Gettysburg

Rating:
Summary: A triumph of research, judgment and narrative!
Review: Stephen Sears has written the single best one volume study of the Gettysburg campaign and one that will come to be considered the standard by which all other efforts have to be judged. Sears combines the abilities of a master storyteller with exhaustive research and sound judgements. The narrative, at times, just sweeps you along but not at the price of a sound presentation of the events and the controversy surrounding many of them. His account of "Picketts Charge" is simply the best available - dramatic, exhaustive, and brilliantly analyzed.

This is the first account of Gettysburg I have ever read where one feels that the myths and mythology have been put aside and the events of that June-July campaign have been examined through an objective yet, at times, sharply crticical eye. Praise and criticism are dispensed with equal fervor, often for the same individual. Sears also appears to actually understand these same protagonists and provides a fresh look at their actions and motivations.

Although I have no wish to disparage recent one volume accounts of the Gettysburg campaign, they have the air of a college student writing a term paper when compared with Sears' account.

Sears book is one that you will keep handy to reread time and time again to appreciate its brilliance and to further examine Sears' treatment of various pahases of the campaign.

Again, this is the single best one volume history of the Gettysburg Campaign.

Rating:
Summary: Well Written Telling of Gettysburg Story
Review: Stephen Sears is in the first rank of current Civil War writers. His specialty is campaign coverage. Having already done wonderful treatments of Chancellorsville, Antietam and the Peninsula Campaign, Sears now turns his talents to chronicling "The" Civil War battle (in the eyes of many): Gettysburg.

Though others have told this campaign story well (masterfully by Coddington, recently and well by Trudeau), its seminal importance in the outcome and to the memory of the war leaves it always worth the perspective of new authors and generations.

Sears has produced a highly readable and detailed telling with his turn. It is a full history of the campaign, starting in the aftermath of Chancellorsville, the command crisis in the Army of the Potomac, Lee?s decision to go once again North, and ending with the Confederate re-crossing into Virginia in the fortnight after the Battle. The three days at Gettysburg receives the Sears treatment: detail enough to satisfy the enthusiast (the fighting is described at brigade and regimental level as well as the big picture) and written in a very engaging style -- well enough to hold the attention of the curious.

Sears is not a revisionist. What this book presents is an opportunity to introduce new readers to the epic that was Gettysburg. He does explore the command relationships of both Meade and Lee. Lee comes off somewhat worse than in some tellings I have seen. The communications and remembrances Sears uses to explore the workings of the Confederate high command reveal Lee's command confidence as lax control of his subordinates and portray Ewell's and Longstreet's efforts to modify Lee's desires as evidence of a lack of decisiveness and knowledge on the part of the Great Southerner. I don't have a quibble with that analysis, it is supported by the first hand evidence presented by the author. Longstreet in particular receives a more sympathetic treatment by Sears than he has by some. His questioning of Lee's July 2nd and 3rd attack directives is presented as the proper interplay between a chief lieutenant and his commander and he does not fault Longstreets's execution when Lee finally decides to send his troops in.

Meade comes off very sympathetically, particularly his generalship in the defense and his decision not to make Lee?s mistake of attacking head on a fortified position after Pickett?s Charge or while the Confederates were backed up the Potomac River some ten days after. Buford, Reynolds and Hancock also are given their proper due, Sickles and Howard their proper criticism. For 20th Maine fans, Chamberlain?s stand is described in exciting detail, but great credit is also given his brigade commander, the sometimes overlooked Strong Vincent.

The only surprise was a minor one: Stuart's encounter with the 1st Delaware Cavalry at Westminster, MD was omitted. Others have portrayed this brief engagement as forcing Stuart to lose a day or more and lengthening the time of his separation from Lee's army (thereby leaving Lee blind as to the Union forces against him through most of the battle). A curious omission, but one that does not detract from an excellent addition to the growing Gettysburg library.

Rating:
Summary: Your Money's Worth
Review: Stephen Sears once again delivers a tremendous book, both in size and content. Gettysburg is one stop shopping for anyone wanting to know the complete story of this epic battle.

As always, the material is well researched and it shows throughout the book; you could spend a lifetime reading all of the sources Sears used for this book as detailed in the notes. He takes his time unfolding the story and describes all facets of it, from prelude through the battle and into the Confederate retreat. His linear style keeps the book from bogging down under the weight of the information being presented. For instance, he takes equal turns spotlighting the movements and actions of each of the opposing sides, keeping the big picture in focus while allowing for explorations into the less well know details of the battle and its participants. Overall, the book is an almost perfect blend of straight forward history lesson with equal parts biography and "didja know" elements.

About the only drawback to the book was in the accompanying maps. They didn't seem as intunitive or as well placed as they could have been. I found myself having to really look at them to see what was being communicated and then having to figure out just where in the chapter's narractive this map was representing.

At 640 pages, this is a hefty book that is well worth the price.

Rating:
Summary: Another excellent battle book from Sears
Review: Stephen W. Sears continues to hold his position as one of the most readable of ACW authors. Able to inform and entertain at the same time, Sears catches the reader and never lets go. Some will question the need for "another" book on Gettysburg. Others will point out that this could be considered a rewrite of Coddington's work. I have not tired of Gettysburg books nor of Sears' work.

This is an excellent book. Those that say nothing can be done with Gettysburg need to read this, Sears proves them wrong. He bring a very fresh and intellgent view to the Lee/Longstreet confrontation of the Second.

If you enjoy reading about Gettysburg and want a new book on the campaign, this is the one!

Rating:
Summary: 1/2 stars...Compelling History on America's Greatest Battle
Review: The Battle of Gettysburg was one of the, if not THE turning point of the American Civil War. Fought in the span of 2 days in a small town in Pennsylvania, the battle was the climax of 2 years of relentless & bloody struggles in the Eastern Campaign of the conflict. General Robert E. Lee's huge & decisive gamble to bring the war to Northern soil for the second time culminated in a clash which determined the course of the war & American history forever.

Stephen W. Sears, author of several acclaimed works on the Civil War, brings his writing talents to the page once again in this riveting page-turner. He narrates with verve & clarity the numerous events which led to the great campaign, the complexities involved, & the battle itself, leading to it's aftermath. He shows how the war-addled South needed to adopt a different strategy to alter the course of the war, despite it's shattering but inconclusive victories to that point, the reason which prompted Lee to move North, hoping to assuage the burden of Southern farmers off the war while relying on gaining European recognition with a victory on Northern soil. He contrasts the shambles that the Southern high command had turned into after the death of "Stonewall" Jackson, with the efficient coordination of Union leadership. He seamlessly blends the strategic & tactical events with soldier's & civilian's narratives, giving a fine overview of the entire conflict. Instead of the usual smattering of numerous photos that frequent many books of this era, the volume contains more sketches by soldiers who were involved in the battle, & a few from civilian eyewitnesses, giving the work a warm, charming, & authentic feel. Good maps help the reader follow the course of units & the battle.

There is a Northern bias in the text, which the author manages to balance to a respectable degree. The maps are good, but could have been better in being more comprehensive, as several places mentioned in the text are not included in the maps, making it impossible for the reader to follow track-by-track the sequence of events.

Published in the 140th anniversary of the battle, "Gettysburg" is a worthy tribute & an addition to the huge canon of work that this period justly deserves. A stellar & very well-written tome that serves as a good introduction & overall coercive read, "Gettysburg" shows, in this current time of hostility, that sacrifices & triumphs of great men in history serve as an inspiration to us to transcend the mistakes of the past for the maturity & betterment of the future.

Rating:
Summary: Sears's Gettysburg
Review: The Civil War, particularly the Battle of Gettysburg, retains its hold on the imagination of Americans. We seek to understand our country by studying the events of these terrible but formative years. The Civil War did indeed lead to a "new birth of freedom" in the United States. We still struggle to understand and to develop the implications of this "new birth".

Stephen Sears is a distinguished military historian of the Civil War who has written in this book an outstanding account of the pivotal battle of Gettysburg (July 1 -- July 3, 1863). This battle ended the Confederacy's second invasion of the Union (the first invasion ended with the Battle of Antietam in September, 1862). Coupled with the Confederacy's surrender of Vicksburg, Mississippi on July 4, 1863, Gettysburg ended the South's ability to wage an offensive war and probaby ended as well its chance of winning the war.

Sears gives a full account of the battle and of the events leading to Lee's second invasion of the North, beginning with Lee's victory over the Union Army at Chancellorsville in May, 1863. Sears explains well how the invasion was linked to the impending Confederate loss at Vicksburg. General Lee put forward the invasion to Jefferson Davis as a calculated gamble and a means to counteract this loss.

The book offers detailed pictures of the march into Pennsylvania of the preludes to the Battle of Gettysburg, of the battle itself, and of Lee's subsequent retreat into Virginia. There are excellent pictures of each of the three days of the battle, beginning with the two great armies stumbling on each other on day one, continuing with the ferocity of the Southern charge on the Union left (Little Round Top) on day two, and concluding climactically with General George Pickett's doomed charge at the center of the Union line on day three. I found the story of Pickett's charge dramiatically and poignantly told. The book describes Lee's retreat and Meade's pursuit into Virginia following the battle. Sears, in general, exonerates Meade from the charge that he failed to pursue Lee adequately following the battle, to destroy Lee's army, and to bring the War to an end.

At least as important as the factual development of the events of the campaign, Sears gives the reader an analysis of why events developed as they did. In particular, Sears views the battle as a result of Southern overconfidence and arrogance -- hubris -- resulting from the many victories attained by the Army of Northern Virginia in the early years of the War. General Lee felt contempt for the fighting spirit of the Union Army and for its leaders which led him to underestimate the spirit of the Federals, especially when they were called upon to defend their own land.

Sears also points out many failures in the Confederate High Command during the invasion. The primary failure, I believe, involved Lee and his cavalry commander Jeb Stuart. Stuart left the invading army at a critical time and as a result Lee was deprived of knowledge of the whereabouts of the Union Army, its size, and of the terrain at Gettysburg. The Union enjoyed an overwhelming field position during the second and third days of Gettysburg.

There is a great deal made in Sears's' book of Lee's relationships with his other generals, particularly General James Longstreet. Longstreet objected vigorously to Lee's plans of battle on the second and third days, even while carrying out faithfully and aggressively his duties as a subordinate officer when the decisions had been made.

Sears contrasts the Southern command with that of the Union commander, George Meade, who had assumed command only four days before the battle. Meade was cautious and thorough. He assumed personal command of the Union operations at Gettysburg (unlike Lee who delegated heavily), consulted with and listened to his subordinates, and performed both brilliantly and stolidly at the time of the Union's great need.

The writing style of this book is outstanding. It flows inexorably from one chapter to the next and from event to event. The reader can follow the story, from the complexities of the troop movements, to Sears's discussions and reflections on his story. It is a style suited to a prose epic, and it kept me riveted throughout.

This is an excellent treatment of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Rating:
Summary: Exemplary modern analysis of a much studied battle...
Review: The contemporary Civil War historian is truly limited with respect to new revalations concerning most of the major struggles...it becomes the author's challenge then to present a fresh perspective while covering the "same old ground". The 1863 battle at Gettysburg meets or exceeds this challenge...no other ACW struggle has been covered as completely or as comprehensively as Gettysburg. So why does the renowned Stephen Sears offer us another one volume narrative on something that has been covered completely before? It's because Sears can WRITE and he surely realizes (and thus the general reading public must also realize) that under his talented pen, he can still offer much to the literary cache that is Gettysburg and provide a useful and meaningful new study for modern readers.

Sears's approach is refreshing in that he does not try for revisionist history...he uses his abundant talents to tell the story honestly and comprehensively and in the process, he gives yet another keen perspective to this battle that should be read by all ACW and Gettysburg readers. Starting with R.E. Lee's decision to invade the North in light of his recent victory at Chancellorsville (another excellent Sears study by the way...) and the seemingly imminent Confederate defeat at Vicksburg, Sears recounts the details and tactics that led to the battles at Brandy Station and Winchester and the invasion details that almost led to the Confederate taking of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Sears gives a clear account of these sometime complex manueuvers and expertly sets the stage for the ensuing three days battle.

Troop movement and high level military strategy abound as the battle begins on July 1st...beginning with judicious biographies of the key 1st day players (John Buford, John Reynolds, Henry Heth and Richard Ewell...), Sears lays out the results and discusses the "might have beens" had certain key elements moved differently. The Federal attainment of the high ground south of town clearly gives the Union the advantage and Sears shows how all parties more or less come to this same conclusion. The second day struggles are shown to be an offspring to the strong disagreement in the Sr. level of the Confederate leadership as James Longstreet and Lee vehemently disagree on that day's battle strategy...Longstreet proves to be right, of course, and this assertion no doubt enhanced his career as far as history is concerned. Sears maintains that had Longstreet's plan been enacted, this would have been a very different battle. Regardless, Sears is deft at descrbing the action that actually took place as he gives glowing accounts of the battle action at the Rose Farm (and villifies Dan Sickles in the process), the Wheatfield, Devils Den and of course Little Round Top where any Joshua Chamberlain fan will be impressed with Sears coverage. The expert analysis is continued with the third day events as Pickett's Charge is described in as clear and concise terms as I've ever read. The two day struggles for Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill are interspersed with this main line action and Sears completes his impressive work with the cavalry action both at the beginning and the end of the main fighting. Finally, the Confederate retreat back to Virginia and the inevitable explanations for the Union (George Meade) in-action at pursuit are given a fresh look and Sears's discussion puts a different and (in my opinion) more realistic spin on this important period post battle.

So given the rich amount of available works on the battle at Gettysburg, why would anyone want to buy this new one? Again, Stephen Sears is an expert writer, historian and researcher and when someone like this publishes a full-length study of such an important period in American history, it's almost the history reader's duty to indulge...my point here is that if readers take this approach, they will not be disappointed.




Rating:
Summary: Sears does Gettysburg
Review: There are two Civil War writers who concentrate on the Eastern Theater of the war, and are prominent enough to garner attention outside their field. One is Stephen W. Sears, the other is Noah Andre Trudeau. Sears has concentrated on the first half of the war, mostly writing about the campaigns of George McClellan, while Trudeau has worked in the last half of the war, making a name for himself as the best-known chronicler of Grant's Overland Campaign in 1864. Last year, Trudeau presented us with Gettysburg: A Testing of Courage, a long and very good account of the battle and its consequences. It seems these two historians have met in the middle of the war, because we are now presented with Stephen W. Sears' simply titled Gettysburg.

Sears is a different writer than Trudeau, and he presents the battle in a different fashion, the book in a different manner. While Trudeau's book is long and dense (no illustrations, ca. 600 pages of text), Sears' book is considerably shorter, and more accessible. It has illustrations, either photographs of the participants or artwork done by participants or witnesses. Since they take up space on the page, and I would judge the font to be a point or two larger, my guess is this book is a good 25% shorter than Trudeau's. That makes it more accessible (as does the inclusion of illustrations, one shortcoming of Trudeau's book) and easier to read. It's not, however, a book for beginners.

Sears is of course interested in the battle and why it came out the way it did, not just recounting what happened during the fighting. He echoes many of Trudeau's judgements, differs with some others, but makes some of his own. Most of his verdict on the battle and the performance of the generals involved is nothing new to Civil War buffs, and won't make fans of R.E. Lee happy. Each of the generals who were active on the battlefield gets some treatment of his effect on the battle.

One illuminating section was on the Military Intelligence branch Hooker had set up, which Meade kept, called the Bureau of Military Information. The officers in charge of this kept track of intelligence, assimilated, evaluated, and sorted it, and presented it to Meade regularly during the campaign. Lee had no such organization, and of course Stuart, who performed some of the duties involved, was away riding around the Union army. This provided Meade with a considerable advantage: he knew which Confederate troops were on the battlefield, and was aware he would be facing an attack led by Pickett's division on the third day, because the B.M.I. hadn't interrogated any prisoners from that division yet. Lee, by contrast, fought the battle under the impression that only part of the Union army was on the battlefield, because the Confederates didn't do the same thing.

In direct comparison with Trudeau, Sears is perhaps a bit of a better writer, but Trudeau provides more detail. Sears' narrative is sorted conventionally, with the fighting on a particular part of the battlefield being dealt with before he moves on to the next portion. The author even puts the cavalry action to the east of Gettysburg, and Farnsworth's charge, into an after-the-battle chapter, recounting them after telling the story of Pickett's charge, even though the cavalry fight took place before. Trudeau spends a lot of time dealing with individual regimental colonels, and their fights: Sears largely confines himself to brigade commanders. Both books try to place the battle in the larger context of the Civil War and American history. Both books discuss, briefly, the Gettysburg Address.

So, which book do you buy? I would think buffs of the battle or the war will want both. If you're a general reader who wishes to read something on the battle itself, Sears' book is more accessible than Trudeau's because of length and illustrations, but that's the only real difference between the two.

Rating:
Summary: GUTTWRENCHING
Review: This book is an excellent read on one of the most important battles in American history. It is a guttwrenching account especially of the battle itself. There is such a feeling of the real-ness of the battle as in unfolds, that it is hard to read several pages at one time during the height of the battle.
Even if one is not a Civil War buff, this is a necessary addition to anyones library to explain in detail the conflict at Gettysburg.

Like many other Civil war readers, I found this book to be too limited on the amount of maps. Maps help the reader to go from his own visualization to the reference of reality. Especially as conflicts on the battlefield are happening in many places at the same time.

Mr. Sears, in his outstanding work Chancellorsville, does better at giving the readers more maps and larger ones at that (for a couple of maps he uses full page maps opposite each other to give a large panorama of the total area).

It still seems a mystery, somewhat unsettled, as to why Lee was so vague in orders given to Stuart about the use of his cavalry leading up to Gettysburg.

Rating:
Summary: A page turner for Civil War buffs
Review: This book is very well written in a clear and logical way. Sears presents the events leading up to, during and after Gettysburg on both sides of the conflict. Sears crytallizes what went right and what went wrong before, during and after the battle as well, especially where the Confederacy is concerned. He substantiates these conflicting age old questions with statistics and views of the soldiers and officers involved in the moment to moment decision making, and lets the reader draw their own conclusions without Sears imposing his own view. The book was quite objective in dealing with the what-if scenarios in one sense, and is fascinating story telling concerning the battlefield in another sense. A hard book to put down once you start reading it.