumph during the Civil War’s Battle of Gettysburg (San Francisco Book Review).   While many Civil War buffs celebrate Picket’s Charge as the climactic moment of the Battle of Gettysburg, the Confederate Army’s true high point had come the afternoon before. When Longstreet’s corps triumphantly entered the battle, the Federals just barely held on. The foremost Rebel spearhead on that second day of the battle was Brig. Gen. William Barksdale’s Mississippi brigade, which launched what one Union observer called the “grandest charge that was ever seen by mortal man.”   On the second day of Gettysburg, the Federal left was not as vulnerable as Lee had envisioned, but had cooperated with Rebel wishes by extending its Third Corps into a salient. When Longstreet finally gave Barksdale the go-ahead, the Mississippians utterly crushed the peach orchard salient and continued marauding up to Cemetery Ridge. Hancock, Meade, and other Union generals had to gather men from four different corps to try to stem the onslaught.   Barksdale himself was killed at the apex of his advance. Darkness, as well as Confederate exhaustion, finally ended the day’s fight as the shaken, depleted Federal units took stock. They had barely held on against the full ferocity of the Rebels on a day that would decide the fate of the nation.

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

337 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 19, 2013

About the author

Phillip Thomas Tucker, Ph.D. has been recognized today as "the Stephen King of History," and the most groundbreaking historian in America, because of his great productivity of high-quality books (more than 185 books of history) in many field of history, including the American Revolution, Women's History, Civil War History, African American History, etc.
A winner of national and state book awards, Tucker has recently optioned out three books--Cathy Williams, Anne Bonny, and Mia Leimberg--for Hollywood films.
No American historian has authored more history books than Dr. Tucker. America's most prolific and innovative of historians has won international acclaim for breaking much new ground in history by authoring more than 180 history books of unique distinction. In total, he is the author of more than 225 works in history, including both books and scholarly articles.
Significantly, the vast majority of these groundbreaking books have a distinctive "New Look" focus, including five volumes of the Harriet Tubman Series and Haitian Revolutionary Women Series. An award-winning scholar of highly-original and uniquely human history, he has most often explored the remarkable lives of forgotten men and women in powerful historical narratives long ignored by other historians.
Most important, Dr. Tucker has emerged as one of America's leading Revolutionary War historians. He has authored groundbreaking Revolutionary war books, including "How the Irish Won the American Revolution"; "George Washington's Surprise Attack": "Saving Washington's Army"; "Brothers in Liberty"; "Kings Mountain"; "Alexander Hamilton's Revolution"; "Alexander Hamilton and the Battle of Yorktown"; "Captain Alexander Hamilton and His Forgotten Contributions at the Decisive Battle of Trenton"; and others no less distinguished.
The author has also written four books about female Buffalo Soldier Cathy Williams. In addition, he has completed groundbreaking New Look Glory 54th Massachusetts Regimental Series of four volumes. This important series has focused on the heroic story of the first black regiment from the North during the Civil War.
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Tucker has revealed some of the most overlooked chapters of America's hidden history to present new insights and fresh perspectives. The author's books have most often broken historical boundaries, while going well beyond traditional history in bold "New Look" narratives.
As America's leading myth-busting historian with three degrees in American history, including a Ph.D. from prestigious St. Louis University where he graduated summa cum laude, America's most prolific author has mined American history's obscure depths to present unique historical narratives long unexplored and forgotten. Tucker has long focused on illuminating the previously untold stories of forgotten women (black and white), who have been long overlooked. By revealing their distinguished hidden history that had been previously lost to the American public, the author has paid long-overdue tributes to these remarkable women of great courage and outstanding character. Ahead of their time, these dynamic women defied the odds in carving out their own unique destines with their hard work, enduring faith, and perseverance.
Dr. Tucker has authored groundbreaking books in many fields of study: African American, Women's, Irish, American Revolutionary War, Buffalo Soldiers, Civil War, Tuskegee Airmen, Little Bighorn, Caribbean, Private, Spanish American War, Second World War, George Armstrong Custer, and Southern history. He has long focused on telling the forgotten stories of lost souls, outcasts, renegades, misfits, rebels, deserters (like Buffalo Soldier David Fagen), iconoclasts, refugees, nonconformists, and outliers, whose unique lives deserve attention at this late day.
The author's award-winning books have often focused on iconic turning point moments in American

Reviews

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stirring if somewhat flawed read. Barksdale and the Mississippi Brigade absolutely fought their hearts out on the second day at Gettysburg and utterly crushed Sickles badly placed troops in the salient. Four fighting regiments of highly trained, disciplined infantry, led with a iron will by skilled and fearless officers simply tore through and bowled over one Northern regiment after another, heedless of rifle and artillery fire and heavy casualties. Ultimately, they pierced the Union line and made it all the way to the top of Cemetery Ridge before they were finally repulsed by Union reinforcements. Barksdale himself rode in front of his troops the entire way only to fall at the end. What a great story this is and Barksdale and his men are well worthy of praise and remembrance. Phillip Tucker does an outstanding job of describing the fighting from beginning to end and also does a fine job of putting faces on the officers and men of the Mississippi Brigade so that you can feel their loss as they fall along the charge.

Having said all, that his basic contention that Barksdale's charge on the second day was the South's greatest chance to win the battle and therefore the war is stretched more than a bit too thin. It's one thing to praise Barksdale's leadership and his men's courage. It's quite another to largely belittle the efforts and importance of others like the 15th Alabama at Little Round Top on the same day and to simply ignore the 20th Maine's efforts on that day. His point that Barksdale's charge was more significant and far more worthy of praise than Pickett's charge as Pickett's men never really had a chance to take the Union position on the third day seems more emotional than factual. The basic problem with Tucker's argument is that the attack got off too late to accomplish its ultimate objective of taking Cemetery Ridge and of course the attack was completely unsupported on either flank. None of the higher commanders were able to send in reinforcements to exploit the hole Barksdale blew through the Union forces as there weren't any available. The nearby Confederates were quite busy on their own fronts. In the end, Barksdale's charge became too ambitious as it was much too successful for its own good, the troops much too far out in front of the rest of the Confederate positions. Like Pickett's forces, his troops had little chance of holding their forward positions and were pushed back by Union counterattacks, only to retreat to their original positions minus a substantial number of their original forces. It was magnificent by any standard but doomed on its own. My primary objection to the book as objective history, is that it isn't objective, it's highly emotional in its presentation. He seems to be saying that we can't remember Barksdale's Charge properly if we insist on remembering Pickett's Charge, a much larger event over largely open ground into the very teeth of the Union forces and every cannon they could muster. The loss of Barksdale and his men was a tragedy, by any standard. The failure of Pickett's' Charge and his men was an unmitigated disaster that Lee's army never really recovered from.

[T.S. Arthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review and although it has taken me a while to read it, I have really enjoyed the content and style of the information provided.

This book gives a very in-depth and detailed re-telling of the Battle of Gettysburg, and more specifically the charge of Barksdale himself. A battle and time that will live forever in history, Phillip Thomas Tucker weaves the death and grim reality of war with insightful quotes, maps and ideas about how this battle really occurred.

There are several outstanding aspects of this book, however first I feel it is necessary to warn any potential readers that this book is not that easy to read. I am a frequent reader of non-fiction books, and more specifically historical non-fiction, and this is amongst one of the hardest I have read, but the effort is well worth it. At times, it is just a little over loaded with details such as names, positions in the armies etc, and with the same names appearing in both sides of the battle as well as within the same units, it can get a little hard to keep track of everyone!

On a much more positive note though, the detailed research the author must have done truly does shine through on every page. The quotes from letters, the pictures and the maps, to name but a few things, really do add a whole new dimension to the book. Personally, it made it all seem a lot more real, helping me to engage more with the trials of those poor men (and horses) stuck in the mud and terror of that day. Although knowing all the names did get slightly confusing at times, it was a great touch in helping 'bring home' the reality and enormity of the loss at that battle.

In addition, the pace with which the events were told was pitched just right. Although packed with detail, the book still had a great pace and a pull to it. The action of the battle really does pour through the pages and come alive. It's written with great skill and is one of the best 'battle recounts' that I have read in a long time.

In conclusion, I can only praise this book for summarising one of the pivotal battles of the American Civil War. Detailed, at times a little too much so, and a compelling, engaging and at times emotional read that I would recommend to anyone who has an interest in this period of history, or who is studying this.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad,but only having the maps at the front of the chapter made it hard to follow the movement of Barksdale's brigade throughout the second day,at Gettysburg.
It does finally give the Mississippians their due for almost breaking the union line on that 2nd day.
Historians have neglected this part of the battle for almost 154 years.
We all know about the wheatfield and Little Round Top,but Barksdale's charge came closer to giving Robert E. Lee the victory that he desired on Northern ground.

Well written but the lack of maps to follow the battle are not well done or handy to go to while reading this book.

[Larry · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think the author, like many writers about Pickett's Charge (July 3, 1863) highly overestimates the chances of Confederate success at Gettysburg. In this case, he documents the desperate and impressive actions of the Mississippi brigade in the afternoon attack of July 2. The story is not that compelling and there is a hint of 'the Lost Cause' romanticism in the writing. Just like the July 3 assault, the attack was doomed to fail -- had the brigade assumed a position on the higher ground they would have been unsupported by other elements of Lee's army and been pushed out of the position by superior numbers in time.

[Michael Donohue · Rating 1 out of 5]

poorly written history of a good topic. author uses too much hyperbole and superlatives. Tries embellish the story with his own color without providing evidence for the added detials, He'd be better off just telling the history and maybe even making an historical argumentin the book rather than just in the first chapter. Repeats himself over and over sometimes in the same sentence or paragraph. I actually stopped reading this. such a shame

[Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

Well written, well balanced account of the actions on both sides. The author makes a strong case for the primacy of this attack.

[Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a very focused look at the Confederate Army’s First Corp attack along the Union left flank on day 2, July 2, 1863, of the three-day battle of Gettysburg. In particular, it focuses on one brigade’s activity that afternoon. That is General William Barksdale’s Brigade, part of General Lafayette McLaws’ division within General Longstreet’s First Corp of the Army of Northern Virginia. On that focused look at Barksdale’s brigade the book is excellent. It provides info about the brigade and its’ leaders leading up to the battle of Gettysburg. Then at the battle itself, the book describes in detail who fought whom and where and why they were or weren’t successful. Without question, the author provides a vivid, detailed description of this gallant charge. These soldiers were brave and heroic and deserve great accolades for their work on July 2, 1863. The author provides plenty of factual support for the assertion in his subtitle that Barksdale’s brigade really achieved the deepest penetration of the Union lines at Gettysburg as opposed to the more generally recognized “high tide of the Confederacy” set by Pickett’s charge on July 3, 1863.
On the other hand, I think the book is somewhat degraded by two other assertions about this charge and its effect on the outcome of the battle of Gettysburg. First, he asserts that if Barksdale’s brigade had been successful in reaching Cemetery Ridge on July 2, 1863, the Confederacy would have won the battle of Gettysburg. Second, he goes on to assert if the Confederates had won at Gettysburg, it would have been a decisive victory and they would have won the Civil War. A decisive battle is one that often changes the course of history. The author strongly implies that if Barksdale’s brigade had broken though to Cemetery Ridge on July 2. 1863, he would have split the Union army in two. Well, if Barksdale’s brigade had taken hold of a portion of Cemetery Ridge late that afternoon, they would have been a spent force by that time. They had suffered approximately 50% in casualties by then and only had around 700 or 800 men still able to fight at that time. Due to their deep penetration, the brigade no longer had sufficient artillery support. Alone, the brigade could not have held the position. Thousands of Union reinforcements from idle Union forces on Cemetery Hill and Culp’s Hill plus the Union’s reserve artillery were converging on the scene. No such Confederate reinforcements were being sent to Barksdale. Could other Confederate units have been sent to Barksdale at that time, maybe. But most nearby friendly forces were heavily engaged with other Union forces just then. To asset that if Confederates reinforcements had arrived to support Barksdale on Cemetery Ridge, they would have won the day is conjecture without any facts. It is just another “if” and the Gettysburg Campaign and the Civil War is full of “ifs”. Also, the author’s assertion that victory at Gettysburg would have led to Southern victory in the war overstates the case for Southern independence. Don’t forget, at this same time the Confederate Army at Vicksburg was under siege and had to surrender approximately 30,000 men when they lost at Vicksburg on July 4, 1863. The Union then controlled the Mississippi River and had cut the Confederacy into two parts. It seems highly unlikely that the Union would have granted independence to the Confederacy at that time if Gettysburg had been a Union defeat. The Army of the Potomac was not under siege at Gettysburg and could have withdrawn their army as they had done at many previous lost battles. The author tries to support his total victory conjecture by sighting a quote attributed to General Lee that if he had won “A complete victory at Gettysburg, it would have given them Washington and Baltimore”. After the battle at Gettysburg, both armies were spent forces as exemplified by their lack of serious activity for the remainder of 1863. Both armies needed to be rested and refit. So, it’s unlikely the Army of Northern Virginia could have continued on to take Washington and Baltimore right after their victory at Gettysburg. Plus, the supposed Lee quote is sourced by the author to a book written by Confederate Brigadier General John B. Gordon, who is a notoriously unreliable source. Gordon’s post-Civil War writings were largely written to glorify himself and support the Lost Cause theory. Gordon’s book was written after Lee was dead, so Lee could not dispute or confirm that quote.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit redundant, but moves along. Makes a strong case for the subtitle. Only, what if ....

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like most readers of history, especially American Civil War history, any time I see a book about Gettysburg, I resist adding it to the stack of books I want to read. Most visit the same ground, emphasizing the same fights, and retelling the same stories. I am glad that I made an exception with Barksdale's Charge. Phillip Tucker makes a very convincing case that the often overlooked Mississippi Brigade's charge, routing a large part of Sickle's Third Corp, came the closest to splitting the Army of the Potomac which could have led to its defeat in detail.

Tucker did not write your standard book on the Battle of Gettysburg. Instead, he wrote a well-documented study of on particular unit (Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade of McLaws' Division in Longstreet's Corp) and the pivotal, but forgotten, role it played in almost defeating the Army of the Potomac. Tucker sets the stage with two chapters discussing Barksdale and the other leaders of the Mississippi regiments, the units and their men. He follows this with a chapter on the previous engagements of the Mississippi Brigade. Chapter four sets the scene with narration of the battle for July 1 and July 2, 1863, as all the actors take their places. Finally, in chapter five, the Mississippi Brigade is unleashed upon Sickle's men. For the next eight chapters, Tucker uses quotes from letters and diaries, well-laced with maps to put the reader on the battlefield with the participants. We can thrill with the enthusiasm of the Confederates as they overcome one obstacle after another only to fall into grief as the Confederates finally ran into a fresh unit they just could not overcome. Then the "romantic" disaster of Pickett's Charge, state prejudice in the Army of Northern Virginia, and the death of Barksdale cast the role of the Mississippi Brigade into obscurity.

Take the time to read the book. Your understanding of the Battle of Gettysburg will be changed as a result.

[Jimmie Kepler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phillip Thomas Tucker’s has written a well researched, very readable book titled "Barksdale's Charge: The True High Tide of the Confederacy at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863".

Dr. Tucker’s book makes the premise that at the Battle of Gettysburg General Barksdale's charge is more significant that General Picket’s charge. The author presents detail after detail.

The book gives a wonderful history of the Mississippi Brigade. He points out they are tall, straight shooters, and brave. I found the book redundant at points.

The author makes good arguments for Barksdale’s charge being more important than Pickett’s. If Barksdale had lived and expended the same energy that Pickett did in defending his actions, we think more highly of his Mississippi brigade’s contributions. Interestingly, the point of view presented was almost exclusively southern apologetic.

The book was an enjoyable read. The history of the Mississippi brigade and its contributions is worth the purchase price. I think the historians have already decided Pickett charge was more important than Barksdale’s, but it made me reevaluate.

I am well read on the subject of Gettysburg having read more than twenty books and memoirs on the battle. I am a trained historian by education who studied military history. I am a former US Army infantry officer who has studied the battle in detail in my military science curriculum. All this said; I can examine the premise, but respectfully disagree with it.

[William Olenick · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are willing to almost ignore what is happening else where on the battlefield as if The Mississippi Brigade were the of brigade on the southern end of the field, this is the book for you. The are repeated phases and adjectives that distract from the story, i.e. elite, hard hitting and own thief own hook, the last is repeated at least seven times.
Author assumes that supporting units should ignore standard military doctrine to do what would make a better conclusion to his thesis, which is not really supported. That Bark scale made any more impact on the 2nd then any of Longstreet's brigades or the later actions on Culps Hill or Stevens Knoll is outlandish!!!

[Jim Hopkins]

Meh.