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Stars in Their Courses: The Gettysburg Campaign, June-July 1863
Historian/novelist Foote's masterly work has been culled from his critically acclaimed three-volume narrative of the Civil War.
290 pages, Hardcover
First published June 28, 1994
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About the author
Shelby Foote
119 books679 followersShelby Dade Foote, Jr. was an American novelist and a noted historian of the American Civil War, writing a massive, three-volume history of the war entitled The Civil War: A Narrative. With geographic and cultural roots in the Mississippi Delta, Foote's life and writing paralleled the radical shift from the agrarian planter system of the Old South to the Civil Rights era of the New South. Foote was relatively unknown to the general public for most of his career until his appearance in Ken Burns's PBS documentary The Civil War in 1990, where he introduced a generation of Americans to a war that he believed was "central to all our lives."
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July 29, 2019This is an excerpt from Foote's three-volume history of the American Civil War. Since the complete three volume book is one which I haven't read I can attest that this little volume that just deals with the battle of Gettysburg is free standing.
It is a good modern example of history as drama. The leading figures (naturally tending to be the officers) come across as heroes with moral virtues clearly on display. Livy would have approved. It's just the kind of thing to give to a child who is interested in history and enjoys stories or perhaps to an adult who isn't a confident reader. It is easy reading, the narrative and characterisation will lead them on.
As a history of the American Civil War what strikes me from this excerpt is that there is no sense of their being any villains, the emphasis is rather on noble and heroic struggle. Everybody in this account who fights nobly and doggedly is virtuous and heroic. It is civil war as a national celebration of heroism and reconciliation.
Still I was amused reading that some of the soldiers returning from Pickett's charge took off their hats and cheered General Lee. Personally if I had advanced across a cornfield under fire, been repulsed by the enemy and then had to march back while being shot at I wouldn't have been cheering anybody. Again I am reminded that I am obviously not cut out to be a soldier, so it's lucky for all involved that I've remained a civilian.
It is a good modern example of history as drama. The leading figures (naturally tending to be the officers) come across as heroes with moral virtues clearly on display. Livy would have approved. It's just the kind of thing to give to a child who is interested in history and enjoys stories or perhaps to an adult who isn't a confident reader. It is easy reading, the narrative and characterisation will lead them on.
As a history of the American Civil War what strikes me from this excerpt is that there is no sense of their being any villains, the emphasis is rather on noble and heroic struggle. Everybody in this account who fights nobly and doggedly is virtuous and heroic. It is civil war as a national celebration of heroism and reconciliation.
Still I was amused reading that some of the soldiers returning from Pickett's charge took off their hats and cheered General Lee. Personally if I had advanced across a cornfield under fire, been repulsed by the enemy and then had to march back while being shot at I wouldn't have been cheering anybody. Again I am reminded that I am obviously not cut out to be a soldier, so it's lucky for all involved that I've remained a civilian.
January 7, 2015
Every bit as fantastic as the first time I read it when working my way through the full three volumes of Foote's masterpiece. More thoughts when I can do more than type on my phone.
August 10, 2024
This title is Old Testament biblical, referring to fate (Providence, God’s plan), being the final arbiter in the machinations of man – in this case the great Robert E. Lee meeting his match in Gettysburg Pennsylvania in July of 1863. These 3 days of conflict were pivotal in the American Civil war, since the confederate army (of Northern Virginia, under General Lee) had thus far been mostly successful against the less committed (yet more powered and supported for war from the north) Union Army. In fact, General Meade was put in charge a couple of days before the battle, due to the lack of confidence that Lincoln had in his leaders thus far in the war. This account is, I believe, one chapter in Foote’s 3 volume anthology of the war, which I understand is one of the most definitive of its kind (but history buffs, of which I am certainly not, may correct me on this). I was interested in Foote’s account because he was so oft quoted in Ken Burns’ Civil War documentary series, alongside the sad violins and banjoes and the mellifluous narration of Peter Coyote. Foote’s account felt a bit cumbersome to me at first, the sentences overly long and seeming to refer to information I did not have context for (perhaps because this was but one section) – in fact his writing style didn’t really appeal to me. But his command of the information seemed impeccable, his information perhaps overly detailed in some portions, but authenticity came through. I will always applaud historical accuracy and lack of conjecture, so this sometimes less emotional style I overlooked. I’ve had my fill of the feelings of the troops and soldiers through novels, so Foote’s account filled a gap nicely for me. And I’ve always had a soft spot for the Gettysburg war, having visited there many years ago in my youth, and my father and brother were re-enactors, so our family has always held an interest in this most grievous battle for a unified America. In my youth I recalled the cannon firing demonstration, and the shocking fact that the single shot Springfield rifle required a paper sachet (powder, charge) be poured into the end of the barrel, followed with a Minié ball (bullet), both tamped down briskly and tamper returned to the rifle barrel, the hammer cocked, a firing cap affixed, aimed and fired. A skilled infantryman could get off a shot every 20 seconds. Imagine that process in the heat of battle (I recall the Burns documentary saying they found rifles with multiple charges crammed, from the panic of war). This is how most of the fighting occurred at Gettysburg, as well as cannon (exploding shrapnel, straight balls, or a shotgun-like musket blast for short range).
Foote’s account is mainly the movement of the armies as they coalesced just south of Gettysburg, having run into each other somewhat by accident, but amassing tremendous numbers of soldiers due to a number of coincidences. The Union army was initially pinned down but got the higher ground and played defense. Lee, still in mourning over losing his right-hand man recently (Jackson), had lost connection to his calvary, and did not realize his advantage till too late. Lee attempted an all-out push to finally defeat the Union army at the center of the two lines, but this ended poorly (Pickett’s charge) as he had lost the position, and the Union army was reinforced in time to massacre the soldiers on the field of a bright sunny summer day. Tens of thousands lay dead and wounded, many buried where they fell since there was no easy way to identify men at this time, especially the confederates. Lee retreated and was hemmed in at the banks of the Potomac but Meade did not pursue, yet another failure of the Union army, to Lincoln’s regret, to finish the war (which continued for another 18 months).
My wife had never seen Gettysburg so she read Shaara’s “The Killer Angels”, which I read as a boy, and we were both ready for the 2 hour bus tour. We enjoyed this greatly, seeing the battlefield from Little Round Top, where a key skirmish was held. It brought back my youth, and my love of history, as well as a visceral feel for what those poor boys endured as horror in the service of their masters. The rebel army was largely barefoot, half starved, yet had a zeal and aggressiveness that explained how the war dragged out so long, in spite of the Union’s far superior numbers and war machine. We saw where the Gettysburg address, that brief yet brilliant expose on our nation’s dark hour, was delivered by the big man himself. We enjoyed the drive through rural Pennsylvania as well. I picked up this Foote book in one of the shops and enjoyed it during the heat and remaining days of summer, my first in retirement, where I could muse and peruse Civil war information and history at my leisure.
This book is excellent for an accurate depiction of the decision making of the generals and leaders of the war, where information was key and timing (the “courses of the stars”) dictated who one the war. Either side, had the stars aligned, could have won and a Lee victory might have meant we had 2 countries today, not one united. Our world would be very different.
Foote’s account is mainly the movement of the armies as they coalesced just south of Gettysburg, having run into each other somewhat by accident, but amassing tremendous numbers of soldiers due to a number of coincidences. The Union army was initially pinned down but got the higher ground and played defense. Lee, still in mourning over losing his right-hand man recently (Jackson), had lost connection to his calvary, and did not realize his advantage till too late. Lee attempted an all-out push to finally defeat the Union army at the center of the two lines, but this ended poorly (Pickett’s charge) as he had lost the position, and the Union army was reinforced in time to massacre the soldiers on the field of a bright sunny summer day. Tens of thousands lay dead and wounded, many buried where they fell since there was no easy way to identify men at this time, especially the confederates. Lee retreated and was hemmed in at the banks of the Potomac but Meade did not pursue, yet another failure of the Union army, to Lincoln’s regret, to finish the war (which continued for another 18 months).
My wife had never seen Gettysburg so she read Shaara’s “The Killer Angels”, which I read as a boy, and we were both ready for the 2 hour bus tour. We enjoyed this greatly, seeing the battlefield from Little Round Top, where a key skirmish was held. It brought back my youth, and my love of history, as well as a visceral feel for what those poor boys endured as horror in the service of their masters. The rebel army was largely barefoot, half starved, yet had a zeal and aggressiveness that explained how the war dragged out so long, in spite of the Union’s far superior numbers and war machine. We saw where the Gettysburg address, that brief yet brilliant expose on our nation’s dark hour, was delivered by the big man himself. We enjoyed the drive through rural Pennsylvania as well. I picked up this Foote book in one of the shops and enjoyed it during the heat and remaining days of summer, my first in retirement, where I could muse and peruse Civil war information and history at my leisure.
This book is excellent for an accurate depiction of the decision making of the generals and leaders of the war, where information was key and timing (the “courses of the stars”) dictated who one the war. Either side, had the stars aligned, could have won and a Lee victory might have meant we had 2 countries today, not one united. Our world would be very different.
October 24, 2009
First, this is not the best rendering of the battle at Gettysburg. For that, see Coddington or Trudeau or Sears or. . . . On the other hand, for those who want a literate, relatively brief introduction with the ability to understand something of the leading players at the battle, this is a good work.
Foote was a novelist, and his sensibility from that experience comes through. The way he turns phrases is exquisite. For instance, read the pages featuring Heth's advance toward Gettysburg and Buford's determination to hold the Confederate troops in check until Union forces began to arrive. The way Foote writes this episode typifies the elegant prose of this work. On the other hand, there are also some errors (e.g., the weaponry of Buford's cavalry).
Characters come alive--the burly James Longstreet comes to mind as an example. Just so, John Buford. And others as well.
Shelby covers the campaign leading to Gettysburg, the three days of the battle itself, and Lee's retreat. The action at Gettysburg is described in enough detail to give a sense of the fierce combat; however, it is not encyclopedic in its coverage (as works like Coddington). In a sense, it is a compromise between an extensive history of the battle and a quick and readable version for the reader who does not want to get overwhelmed by detail. And, of course, we need to remember that this is, in essence, excerpted from his three volume history of the Civil War.
All in all, a finely written depiction of the critical battle at Gettysburg.
Foote was a novelist, and his sensibility from that experience comes through. The way he turns phrases is exquisite. For instance, read the pages featuring Heth's advance toward Gettysburg and Buford's determination to hold the Confederate troops in check until Union forces began to arrive. The way Foote writes this episode typifies the elegant prose of this work. On the other hand, there are also some errors (e.g., the weaponry of Buford's cavalry).
Characters come alive--the burly James Longstreet comes to mind as an example. Just so, John Buford. And others as well.
Shelby covers the campaign leading to Gettysburg, the three days of the battle itself, and Lee's retreat. The action at Gettysburg is described in enough detail to give a sense of the fierce combat; however, it is not encyclopedic in its coverage (as works like Coddington). In a sense, it is a compromise between an extensive history of the battle and a quick and readable version for the reader who does not want to get overwhelmed by detail. And, of course, we need to remember that this is, in essence, excerpted from his three volume history of the Civil War.
All in all, a finely written depiction of the critical battle at Gettysburg.
March 11, 2014
Shelby's focus is on the Confederates in this well-written account of the battle of Gettysburg, and Lee comes off as the root of many of their failures in the battle. Until the end, when the surviving grays cross the Potomac in the middle of the night, thereby embarrassing the Feds in what should have become a decisive victory, the Federals are given less attention. Meade's actions are portrayed, but Buford's defensive actions on the first day of battle are given inproportionate print.
There are lots of tactics and many, many numbers in this book. Stupyfying numbers. Numbers of casualties, comparison of participating units and ammunition, numbers of miles marched, and on and on. I personally found these very helpful in putting Gettysburg into perspective. It is widely known how deadly this battle was, but this book brings it home.
Foote does an excellent job of describing the human physicalities of the war. Enough detail is given to portray its gruesomeness and the psychological toll it takes upon the participants without weighing the reader down. He is a very distinct and precise writer.
Though picturing battle maneuvers in my head is not my forte, Foote provided excellent logistical information. I needed to reread sections from time to time and the beginning of the book which summarized the lead-up to Gettysburg was a bit mind-boggling for one not that well briefed on the Civil War, but all in all the book held my interest and presented the war in a factual, but not dry, manner.
This is the first I have read by Foote and it will undoubtedly not be the last. His knowledge seems impeccable and anyone interested in nonfiction American History would do well to check him out.
Deducting a star for lack of documentation/footnotes.
There are lots of tactics and many, many numbers in this book. Stupyfying numbers. Numbers of casualties, comparison of participating units and ammunition, numbers of miles marched, and on and on. I personally found these very helpful in putting Gettysburg into perspective. It is widely known how deadly this battle was, but this book brings it home.
Foote does an excellent job of describing the human physicalities of the war. Enough detail is given to portray its gruesomeness and the psychological toll it takes upon the participants without weighing the reader down. He is a very distinct and precise writer.
Though picturing battle maneuvers in my head is not my forte, Foote provided excellent logistical information. I needed to reread sections from time to time and the beginning of the book which summarized the lead-up to Gettysburg was a bit mind-boggling for one not that well briefed on the Civil War, but all in all the book held my interest and presented the war in a factual, but not dry, manner.
This is the first I have read by Foote and it will undoubtedly not be the last. His knowledge seems impeccable and anyone interested in nonfiction American History would do well to check him out.
Deducting a star for lack of documentation/footnotes.
February 2, 2015
If any of you have watched Ken Burns mini-series "The Civil War", then you will be familiar with Shelby Foote as one of the contributors. He is remembered for his slow southern accent and his depth of knowledge of the Civil War. This book focuses on The Battle of Gettysburg, probably the best known and most studied of all Civil War battles. I, along with my two younger brothers, had the honor of spending three days touring the Gettysburg Battlefield site a few years back. We walked on Little Round Top, stood next to the stone wall, visited the cemetery, and much more. It was very humbling, and I recommend it to anyone who has a chance to go. Shelby Foote was a wonderful writer and this book is a must read for anyone interested in what happened in this small Pennsylvania town in July 1863.
May 6, 2023
This book is a lengthy excerpt from Volume 2 of Footes massive 3 volume history of the Civil War. It's one of two (the other being the Vicksburg campaign). I've now read the Vicksburg portion twice. I would encourage readers to the Volume 2 version, since the Vicksburg campaign is incredibly complicated and has long roots. I'm not sure (as I recall) the excerpted version captures the long roots contained in the larger book. That said, the Gettysburg excerpt works wonderfully. I turned to it after getting tired of lugging around enormous brick that Volume 2 represents. The excerpt is a dandy little portable filled with a lot of great writing and high drama.
The battle of Gettysburg was an accidental battle. Both sides were groping around trying to locate each other. Lee invaded the North after his amazing victory at Chancellorsville. I'm not sure the invasion was meant to militarily defeat the North. The South (IMHO) simply lacked the resources and men to do so. But a great victory and the destruction of a Union army (or the capture of an important city) could have turned the military conflict into more a political one. Foote doesn't say exactly that, but I reading in between the lines. Even so, the South's invasion seems to be still a hope and prayer. It's interesting how Lee was obsessed with creating another Cannae to end the war, when one considers that the original battle didn't end the 2nd Punic war. It just strengthened Roman resolve to hold on and eventually win. And as Longstreet understands, there is a brutal arithmetic operating, with the South unable to replace its losses while the Union forces get stronger and tougher with each new battle. One suspects Lee knew this as well, which is why he went for the knockout blow at Gettysburg. That said, Lee's insistence on Picket's charge still strikes me as insane. Foote does point out that Meade had drawn from his center in order to strengthen the Round Top area and Culp's Hill. But not so much as prevent the Union from stopping a mile long charge across open terrain. And no matter where the action, there was continuous stream of Union reinforcements arriving to plug holes and replace losses.
Anyway, it's a great book. I have noticed that in Volume 2 there is more pronounced Southern view toward things. But Foote is a great story teller. The book is marred by Foote's not including notes (or even an index in the excerpted version). The history seems generally sound (I love the mini-bios of various participants), but every once in a while Foote will say some unsourced thing that leaves you going Wait! What? That's unfortunate and to my mind unnecessary. But there is that beautiful writing by Foote, so I suppose we should be thankful for what we have.
The battle of Gettysburg was an accidental battle. Both sides were groping around trying to locate each other. Lee invaded the North after his amazing victory at Chancellorsville. I'm not sure the invasion was meant to militarily defeat the North. The South (IMHO) simply lacked the resources and men to do so. But a great victory and the destruction of a Union army (or the capture of an important city) could have turned the military conflict into more a political one. Foote doesn't say exactly that, but I reading in between the lines. Even so, the South's invasion seems to be still a hope and prayer. It's interesting how Lee was obsessed with creating another Cannae to end the war, when one considers that the original battle didn't end the 2nd Punic war. It just strengthened Roman resolve to hold on and eventually win. And as Longstreet understands, there is a brutal arithmetic operating, with the South unable to replace its losses while the Union forces get stronger and tougher with each new battle. One suspects Lee knew this as well, which is why he went for the knockout blow at Gettysburg. That said, Lee's insistence on Picket's charge still strikes me as insane. Foote does point out that Meade had drawn from his center in order to strengthen the Round Top area and Culp's Hill. But not so much as prevent the Union from stopping a mile long charge across open terrain. And no matter where the action, there was continuous stream of Union reinforcements arriving to plug holes and replace losses.
Anyway, it's a great book. I have noticed that in Volume 2 there is more pronounced Southern view toward things. But Foote is a great story teller. The book is marred by Foote's not including notes (or even an index in the excerpted version). The history seems generally sound (I love the mini-bios of various participants), but every once in a while Foote will say some unsourced thing that leaves you going Wait! What? That's unfortunate and to my mind unnecessary. But there is that beautiful writing by Foote, so I suppose we should be thankful for what we have.
January 10, 2008
I re-read this book every year on the July 4 holiday, to remember what happened in Gettysburg during the first three days of July not that long ago.
I don't like war and get bored with scholarly histories, and yet Foote lays it all out with such beauty and economy of language that you can't help but be swept along.
I don't like war and get bored with scholarly histories, and yet Foote lays it all out with such beauty and economy of language that you can't help but be swept along.
June 7, 2019
I picked up this slim volume up at Gettysburg some years ago when I visited with my brother who was living in nearby Maryland at the time. It was a very nice trip. Growing up in the Midwest it was a major trip (or a stop on our way to visit our grandparents in Baltimore) to come here. But I have been to Gettysburg several times. Traffic has always been bad. But it is worth the trip.
This is an excerpt from Foote's three volume The Civil War. Strictly related to Gettysburg. I recently found all three volumes of Foote's opus at used book sale/store prices - much more reasonable than getting it first hand. So I thought I would finish this and The Beleaguered City: The Vicksburg Campaign. Looks like there may also be one for Shiloh, but I haven't been to that battlefield.
Excellent writing. Made it a real page turner. Even knowing the result, it made it kind of exciting.
This is an excerpt from Foote's three volume The Civil War. Strictly related to Gettysburg. I recently found all three volumes of Foote's opus at used book sale/store prices - much more reasonable than getting it first hand. So I thought I would finish this and The Beleaguered City: The Vicksburg Campaign. Looks like there may also be one for Shiloh, but I haven't been to that battlefield.
Excellent writing. Made it a real page turner. Even knowing the result, it made it kind of exciting.
December 12, 2012
Reading Stars in Their Courses: The Gettysburg Campaign, June-July 1963, I could almost hear him speaking the words on the always mesmerizing PBS series "The Civil War" by Ken Burns. The language is so beautiful and evocative, bringing you almost into the hot, humid summer afternoon, listening to the cannonade as Pickett's charge is about to form up and march to destruction and into history. I have put off reading his massive 3 part history of the Civil War, so daunting in size. After this little extract from the series on the most important battle of the war, I will wait no longer. Time to dive into the entire history from start to finish. 5 Battle Stars for this book.
July 15, 2012
Excerpted from Foote's renowned multi-volume history of the Civil War, "Stars in Their Courses" gives a solid account of the Gettysburg Campaign. It is a shining example of history written as a novel -- one can learn and be entertained at the same time. Foote's research is good and he can certainly turn a phrase. For those new to Civil War history or without a firm background in the subject, "Stars in Their Courses" and its sister volume on the Vicksburg Campaign, "The Beleaguered City," are excellent starting points. My only complaint: poor maps.
January 21, 2018
I picked this up at Goodwill even though I am currently reading Foote's trilogy. This is beautifully written. Despite the massive amount of detail presented, it is a joy to read. I want to go to the battlefield and take this with me as a guide.
March 2, 2018
Better than Faulkner
July 1, 2019
my annual tradition is to read Killer Angels by Sharra, or this book by Shelby Foote. To remember the Battle of Gettysburg which was fought 156 yrs ago this week. One thing that made the book so enjoyable was the language the author used throughout the book. This book was a piece culled from the larger voluminous work on the Civil War which I have also read.
December 16, 2018
Read this upon finishing Foote's excerpted book about the Vicksburg campaign, the two having overlapped chronologically. While the former focused on Union forces, this concentrates on the Confederates, the activities of aggressors being more noteworthy than those of defenders. Again, most of the story concerns military matters and the behavior of generals on both sides. Frankly, I often lost track of who was whom, though the six maps helped a bit.
April 22, 2018
SPOILER ALERT! The Yanks won at Gettysburg . ..
But this book kept me on the edge of my seat anyway. This is my first selection from Shelby Foote. His prose is beautiful. I want to read his whole three volumes this summer. The only reason I did not give this nice little book 5 stars is because it does suffer from being an excerpt from a larger work.
But this book kept me on the edge of my seat anyway. This is my first selection from Shelby Foote. His prose is beautiful. I want to read his whole three volumes this summer. The only reason I did not give this nice little book 5 stars is because it does suffer from being an excerpt from a larger work.
December 22, 2024
Shelby Foote captures the "fog of war" as well as anyone ever has. Two big armies. Lee in command, of course, of the Confederates; Meade, the Union. But many other officers, including most notably Longstreet, about whom more momentarily, play important roles, and not a few die. It's a three-day killing spree. Commands are made, and charges, and counterattacks, and reinforcements are rushed to cover the left flank, or is it the right, a command is tardy or doesn't get through, or equivocation replaces decision, or ... well, you get the idea. But I do not mean to take anything away from this book. It is superbly realized by a wonderful writer. Foote was a Southerner, and the Battle of Gettysburg is largely described from the Confederate side. He doesn't sugar-coat the outcome. Here Longstreet looms large. It is July 3rd, the last day. The Union has more of everything, as was always the case, yet the outcome remains in doubt. Lee is uncharacteristically unsure of himself. Longstreet is adamantly against what has come to be known as "Pickett's Charge." The Union has had time to prepare its defenses and holds an entrenched position. Longstreet tells Lee the proposed attack will be repulsed with catastrophic losses. Lee orders it anyway, and Longstreet is more than vindicated. The South has lost the battle, the turning point in the war. Interestingly, Foote devotes some attention to the immediate aftermath of the battle. Lee is retreating hastily, but Meade has the chance to catch him. He doesn't take it. If he had, it is hard to believe Lee would not have suffered a second loss, and who is to say the war might not have been brought to a swift conclusion? We'll never know.
April 28, 2025
I read this book mostly because I was going to visit Gettysburg. This portion of Foote’s multi-volume set was interesting and readable, albeit with a heavy slant towards the Confederates. I think there are probably more detailed better written books about this battle, but this still stands as a classic.
finish-later
September 26, 2022Bookmarking at pg 17
July 11, 2022
I love Shelby Foote. Even though I already know the story and the outcome, I couldn’t put this down. Shelby has a way of sucking you in and making you feel like you’re there.
September 4, 2022
I have been going to Gettysburg with my family since I was a very little girl. In fact, I was just there on Labor Day a couple days ago. I have always loved it there. The history of the place, the battlefield and even just the town itself make it my favorite place to visit. I've always known tidbits about the battle here and there from the countless tours my dad has given us throughout the years, but I decided that since I suppose I AM old enough to really understand what happened and since I'm out of college now and can study what I want, I wanted to study the battle in earnest. So, I went over to the library and picked a few books from the shelf, but this one in particular caught my eye. Shelby Foote is a huge name in Civil War literature, so when I saw that this was a segment from his ginormous Civil War trilogy only touching on Gettysburg, I thought I would try out Foote while learning about the battle that has always held my interest.
Needless to say, I really enjoyed this. This wasn't as detailed as some other books that are out there, but at the same time, this is not for the leisurely history student. I took notes while I was reading and having familiarity with the area, I was able to envision everything that was taking place. (Seriously, if you enjoy history at all, you NEED to make it to Gettysburg). That all being said, I was definitely surprised by how readable this book was. Even though it was a short book, I thought it would take me forever to get through it. It did take me a while, but only because I was taking intense notes. The pages flew by for me, which was unexpected but always nice.
I was a little worried going into it, knowing that Foote himself hails from Mississippi and having heard from someone that he was a Southern enthusiast, that this would be a one-sided book. After having read it, I'm not really sure what that person was talking about. Foote bounces back and forth, telling the story of the battle from both sides and painting sympathetic pictures for both the Union and the Confederates. In this day and age of left versus right and liberal versus conservative, it was refreshing to read something that flips the table for readers while presenting each side evenly.
As I alluded to earlier, this is not the most detail-oriented account of the battle, but it gives a nice overview for someone such as myself who is trying to get a basic handle on the battle before jumping into all of the details. This little segment of a book is by no means dry--he provides interesting insight into the generals and the soldiers who were the players on this battlefield. Foote spends time not only describing battlefield maneuvers, but also delves into the feelings, hopes and ambitions of the men during these three days.
My biggest complaint, honestly, is the lack of maps. I admit, I am quite familiar with the layout of Gettysburg and its battlefield, but even I had a little bit of a rough time figuring out the positions of the lines of soldiers, so for someone who has never been there or who might not be that familiar with the layout, this could be a bit of difficult reading. I used one of my dad's book of Gettysburg battle maps while I was reading it, which definitely helped. I also recommend the Civil War Trust's website for Gettysburg maps--they are excellent maps.
Overall, I thought this was a great way to introduce myself to an overview of the battle. To those well-versed in the battle, this even provides interesting insight into the players on the field. I don't know that I'm quite up to reading Foote's massive trilogy just yet, but this gave me a good taste for his style, and I highly enjoyed it.
Needless to say, I really enjoyed this. This wasn't as detailed as some other books that are out there, but at the same time, this is not for the leisurely history student. I took notes while I was reading and having familiarity with the area, I was able to envision everything that was taking place. (Seriously, if you enjoy history at all, you NEED to make it to Gettysburg). That all being said, I was definitely surprised by how readable this book was. Even though it was a short book, I thought it would take me forever to get through it. It did take me a while, but only because I was taking intense notes. The pages flew by for me, which was unexpected but always nice.
I was a little worried going into it, knowing that Foote himself hails from Mississippi and having heard from someone that he was a Southern enthusiast, that this would be a one-sided book. After having read it, I'm not really sure what that person was talking about. Foote bounces back and forth, telling the story of the battle from both sides and painting sympathetic pictures for both the Union and the Confederates. In this day and age of left versus right and liberal versus conservative, it was refreshing to read something that flips the table for readers while presenting each side evenly.
As I alluded to earlier, this is not the most detail-oriented account of the battle, but it gives a nice overview for someone such as myself who is trying to get a basic handle on the battle before jumping into all of the details. This little segment of a book is by no means dry--he provides interesting insight into the generals and the soldiers who were the players on this battlefield. Foote spends time not only describing battlefield maneuvers, but also delves into the feelings, hopes and ambitions of the men during these three days.
My biggest complaint, honestly, is the lack of maps. I admit, I am quite familiar with the layout of Gettysburg and its battlefield, but even I had a little bit of a rough time figuring out the positions of the lines of soldiers, so for someone who has never been there or who might not be that familiar with the layout, this could be a bit of difficult reading. I used one of my dad's book of Gettysburg battle maps while I was reading it, which definitely helped. I also recommend the Civil War Trust's website for Gettysburg maps--they are excellent maps.
Overall, I thought this was a great way to introduce myself to an overview of the battle. To those well-versed in the battle, this even provides interesting insight into the players on the field. I don't know that I'm quite up to reading Foote's massive trilogy just yet, but this gave me a good taste for his style, and I highly enjoyed it.
July 4, 2010
By total chance, I happened to finish this the morning of the 4th of July. I very much enjoy Shelby Foote's prose; which is why, despite my amateur historian's disdain for a lack of citations, I decided to give this account of Gettysburg a whirl. It certainly lived up to my expectations, although I found myself going back over some passages because of his use of metaphors and other Southern story-telling ways. I anticipated the need after a long break from "literature" while reading works of social science by economists and the like.
Foote gives life to the personalities of the Civil War. In this case, almost exclusively to the major players in Gray: Lee, Longstreet and Pickett. Foote estimates the emotions of these three characters, more than any others, throughout the book. This makes a lot of sense given the controversy that has surrounded Longstreet's performance at G-burg since the 19th century and the fame of Pickett's Charge. However, Joshua Chamberlain only garners a single mention and almost no vivid descriptions of his heroic leadership at Little Round Top. Such an absence is, in my mind, glaring and speaks to Foote's potential biases. I have to say, I was pretty floored that Chamberlain got passed over for greater detail, but this might be because of the esteem in which I hold "The Killer Angels."
All in all, this is a fine book and a joy to read. As serious history, I think it wise to keep a professional historian's work nearby. (I recommend James M. McPherson). Another volume on G-burg is especially useful to account for the difficult and unfortunately messy maps in this slim volume.
Foote gives life to the personalities of the Civil War. In this case, almost exclusively to the major players in Gray: Lee, Longstreet and Pickett. Foote estimates the emotions of these three characters, more than any others, throughout the book. This makes a lot of sense given the controversy that has surrounded Longstreet's performance at G-burg since the 19th century and the fame of Pickett's Charge. However, Joshua Chamberlain only garners a single mention and almost no vivid descriptions of his heroic leadership at Little Round Top. Such an absence is, in my mind, glaring and speaks to Foote's potential biases. I have to say, I was pretty floored that Chamberlain got passed over for greater detail, but this might be because of the esteem in which I hold "The Killer Angels."
All in all, this is a fine book and a joy to read. As serious history, I think it wise to keep a professional historian's work nearby. (I recommend James M. McPherson). Another volume on G-burg is especially useful to account for the difficult and unfortunately messy maps in this slim volume.
February 7, 2021
I have the trilogy and this section of book two has been a touchstone for me for decades. I plan to reread old favorites now, and this re-read made me appreciate the management of the two head generals. Past reads were about the power of the will and about heroism; I guess reading in your 50s is less starry eyed and makes you focus on more practical aspects of stories.
So, this is a battle between veteran commander Lee and his hubris born from the Improbable victories his army achieved in the previous year: the Seven Days, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. On the other side, the was the neophyte Meade, newly minted commander of the powerful but demoralized Army of the Potomac.
The ending now seems preordained: how could the Union not win? In this story, though, you see how the expectations of the South led Lee to order the doomed to fail Pickett’s Charge, and how the inexperience of Meade led to his beginner’s luck at the little Pennsylvania town at the crossroads, and explains his failure to follow up by pursuing And destroying Lee. But, however the history went, the style and pacing Foote gives to this oft told tale makes it unforgettably moving. A masterpiece.
So, this is a battle between veteran commander Lee and his hubris born from the Improbable victories his army achieved in the previous year: the Seven Days, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. On the other side, the was the neophyte Meade, newly minted commander of the powerful but demoralized Army of the Potomac.
The ending now seems preordained: how could the Union not win? In this story, though, you see how the expectations of the South led Lee to order the doomed to fail Pickett’s Charge, and how the inexperience of Meade led to his beginner’s luck at the little Pennsylvania town at the crossroads, and explains his failure to follow up by pursuing And destroying Lee. But, however the history went, the style and pacing Foote gives to this oft told tale makes it unforgettably moving. A masterpiece.
July 14, 2015
I saw Shelby Foote on In-Depth on C-Span a few years ago and was totally impressed. He must have been one of the leading intellectuals of the 20th century. Also, he was best friends with Walker Percy, the famous novelist. This book reads like a novel and is great history, similar to the writings of Barbara Tuchamn. The attention to telling detail is remarkable and is very elucidating about the characters of the men who determined the course of the battle. One wonder how Gen. Lee ever overcame the colossal blunder he made at Gettysburg. Foote's sympathies are clearly with the South, but he handles this issue very even-handedly with no excuses or deference to the great man. One concludes that if Gen. Lee had listened to Gen. Longstreet, his most trusted and reliable corps commander, the course of American history surely would have been altered in a big way. For example, Northerners might now be eating grits instead of oatmeal or Froot Loops for breakfast.
November 16, 2018
Foote's scholarship on the Civil War is well known. This book is an excerpt from one of his larger works, and is excellent. He discusses the high-level political and military factors that set in motion the events at Gettysburg and then proceeds to describe the many aspects of the battle from perspectives ranging from the commanders to the common foot soldiers. He does all this in a format that is enjoyable to read, unlike some treatments. His descriptions are clear, concise, and easy to keep track of, and the occasional map matches the accompanying text (not always the case in some books) and provides just enough additional information for the reader to get a clearer understanding. It's hard to imagine a better single-volume account that is as comprehensive and as readable as this one is.
Read
July 10, 2010While this book is a single chapter from the 3 volume Civil War narritive, it reads as a complete story of the great battle. Next year is the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the War. I read the book on the days (July 1-3) of the conflict. Foote tells the story from the South's perspective but does not hold back in judging Lee's tactics as imperfect. This was Meade's first battle as General of the Army of the Potomac and most of his defensive tactics went right. His major failure was to not follow Lee's retreating forces as Lincoln had ordered. This may have ended the war 2 years before the surrender.
August 5, 2022
I read this book for a book club in Charlottesville VA. Some background, I was a history major in colleges and had several courses with and around the Civil War period. Since college, history (in some respect) has probably been more than half my reading. However, although I have read much on the Civil War, I never found accounts of battles edifying to me. I was more interested in people's lives (the people themselves) and the politics driving both the North and South's movements in the Civil War. Battles don't interest me that much. So my rating should take that into account, although I don't think my so-so erating for this book is driven by my lack of interest in battles. I was mostly put off by Foote's writing style. One thing that provoked me was his propensity to give various of the more prominent figures not only their names but several times with references that were like nicknames (sort of like in the Iliad, fleet of foot etc.). I found myself having to spend some time just remembering who he was referring to. I am a litigator and conciseness (avoiding unnecessary words) is critical. Accordingly in the narratives I write (briefs, memoranda, etc.) I establish a person's name for the narrative one time. For example, if I were referring to John Townsend, I would put "Townsend" in parenthesis to establish that marker and then refer to Townsend throughout the narrative. I would not put in other types of references (such as asshole or the gray-haired asshole, the boring lawyer (or the gray-haired boring lawyer). And there were other aspects of his writing style with which I disagreed. Finally, it irked me that we were not reading the best book on Gettysburg rather than Foote's old version that likely differs in some material respect to the better books that are out there. Even with all that, I did enjoy discussing the book with my book club group.
August 19, 2024
This is a quick and fairly easy read, drawn from his magisterial 3-volume history of the American Civil War. The prose is vivid and more than a dry history. He provides us with close-ups of what the participants -- mostly higher-ranking, mostly-Confederate in his telling -- are thinking and saying. If anything, the dialogue and characterizations are familiar to me, echoing Michael Shaara's The Killer Angels and the subsequent film "Gettysburg." This edition does provide maps at key points during the battle and Lee's subsequent retreat, which helps. An order of battle might have been helpful, as the Confederate habit of naming brigades and divisions after their commander (rather than numbering them) can be hard to follow, especially as those commanders tended to be wounded or killed in combat and the unit becomes someone else's. The narrative mostly follows the Confederates, although there are a few mentions of Union participants, notably the evening when General George Meade, the new Union army commander, arrives on the battlefield.
(If you want the Union side of events, Bruce Catton's Glory Road is a good account, drawn from his 3-volume history of the Army of the Potomac.)
(If you want the Union side of events, Bruce Catton's Glory Road is a good account, drawn from his 3-volume history of the Army of the Potomac.)
December 29, 2022
This is a very entertaining and gripping version of the well-covered Battle of Gettysburg. Foote does a very good job of telling this complicated story in an easy but compelling way. The narrative is certainly focused in the pro-slavery army, but if you’re interested in finding out more about the battle, I highly recommend this book. If you are a Civil War buff, though, you won’t find much new.
The fascinating thing to me is at the beginning of the book as the Confederate leaders met to discuss what to do about the impending loss of Vicksburg. Several officials wanted to send a portion of the Army of Northern Va. in the direction of Vicksburg to loosen the stranglehold.
Lee, however, proposed moving the army into Maryland and Pennsylvania to threaten Washington DC (and Baltimore), with the idea to defeat the Union army and them do something. That seems a little unclear. Anyway, his reputation as a military genius swayed the discussion. The result was a costly defeat, and a large loss of men he would never be able to replace.
The fascinating thing to me is at the beginning of the book as the Confederate leaders met to discuss what to do about the impending loss of Vicksburg. Several officials wanted to send a portion of the Army of Northern Va. in the direction of Vicksburg to loosen the stranglehold.
Lee, however, proposed moving the army into Maryland and Pennsylvania to threaten Washington DC (and Baltimore), with the idea to defeat the Union army and them do something. That seems a little unclear. Anyway, his reputation as a military genius swayed the discussion. The result was a costly defeat, and a large loss of men he would never be able to replace.
January 14, 2023
Ever since I saw him in Ken Burn's "The Civil War", I've always liked Shelby Foote. He's an excellent storyteller.
This is not an in-depth history of the Battle of Gettysburg though. This is a history of the Gettysburg campaign from the point of view of the Confederate forces. References to Commanders and units easily leans 60/40 Confederate to Federal. If you expected to learn a lot about Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and the 2nd Maine Regiment, you are going to be disappointed. That having been said, Shelby Foote takes it pretty easy on General Meade.
Shelby Foote has a very easy writing style. This makes reading his history books more like reading a novel. This is a very worthwhile book to read!
This is not an in-depth history of the Battle of Gettysburg though. This is a history of the Gettysburg campaign from the point of view of the Confederate forces. References to Commanders and units easily leans 60/40 Confederate to Federal. If you expected to learn a lot about Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and the 2nd Maine Regiment, you are going to be disappointed. That having been said, Shelby Foote takes it pretty easy on General Meade.
Shelby Foote has a very easy writing style. This makes reading his history books more like reading a novel. This is a very worthwhile book to read!
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