Receding Tide: Vicksburg and Gettysburg: The Campaigns That Changed the Civil War

by Edwin C. Bearss, J. Parker Hills

Acclaimed Civil War historian Ed Bearss brings two epic battles vividly to life in the dramatic story of a single day that would seal the fate of the Confederacy: July 4, 1863. Now available in paperback.

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

400 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

A specialist in the American Civil War, Edwin Cole Bearss was employed by the National Park Service, where he worked as their chief historian from 1981 until 1994.

Reviews

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was read at about the same time as I read Jeff Shaara’s Chain of Thunder (a fictionalized account of U.S. Grant’s Vicksburg campaign). Bearss provides a detailed account of the events leading up and through the final engagements of Vicksburg and Gettysburg. He shifts from one to the other and back again at frequent intervals. It may challenge the reader to keep in mind where one battle is while turning to the other, but it gives that same reader a good sense of the state of communications during the war and how difficult it was: first, for those in Washington to get a clear picture of what was taking place at any given time; and, second, for the generals in the field to believe that any instructions from Washington were made with a clear understanding of the challenges that they were currently facing.
Bearss has the details of each day’s encounter well in hand and that will be gratifying to the War buffs among his readers. He is also very meticulous in providing maps (thank you publisher National Geographic Society) and landmarks so that the reader knows with great precision where an encounter took place. I may pack this book along on my next trip to Gettysburg.
Speaking of that engagement, Bearss notes that there have been many recounting of those days in the vicinity of Gettysburg. He makes a point that those who survived the longest such as Maine’s Joshua Chamberlain get to tell history from their viewpoint. Chamberlain’s version gets retold by Michael Shaara (Jeff’s father) in the Pulitzer Prize winning Killer Angels.
Bearss makes it quite clear where politics and personal ambition affect decision-making. Further, he is less than restrained in his recounting awarding blame and commendation at most instances. A major shortcoming is his decision not to include any significant account of the battle's effects on the citizenry. This is maybe more understandable in the case of Gettysburg, but not in the case of Vicksburg where the siege had substantial consequences for those who chose to stay within the battlements. In the end, the wealth of detail outweighs the choppy narrative in giving a satisfying understanding of the significance of these two battles to the outcome of the war.

On a second reading some additional points stood out. Bearss understands Grant, his trusting nature and loyalties, that (particularly later when he became President) would cause major problems for his Administration. Bearss gives some space to the politics of both the Lincoln and Davis governments.

Both armies also showed political maneuvering. In one chapter, the author describes a meeting (in May 1863 while there is a battle at Chacellorsville) between General Longstreet (who was away from Robert E. Lee on assignment and Secretary of War, James Seddon. The subject is the Deep South and the threats posed by General Grant. Longstreet advises not to go directly against Grant because he is “too strong” and suggests going against General Rosecrans at Tullahoma. He offers to take two divisions to support that effort. Bearss observes that this may have been Longstreet’s “bid for an independent command.” Seddon declines and Longstreet returns to Lee.

There are a number of well-drawn maps of key territory included with the text. They are helpful in general orientation but none show the deployment of troops during battle.

[Dimitri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edwin C. Bearss' knowledge, the fruitition of a lifetime passion coupled with a feel for the soldier's lot through his service as a WWII Marine, must work wonders as a grunting speech full of rich anecdotes that usually don't make the books during a battlefield tour... but less so when spliced with italics for context by a co-author and even less so without a massive load of maps for that audience which isn't walking the grounds with him...

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well known Civil War historian and National Park Service legend Edwin Bearss is the primary author of a detailed examination of the battles at Vicksburg and Gettysburg. The Union victories at both battlefields essentially marked, in the book title's terms, a receding of the Comnfederate tide. J. Parker Hills, a military officer with considerable knowledge of the Civil War adds his commentary (in italics).

While the details regarding Gettysburg do not add great insights into our understanding of that battle, Bearss' presentation of the stages of the Vicksburg campaign added a great deal to my understanding of events.

All in all, a nice contribution by Edwin Bearss.

[Katherine Addison · Rating 4 out of 5]

So Edwin C. Bearss was the Chief Historian Emeritus of the National Park Service. His specialty was American Civil War battlefield history. This book is his discussion of Vicksburg and Gettysburg, which he says mark the point at which the Confederate tide of success started to recede, hence the title. It reads like someone who gave battlefield talks all their life---which is not a disparagement, that must be one of the harder possible historian jobs---with lots of specific names and little bits of anecdote. His discussion is chronological and includes a lot of the build-up to Gettysburg, so for most of the book he goes back and forth between the eastern and western theaters of the war. The book has good transitions between sites, is smoothly written and easy to follow, and provides a little bit of a play by play feel. Not that other books on these battles are not detailed and exhaustive, but they don't slip into the historical present tense as Bearss does.

[Vince · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dual exposition on both these important campaigns which, being victories for the North, sealed the losing fate of the Confederacy. They are covered simultaneously in real time, with the emphasis initially on Vicksburg (a much longer campaign) and then shifting to Gettysburg as the action intensified in the East after mid-June 1863 (Vicksburg was already under siege and major combat actions were minimal), with an occasional nod to other theaters and events in Washington and Richmond included as well. Bearss is an excellent writer and the pace is even and fast. He includes interesting anecdotes along the way concerning not only the major officers, but of the lower ranks of both sides as well.

Even for those familiar with the these two major campaigns, this book should prove to be a valuable addition to the library. The only downside to it is that the maps are virtually useless. There are quite a few, but they show only the various theaters of action and include no unit markers of any kind, which makes them of limited utility. 5 stars for the text, which is the bulk of the book, and 2 stars for the maps. If you have other books with more detailed maps that you can reference throughout, your reading pleasure will be greatly enhanced.

[Don Garvey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disapointing. This is essentially a transcript of the presentation of a battlefield guide. If you are interested in what regiment fought which regiment then you will like this book. If your interest is in the bigger picture, you're out of luck. For example, there is virtually no mention of the conditions in Vicksburg during the siege. For example you would never know that there were civilians in the city.

More importantly I would have liked to see some discussion of impact of the loss of Vicksburg. How did it effect the Confederacy?

[Christopher Lutz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 A bit torn on this book. I think separating this into two volumes each exclusively focused on Vicksburg or Gettysburg would’ve been better. Fairly dry as well as most of the text is devoted to tracking the movements of every single brigade and division. Combine this with plain monochrome maps with no specific campaign information (poor maps being practically a sin for a National Geographic publication) and you have a less than stellar book. A shame as the author knows his stuff beyond question.

[William Olenick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent writing, takes the day by day account of three armies during the 1863 campaign period. I mention three armies because mixed in with Gettysburg and Vicksburg, is the immovable army of Gen Rosecrans. Enjoyed this book greatly and would recommend to anyone!!

[Carl Wade · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pg 303: Bliss farm marked on map along with several other farms but not in the index.
Pg 392: Anderson, Geo. T "Tige" has several entries in the index.
Pg 342: Anderson split a huge gap between 17th Maine & the 5th Michigan. 115th PA and 8th NJ rushed in to fill the gap. The 8th & 9th GA penetrated a gap on the right of the 8th NJ which raced to the rear. The 8th GA was from Savannah and 1st Lt. Fredrick Bliss was in command of Co. B. CSA is then beaten back by Sykes 5th Corps. Is this when he (Anderson?) was killed. Brooke comes in for Caldwell and pushes bth Anderson and Semmes.
Pg 349: Gen Posey's men are content to stay at the Bliss farm.
Pg 74 Hood and pickett were considered 1st Corps elite Divs.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book about the two battles that really changed the civil war.Mr. Bearss is very knowlegable on the civil war and gives you information that you would not find in some other history books. A great read for those who want to know more about the civil war.

[Lowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a detailed coverage of the battles at Vicksburg and Gettysburg and how the outcomes changed the result of the war. It was very detailed and had interesting side notes about the people fighting. His conclusion is that these two battles turned the tide permanently against the rebellion.

[WRH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written book abot these two campaigns. Ed has a wealth of knowledge. The book was really a story which he told very well.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent comparison of the 2 parallel campaigns
Lots of detail gives insight into the political and military decisions of the time