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The Civil War #15
Gettysburg: The Confederate High Tide
On July 1, 1863, a small division of Union cavalry came into unexpected contact with Southern troops on the Chambersburg pike just west of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, igniting almost by accident the bloodiest battle ever fought on American soil. For three days, the fighting raged, claiming the lives of nearly 28,000 men on both sides and tolling the death knell for the Confederacy. With all the visual power and comprehensive coverage you have come to expect from Time-Life Books, this volume captures the sweeping course of events at Gettysburg, from its relatively innocuous beginnings to Pickett's Charge and the agonizing Confederate retreat. Supplemented by maps showing troop movement and strategies, and illustrated with black-and-white photographs of soldiers and full-color paintings of battle scenes, this history conveys the tragic waste and terrible devastation of the most costly conflict of the Civil War--the battle that signalled the end of Robert E. Lee's hopes for a Confederate victory.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1985
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 2, 2021
I thought this was a superb account of the battle of Gettysburg. The book follows the others and keeps the information clear and well-balanced. The book has great supporting photographs and maps detailing the account.
A photographic segment gives pictures and detailed information about the both army's calvary corps (uniforms, equipment, weapons, standards, etc.), 'An Artist's Portrayal of the Battle' showcases artist work depicting the battle (pgs. 88-97), and Paul Philippoteaux's 1883 mammoth painting 'A Panoramic View of the Last Charge' (pgs. 120-125).
This addition to the series was great and I highly recommend this series to anyone interested in the American Civil War. Thanks!
A photographic segment gives pictures and detailed information about the both army's calvary corps (uniforms, equipment, weapons, standards, etc.), 'An Artist's Portrayal of the Battle' showcases artist work depicting the battle (pgs. 88-97), and Paul Philippoteaux's 1883 mammoth painting 'A Panoramic View of the Last Charge' (pgs. 120-125).
This addition to the series was great and I highly recommend this series to anyone interested in the American Civil War. Thanks!
February 23, 2019
Good, if not thorough, treatment of the campaign in the summer of 1863 that saw the Rebel Army of Northern Virginia take the war north in a bid to force the Federal government to the negotiating tables.
Ultimately the campaign ended in failure, but not before one of the great battles in Western history was fought.
This volume of the Time-Life Civil War series, published in the mid 1980's (the beginning of the two decades long revival of mass interest in the war) suffers from the constraints of the word count limits and the plethora of maps and images. While the illustrations and exceptionally well done campaign and battle maps (still, largely unbested by any other publication on the war) make for a beautiful volume of the aesthetically pleasing set, it does come at a certain cost.
The strategic debate in the Confederate capital over the coming campaign is omitted, as is Hooker's early ruminations with Halleck over a renewed offensive southwards. While the Battle of Brandy Station gets good coverage, the narrative moves so rapidly following that, that unless the reader is already well acquainted with the Gettysburg narrative they are likely to grow confused.
Regardless of these issues, however, the author does a good job detailing the campaign and the Battle itself.
The march into the Shenandoah, the 2nd Battle of Winchester, the invasion of Pennsylvania, Hooker's removal and Meade's ascension to command of the Army of the Potomac (kudos as well for covering, if briefly, Meade's Pipe Run defensive plan), the meeting of the armies and the course of the three day battle itself and the 51,000+ casualties incurred is well covered.
The author even spent a few pages following the battle narrative to highlight the Federal pursuit (yes, adherents of St. Lincoln, Meade actually did pursue, but with an exhausted and battered army he was limited in what he could accomplish) and Lee's skillful parry and blocking of the Union attempts to trap and destroy his army.
While the book is woefully short on analysis (some of the volumes actually do very well with that), it is still a very good introduction to the Gettysburg Campaign. And as part of the overall set, it is a priceless addition.
Worth reading.
Ultimately the campaign ended in failure, but not before one of the great battles in Western history was fought.
This volume of the Time-Life Civil War series, published in the mid 1980's (the beginning of the two decades long revival of mass interest in the war) suffers from the constraints of the word count limits and the plethora of maps and images. While the illustrations and exceptionally well done campaign and battle maps (still, largely unbested by any other publication on the war) make for a beautiful volume of the aesthetically pleasing set, it does come at a certain cost.
The strategic debate in the Confederate capital over the coming campaign is omitted, as is Hooker's early ruminations with Halleck over a renewed offensive southwards. While the Battle of Brandy Station gets good coverage, the narrative moves so rapidly following that, that unless the reader is already well acquainted with the Gettysburg narrative they are likely to grow confused.
Regardless of these issues, however, the author does a good job detailing the campaign and the Battle itself.
The march into the Shenandoah, the 2nd Battle of Winchester, the invasion of Pennsylvania, Hooker's removal and Meade's ascension to command of the Army of the Potomac (kudos as well for covering, if briefly, Meade's Pipe Run defensive plan), the meeting of the armies and the course of the three day battle itself and the 51,000+ casualties incurred is well covered.
The author even spent a few pages following the battle narrative to highlight the Federal pursuit (yes, adherents of St. Lincoln, Meade actually did pursue, but with an exhausted and battered army he was limited in what he could accomplish) and Lee's skillful parry and blocking of the Union attempts to trap and destroy his army.
While the book is woefully short on analysis (some of the volumes actually do very well with that), it is still a very good introduction to the Gettysburg Campaign. And as part of the overall set, it is a priceless addition.
Worth reading.
January 19, 2018
Enjoyable survey of the battle. Never lags. Not deeply analytic but full of anecdotal accounts. Worthwhile read, chock full of illustrations and the kind of maps I grew up loving.
July 15, 2018
Clear, concise recounting with pictures and illustrations. Part of the Time-Life Series, but a good stand-alone volume.
January 14, 2020
A nice detailed history of he great battle with pictures and details of the battle
February 23, 2017
Like the others in the series, another good one.
January 27, 2011
Galloping toward them, Hancock called out: "What regiment is this?" Colonel William Colvill shouted back that it was the 1st Minnesota, which had been detached earlier that day from the rest of Gibbon's division. "Colonel, do you see those colors?" asked Hancock, pointing to the Confederate battle flag in the front rank of Wilcox's brigade. Colvill nodded. "Then take them," Hancock ordered. As Lieutenant William Lochren of the 1st Minnesota recalled, "Every man realized in an instant what that order meant - death or wounds to us all, the sacrifice of the regiment to gain a few minutes' time and save the position."
One of my very favorite recounts of any unit engaged in the Civil War, north or south. Just goes to show how brave men can be when they need to and that they will put ideals ahead of life itself when they believe strongly enough in them. The 1st Minnesota had 262 men in their ranks before that charge and returned with only 47, an 82 percent loss. That is courage and bravery epitomized.
One of my very favorite recounts of any unit engaged in the Civil War, north or south. Just goes to show how brave men can be when they need to and that they will put ideals ahead of life itself when they believe strongly enough in them. The 1st Minnesota had 262 men in their ranks before that charge and returned with only 47, an 82 percent loss. That is courage and bravery epitomized.
July 30, 2013
From the Time-Life series. Excellent historical documents and artifacts photographed throughout along with a very thourough description of what leads up to the historic battles. Several first-person narratives from survivors give it a voice.
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September 11, 2009CW9737Cla
October 25, 2010
Great information and pictures.
February 9, 2013
Did not go into depth as I thought it would in one book, but it is a good introduction to the battle of Gettysburg.
April 19, 2017
Like other books in the Time-Life Civil War series, this book isn't bad as a pictorial history and narrative. It simply doesn't go into as much detail and analysis of the battle of other books (such as the books by Edwin B. Coddington and Stephen W. Sears). Possibly would be of more interest to someone just getting interested in the Civil War.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews