Tuesday, April 20. 2010
Gettysburg: two book reviews
Books discussed:
[This review originally appeared on a private mailing list in late January]
The average escapee from US public schools likely knows a smattering about the Battle of Gettysburg, probably most of it from watching the film. The film, of course, is based
on a fictionalized and incomplete but mostly ok account of the battle. Someone who wants to learn more is probably well advised to read Stephen Sear's recent account of the battle (the book is named Gettysburg
, strangely enough.) But I'm not writing about that book.
To the extent that people "know" about Gettysburg, they've watched the movie, they have a vague recollection from their high school history classes, maybe if they're lucky
they've visited the battlefield. Gettysburg is portrayed as a "point" event, three days of July 1863 with little context. It's as if the Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac teleported in, had a battle, and teleported out. Oh, and Stuart's cavalry force was missing when Lee needed intelligence.
What Wittenberg, Petruzzi, and Nugent are up to is providing context. In _Plenty of Blame_, they discuss the underlying plan where Lee ordered Stuart to "ride
around" the Federal Army, and what happened as a result -- a series of sharp actions, the capture of a Federal supply train, and a healthy application of
Murphy's Law. They also survey the post-war controversy, as Stuart's detractors decided to blame him for the loss at Gettysburg in order to protect the memory of the sainted Lee, and Stuart's defenders responded. A key point is that Lee gave Stuart the order to ride around the Federals, and that significant numbers of cavalry were left behind with Lee and not properly used. Furthermore, one of Stuart's principal detractors post-war, Charles Marshall, in his capacity as Lee's chief of staff, was responsible for the vague and confusing orders given Stuart.
The book closes with an account of the battle on the East Cavalry Field, which occurred on the final day of the Battle of Gettysburg, the day after Stuart finally rejoined Lee.
_One Continuous Fight_ addresses another piece of the puzzle surrounding Gettysburg -- the question of what happened afterwards. Lee didn't just disappear from Pennsylvania, he fought a difficult 10 day long retreat to Williamsport and the Potomac River, harassed by Federal Cavalry all the way, and escaping over the river with only hours to spare before Meade hoped to launch a general attack on the Confederate position.
For the serious student, who has already taken the fair chunk of time required to learn the Gettysburg battlefield itself, they provide GPS located driving tours to follow
Stuart's path around the Federal army, and the path of the retreat to Williamsport and Falling Waters.
These are highly recommended for those who want to get into this level of detail.
I have in hand a copy of Wittenberg's new book, The Battle of Brandy Station (VA): North America's Largest Cavalry Battle (Civil War Sesquicentennial)
and will review it in the near future. I also note with some interest that Wittenberg has announced on his blog that he is preparing a second edition of his long out of print _Gettyburg's Forgotten Cavalry Actions_; i'm looking forward to it.
[This review originally appeared on a private mailing list in late January]
The average escapee from US public schools likely knows a smattering about the Battle of Gettysburg, probably most of it from watching the film. The film, of course, is based
on a fictionalized and incomplete but mostly ok account of the battle. Someone who wants to learn more is probably well advised to read Stephen Sear's recent account of the battle (the book is named Gettysburg
, strangely enough.) But I'm not writing about that book.To the extent that people "know" about Gettysburg, they've watched the movie, they have a vague recollection from their high school history classes, maybe if they're lucky
they've visited the battlefield. Gettysburg is portrayed as a "point" event, three days of July 1863 with little context. It's as if the Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac teleported in, had a battle, and teleported out. Oh, and Stuart's cavalry force was missing when Lee needed intelligence.
What Wittenberg, Petruzzi, and Nugent are up to is providing context. In _Plenty of Blame_, they discuss the underlying plan where Lee ordered Stuart to "ride
around" the Federal Army, and what happened as a result -- a series of sharp actions, the capture of a Federal supply train, and a healthy application of
Murphy's Law. They also survey the post-war controversy, as Stuart's detractors decided to blame him for the loss at Gettysburg in order to protect the memory of the sainted Lee, and Stuart's defenders responded. A key point is that Lee gave Stuart the order to ride around the Federals, and that significant numbers of cavalry were left behind with Lee and not properly used. Furthermore, one of Stuart's principal detractors post-war, Charles Marshall, in his capacity as Lee's chief of staff, was responsible for the vague and confusing orders given Stuart.
The book closes with an account of the battle on the East Cavalry Field, which occurred on the final day of the Battle of Gettysburg, the day after Stuart finally rejoined Lee.
_One Continuous Fight_ addresses another piece of the puzzle surrounding Gettysburg -- the question of what happened afterwards. Lee didn't just disappear from Pennsylvania, he fought a difficult 10 day long retreat to Williamsport and the Potomac River, harassed by Federal Cavalry all the way, and escaping over the river with only hours to spare before Meade hoped to launch a general attack on the Confederate position.
For the serious student, who has already taken the fair chunk of time required to learn the Gettysburg battlefield itself, they provide GPS located driving tours to follow
Stuart's path around the Federal army, and the path of the retreat to Williamsport and Falling Waters.
These are highly recommended for those who want to get into this level of detail.
I have in hand a copy of Wittenberg's new book, The Battle of Brandy Station (VA): North America's Largest Cavalry Battle (Civil War Sesquicentennial)
and will review it in the near future. I also note with some interest that Wittenberg has announced on his blog that he is preparing a second edition of his long out of print _Gettyburg's Forgotten Cavalry Actions_; i'm looking forward to it.iPhone photo blogging: re-eanctors at Siena College
We were out shopping for appliances this past Saturday (our washing machine is dying), and stumbled across a gathering of re-enactors on the front lawn of Siena College, a gathering put together by the Siena History club. Lacking my Nikon, I settled for more iPhone photoblogging.
A re-enactor representing the milita of revolutionary times:
Re-enactors representing a NY regiment in the Civil War:
Another civil war re-enactor, this gentleman was an extra in the film Gettysburg:
Cool poster showing that many parts of Monitor came from the Capital District. When they reprint it, I aim to get one:
A naval re-enactor:
Naval re-enactors firing a cannon:
Why yes, there are WWII re-enactors now, this one representing a Combat Engineering Battalion:
French & Indian war, I believe:
A re-enactor representing the milita of revolutionary times:
Re-enactors representing a NY regiment in the Civil War:
Another civil war re-enactor, this gentleman was an extra in the film Gettysburg:
Cool poster showing that many parts of Monitor came from the Capital District. When they reprint it, I aim to get one:
A naval re-enactor:
Naval re-enactors firing a cannon:
Why yes, there are WWII re-enactors now, this one representing a Combat Engineering Battalion:
French & Indian war, I believe:
