Synopses & Reviews
The greatest of all Civil War campaigns, Gettysburg was the turning point of the turning point in our nationand#8217;s history. Volumes have been written about this momentous three-day battle, but recent histories have tended to focus on the particulars rather than the big picture: on the generals or on single days of battle and#151; even on single charges and#151; or on the daily lives of the soldiers. In Gettysburg Sears tells the whole story in a single volume. From the first gleam in Leeand#8217;s eye to the last Rebel hightailing it back across the Potomac, every moment of the battle is brought to life with the vivid narrative skill and impeccable scholarship that has made Stephen Searsand#8217;s other histories so successful. Based on years of research, this is the first book in a generation that brings everything together, sorts it all out, makes informed judgments, and takes stands. Even the most knowledgeable of Civil War buffs will find fascinating new material and new interpretations, and Searsand#8217;s famously accessible style will make the book just as appealing to the general reader. In short, this is the one book on Gettysburg that anyone interested in the Civil War should own.
Review
"An outstanding battle study by the author of Chancellorsville, this comprehensive narrative will lend extra impact to the 140th anniversary this July of the climactic battle of the Civil War....This book is not the place to start a study of the campaign, but it is absolutely indispensable for the well-versed." Publishers Weekly
Review
"Sears, author of a half-dozen Civil War books and a former editor of American Heritage magazine, leaves no stone unturned in his reconstruction of the battle, from preparation on both sides to the reasons for the Confederate loss. Readers thrilled by the minute details of battlefield maneuvers will be thoroughly engaged." Booklist
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 590-600) and index.
Synopsis
A masterful, single-volume history of the Civil War's greatest campaign. and#160;
Drawing on original source material, from soldiers' letters to official military records of the war, Stephen W. Sears's Gettysburg is a remarkable and dramatic account of the legendary campaign. He takes particular care in his study of the battle's leaders and offers detailed analyses of their strategies and tactics, depicting both General Meade's heroic performance in his first week of army command and General Lee's role in the agonizing failure of the Confederate army. With characteristic style and insight, Sears brings the epic tale of the battle in Pennsylvania vividly to life.
About the Author
STEPHEN W. SEARS is the author of many award-winning books on the Civil War, including Gettysburg and Landscape Turned Red. The New York Times Book Review has called him "arguably the preeminent living historian of the war's eastern theater." He is a former editor for American Heritage.
Table of Contents
Contents List of Maps xi Introduction xiii 1 We Should Assume the Aggressive 1 2 High Command in Turmoil 18 3 The Risk of Action 43 4 Armies on the March 59 5 Into the Enemyand#8217;s Country 90 6 High Stakes in Pennsylvania 125 7 A Meeting Engagement 154 8 The God of Battles Smiles South 183 9 We May AsWell Fight It Out Here 226 10 A Simile of Hell Broke Loose 264 11 Determined to Do or Die 325 12 A Magnificent Display of Guns 372 13 The Grand Charge 409 14 A Long Road Back 459 Epilogue: Great God! What Does It Mean? 493 The Armies at Gettysburg 516 Notes 544 Bibliography 590 Index 601