Pickett's Charge--The Last Attack at Gettysburg

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Summary: A moving tribute to the men who died in Pickett's Charge
Review: As a Civil War historian myself, I'm only to pleases to recommend this and all of Earl Hess' other fine works. One of the best tactical studies to appear in a long while

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Summary: Definitive Account on Pickett's Charge
Review: Earl Hess has succeeded admirably in his attempt to present a completely fresh account of the actions of Pickett's Division on July 3, 1863 at Gettysburg. Not only does he critically examine the claim that Pickett's failed effort represented the "highwater mark of the Confederacy", but he also lays out, step by step, all the components leading up to the charge itself, as well as the immediate aftermath of the failed attack. The first third of the book is devoted to a detailed examination of the leaders, planning, troops, guns, and geographical factors that influenced the events of that afternoon. This sets the stage for the account of the fateful charge itself which begins with Chapter 5 (page 166). Hess' convincing logic, well-organized presentation, and detailed research will persuade the reader that previous books on this subject have indeed missed the mark regarding interpretations of events that took place during Pickett's charge. Viewed from the perspective of both Lee and Meade as well as ordinary rank and file, Hess has succeeded in authoring what will undoubtedly become known as the definitive account of Pickett's charge.

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Summary: First among many books on Pickett's charge
Review: Earl J. Hess has written a masterful text on a topic not missed by many civil war authors. His treatment is almost minute by minute beginning with the artillery battle preceding the actual charge. Hess deals with the major players on both the confederate and union sides. I feel he is particularly accurate in his discussion about the lack of leadership exhibited by General Longstreet. While Longstreet objected to the attack, he did little to dissuade his commander. Once the attack was underway, Longstreet did little to lead as best he could. Instead he sat on a fence.
Hess is also on target when he discusses the role of North Carolina and Virginian troops taking part in the attack. The Tar Heels have been maligned long enough for the actions of others.
I really like the tender way in which Hess deals with the problems of the troops that made the attack. It is not widely known that some confederate soldiers may have faked heat exhaustion to avoid what they new to be a suicide attack. While Hess points this out, he avoids making judgements from the safety of nearly 140 years of separation in time.
I highly recommend this book for those who have not read extensively about the battle and this charge in particular. Those that have read much on Gettysburg will appreciate the fresh approach of this author.

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Summary: The last attack but the greatest effort
Review: Earl J. Hess has written one of the best researched accounts of Pickett's charge ever written. Working from primary sources with some secondary sources thrown in, Hess takes the reader through a step by step account of what happened on July 3, 1863. The author provides the reader with everything they need to understand the place this event holds in the battle of Gettysburg specifically, but also in the course of the war generally. The major actors; Lee, Longstreet, Pickett, Pettigrew and others are revealed in detail. Hess also introduces voices often overlooked. In this case the foot soldier who made history. Enlisted and commissioned remembrances are used and both confederate and union participants are included. Due homeage is paid to the bravery of the confederates. However the author also reveals the courage of the union forces that repulsed the attack.
For civil war buffs this is a must read.

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Summary: Pickett's Charge
Review: For many people, Pickett's July 3, 1863 charge up Cemetery Ridge is the climactic event of the Battle of Gettysburg and the defining moment of the Civil War. Earl J. Hess has written a detailed, scholarly account of Pickett's charge which draws copiously upon contemporary sources. His book is clear and easy to follow, given the subject matter, and is poignant to read. I found myself riveted to his account.

I found a major virtue of the book was the manner in which Hess shifted his focus back and forth from the Confederate to the Union side of the line. The book begins with a discussion of the planning of the charge, focusing on the interactions between Lee and Longstreet. This is followed by two chapters dealing with, respectively, the disposition of the Confederate troops before the attack and the Union lines before the attack. I found this invaluable in helping me understand the events of the day and their sequence.

Hess follows this discussion with a discussion of the Confederate cannonading barrage, and the Union response, that proceeded the infantry advance. Again, he shifts his focus from the Confederate side of the line, and the effect of the cannonading on the Union, to the Union response and its effect on the Confederacy. He spends a great deal of time explaining the decision of the Union artillerists to hold their fire and the disagreement this decision provoked with General Hancock. This theme pervades the book and is well-treated. Hess concludes that the cannonading was about one hour in duration before the infantry charge,(i.e. from about 1:00p.m. to 2:00p.m.) contrary to some other accounts which make it substantially longer.

There are detailed discussions of the Confederate infantry advance to the Emmitsburg Road, to the Stone Fence, and, for a small number of intrepid southern soldiers, over the wall and into the Union lines. We learn about the Union artillery and infantry responses and about their effect on the charge at each stage.

There is an excellent but somewhat brief chapter on the repulse of the charge and on the subsequent Confederate retreat back to Virginia. There is an excellent chapter discussing the careers of the principle protagonists of the battle following the events of July 3 through the end of the War and beyond.

The book lays a great deal of emphasis on the topography of the battlefield, the hills, ridges, swales, and fences which played a major role in the fighting of July 3. But the key emphasis on the book is on the fighting men on both sides -- on their determination and their heroism. Hess argues that the activities of the troops and their immediate commanders were more important to the results of the day than the decisions of the generals.

Hess has many thoughtful things to say about the attack, its planning, and about its possibilities for success. He finds the attack a long chance indeed but is able to present a convincing case about why Lee believed he needed to try. Hess is highly critical of James Longstreet for the manner in which he deployed the attacking divisions and for his failure to provide support to the attack. But he does not believe the attack would have succeeded even if Longstreet had carried out his responsibilities more aggressively. I learned a great deal from Hess's study.

This book will help the reader understand the events of July 3. It shows why Pickett's charge, with its suffering, its folly, and its glory retains its hold on the imagination of many Americans.

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Summary: The Best Book on the Charge
Review: I have thought Stewart's "Pickets Charge" to be the best source for the past 40 years. Hess has written a book that will replace Stewart for more than 40 years. While a master of the sources, Hess is a thoughtful military historian and a writer of a judicious narrative. I have been reading, writing and teaching about the Civil War since 1960 (and graduated from Gettysburg College) and Hess tells me things that I never knew or failed to consider. This is an essential book on the Battle of Gettysburg and one of the better military history works at the beginning of the new century.

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Summary: Move over Stewart...!
Review: Move over Stewart and other authors who have written about Pickett's Charge, Earl Hess is the new sheriff in town! Hess leaves the polictics and modern day views of the battle far away and gets down to just the battle itself. Hess is careful to explain Confederate positions on the morning of July 3rd with great detail. Gibbon and the First Corps, Hay's Division and other Federal Unit positions are closely written about as to time and place. The bombardment is covered from Confedarate and Union perspective which I found to be very helpful in questions that I had in understanding time and effect. Hess is careful in explaining not only Pickett's Division's crossing but also covers Pettigrew's assault completely. What is interesting is that each segment or piece of time of the battle is presented from both Union and Confederate view points. I liked reading about how Gibbon's Division prepared and fought as well as I liked reading about Pickett's men reaching the stone wall. Cadmus Wilcox's futile attempts to support Pickett along with evening accounts from both sides complete this lengthy and thorough book. Hess' exhaustive detail and care make this book an important asset to one understanding Pickett's Charge. Without a doubt it my new favorite on the subject.

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Summary: 69th Pennsylvania-The spotlight is finally on You!
Review: Mr. Hess clears up the much muddled defense of the Bloody Angle on July 3, 1862. Layers of credit from many authors and looming statue of the 72nd Pennsylvania Fire Zouave at the Angle have stamped the impression that the 72nd Pennsylvania was the heroic defender of the Army of the Potomac.
Mr. Hess, through meticulous research, establishes the little known fact that the 69th Pennsylvania was indeed the Union unit
that made the difference. Mr. Hess' book will be the standard work on Pickett's Charge for many decades in the future

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Summary: Tactical History of Pickett's Charge Emotionally Unengaging
Review: Mr. Hess purports to present the first tactical history of one of the most famous military actions of the Civil War. He therefore sets high expectations for himself, perhaps too high. Mr. Hess does accomplish this forensic and encylopedic presentation, but either this approach to the subject or Hess's style is dry and emotionally unengaging. Hess does a great job in researching soldiers letters and accounts of events surrounding July 3, some of which see the light of day for the first time I have no doubt. These annecdotes are wonderful.

Mr. Hess also does a good job in rebalancing the participation of Pettigrew's and Trimble's commands in the charge. Many accounts of this engagement focus on Picketts' Virginians, partly because these men left a better aggregate written record of their impressions, and partly as a result of post-war prowess with the pen.

There are some gaps. The account of the immediate post-charge Confederate impressions is thin. Is it due to lack of data or just lack of presentation? Does Hess credit the account found in many histories that Lee lets loose his despair that night telling John Imboden "Too bad, too bad, Oh too bad." Did that happen? Is it post-war hyperbole? The account is extant but Hess is silent about what he knows about it. You are begging for a glimpse of Longstreet's post-charge movements that night or over the next few days. Who did he talk to? Did Lee and Longstreet meet within the days following the attack? If Hess doesn't report it you are left to conclude it didn't happen, but is that an accurate conclusion? The Imboden encounter leaves doubt about how thorough the author has been.

Hess explained the storied background of the officers and men who participated in the charge. He mentions Waller Tazwell Patton, colonel of the 7th Virginia, but says nothing about his relationship to WWII's George Patton. Perhaps these ommission's are minor. If Hess sets himself such high expectations, however, the reader has the obligation to call him on it if he fails to deliver.

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Summary: Great Book
Review: This book is about as well a researched work as I have seen in a while. That in itself is enough to gain high marks for Mr. Hess and his effort but there is more. The writing style is super. It is very hard for any writer to go into the details of a military action without the account becoming very dry. Mr. Hess does as good a job of this as I have ever seen. He does this be adding in personal stories from average soilders not just generals. At least that is how I think he does it but however he pulls it off this book is a great read. Sometimes one just can't put it down.

I guess that being from Tennessee I was also happy to see that Mr. Hess gave due credit to the Tennessee and North Carolina troops involved in the attack. Hess points out that Lee simply used Pettigrew's division because it was handy even though it had been chewed up on July 1st. Still the division did well. Especially the the brigades from North Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama. The only brigade to shame itself was indeed a Virginia brigade. Hess does a fine job of pointing out that almost every soilder involved on both sides answered the call of duty in fine fashion. The bravery of Union troops who could have broken and ran in the face of such an attack is often overlooked but not by Hess.

Finally, Hess draws some conclusions at the end of the book with which the reader might not agree. Agree or not the book presents its case and allows the reader to decide for themselves after reading a clear argument for the conclusion.

Any student of the Civil War or of Gettysburg needs this book. No matter how much a reader has learned about Gettysburg they will find new information here. Worth the price and more!