Gettysburg--Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill (Civil War America)

Book Description

In this companion to his celebrated earlier book, Gettysburg—The Second Day, Harry Pfanz provides the first definitive account of the fighting between the Army of the Potomac and Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia at Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill—two of the most critical engagements fought at Gettysburg on 2 and 3 July 1863.

Pfanz provides detailed tactical accounts of each stage of the contest and explores the interactions between—and decisions made by—generals on both sides. In particular, he illuminates Confederate lieutenant general Richard S. Ewell's controversial decision not to attack Cemetery Hill after the initial southern victory on 1 July. Pfanz also explores other salient features of the fighting, including the Confederate occupation of the town of Gettysburg, the skirmishing in the south end of town and in front of the hills, the use of breastworks on Culp's Hill, and the small but decisive fight between Union cavalry and the Stonewall Brigade.

Customer Reviews:

Experience readers only...........2005-12-13

I found Harry W. Pfanz's book to be well written, well researched and highly informative on the events that took in and around Culp's Hill and Cemetary Hill during the Battle of Gettysburg. Its pretty obvious to anyone who read this book that the author have great deal of understanding and knowledge of this part of Gettysburg and he spared no expense in writing about it.

However, its pretty clear that this book was not written for novice reader on the battle. Its highly detail, at time almost tedious in some areas, so much information that someone who may not be familiar with Gettysburg may have some sort of an information overload. I would recommend that anyone who's starting out on this battle, should skip this book until later on.

But on the other hand, if you're a experience Gettysburg reader, then this book is for you. I think its probably the best book written on the subject matter at hand, which was the actions around Culp's Hill and Cemetary Hill.

The book comes well illstrated with black and white paintings and photos of leaders. The maps are very useful and detail but I agreed with one previous reviewer, we could use more maps. The book is thick and but I would recommended it highly to any experenced Gettysburg reader who wishes to know more about this battle.

Detailed Account of the Fighting at Culp's and Cemetery Hill.......2005-05-27

Pfanz' final book in his trilogy of Gettysburg covers a relatively forgotten area of the Battle of Gettysburg. Granted, while I have visited Culp's and Cemetery Hill during each of my Gettysburg visits, I tended to spend most of my time around the second day's fighting (Little Round Top, Devil's Den, Wheatfield, Rose Farm and Woods, Peach Orchard, Trostle Farm) and Pickett's Charge. Pfanz has done the public a great service by providing a book of the actions around Culp's and Cemetery Hill. Indeed, no one probably knows more about Gettysburg than Pfanz.

As usual, he provides sometimes overwhelming details of the actions. His narrative is interesting and I enjoyed reading anecdotes of the main characters (Greene, Steuart, Howard, Meade, Ewell, Early, etc.). Pfanz describes terrain features, battle participants, battle actions, and other details like only he can.

However, there is one sticking point that I have noticed in other Civil War books and have noted in other reviews - there simply are not enough maps. While the maps provided are of excellent detail and contain helpful summaries of the actions represented in the maps, there could have been at least 10 more. I believe there are about 15 maps in the book - there easily could have been 25. I say this because of Pfanz' attention to detail - having more maps to support the battle actions would have made it easier for me to follow the actions. On more than one occasion I was bug-eyed trying to follow what Pfanz was describing!

I am certainly not a military expert (although I am an ex-Air Force Officer) nor an armchair general. I simply enjoy reading more about the heroic actions of soldiers on both sides during a tragic period of our great nation's history.

Complaint aside, I highly recommend Pfanz' title as the definitive account of Culp's and Cemetery Hill. Read, enjoy, and be prepared to follow the large amount of detail - you will need to put on your thinking cap for this and the other Pfanz titles!

A must for the serious student of Gettysburg.......2004-11-29

This is an outstanding and complete account of the events that occured on the Culp's Hill/Cemetery Hill line during the battle. This is not for the passing reader but a must for those serious about the battle. For best use of the book, read it THEN take a day and actually walk the Hills using the book as a reference. Far to many people visit the battlefield and never know what occured here or even visit this part of the field. Few know of Gen. George Greene and his role but all who read about the battle know of Col.'s Vincent and Chamberlain. Even fewer know that at one point a Confederate brigade was only a few hundred yards from the Baltimore Pike and for an hour the unguarded Federal Artillery Reserve. W. Culp couldn't have died on Culp's Hill if Co. B, 2nd VA was across Rock Creek on the skirmish line with elements of the 1st NC. Careful study of this material and the times will bring out many not so well known facts that occured on this "forgotten" part of the field and prove other myths wrong.

Perhaps Pfanz's best.......2004-04-08

Harry Pfanz likely knows Gettysburg better than any man around. Head historian for the NPS for many years, he has literally made Gettysburg his life's work. His books on the first and second days of the battle are considered must haves but this book on Culps Hill could be his best.

The battle for Culps Hill and especially East Cemetery Hill are today the most forgotten part of Gettysburg. Look around and you will find many books pertaining to Pickett's Charge, Devil's Den and Little Round Top but how many aimed at Culps Hill? Not many. Even at the park the auto tour has Culps Hill simply as an extra add towards the end of the tour.

With this book Pfanz takes a hard look at this forgotten area. We're use to the names of Chamberlain, Hancock and Pickett but here we hear names like Greene, Avery, Geary and Williams.

The advantage of this book is it's not aimed at the casual reader but the serious Civil War buff. The information included is extensive and detailed. While well written, it is not a piece of fluff or a light read. If you seriously want to find out what happened on Culps Hill this is the book for you.

A splendid historical book.......2004-01-07

My master's thesis was on George Sears Greene and his defense of Culps Hill, so as one can guess this was a very valuable source for information.
Pfanz's book is a continuation of his studies on the various areas of the Gettysburg battlefield. Culp's Hill and East Cemetery Hill are not considered "hotspots" of the national park and therefore have not received the same attention as "The Angle" and Little Round Top. Pfanz's book has and will change that outlook.
Pfanz's look at Culps Hill was both well researched and well written. He argues that the battle itself was determined on its flanks, both on Little Round Top and Culps Hill. The fighting on Culps Hill was not as destructive as the other areas of the battlefield, mostly due to the relatively low casualty figures from the breastworks constructed earlier on July 2nd, but its importance in the overall scheme has been unfairly overlooked.
This book boasts an impressive bibliography that includes various primary accounts that were largely unheard of until this book's publication. In short, it opened my eyes to the real story of Gettysburg.

Controversies and Commanders: Dispatches from the Army of the Potomac

Average customer rating:

Army of the Potomac McNuggets
Controversies and Commanders
Sears at his very best
Essays on the Army of the Potomac
Fascinating essays on the Civil War

Controversies and Commanders: Dispatches from the Army of the Potomac
Stephen W. Sears
Manufacturer: Mariner Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0618057064

Amazon.com

This collection of feisty essays delivers well-argued and persuasive assessments of Union military leadership during the Civil War. Stephen W. Sears, author of Landscape Turned Red (the best book on Antietam) and perhaps the foremost authority on General George B. McClellan, fits a lifetime of research and thought into 10 pithy chapters. Topics include the historiography of McClellan, the near-criminal conduct of Congress and War Secretary Edwin Stanton in the matter of General Charles P. Stone's arrest (here, Sears breaks new ground by uncovering plotters in Stone's own command), and a spirited defense of General "Fighting Joe" Hooker. One particular highlight is Sears's chapter on Robert E. Lee's so-called Lost Order, which revealed Confederate battle plans before Antietam and helped the Union secure an invaluable advantage. Historians have never agreed on when Lee realized what happened--just prior to the battle or long after; Sears's conclusion is that it took months before Lee understood.

An examination of the Kilpatrick-Dahlgren raid on Richmond is especially provocative, and arrives at conclusions quite different from those found in Duane Schultz's The Dahlgren Affair; Sears argues, in short, that Dahlgren intended not simply to free prisoners of war, but, as Confederate partisans have long alleged, to kidnap Jefferson Davis himself. This opinionated but informed book is a joy to read, and belongs in the library of any serious student of the Civil War. --John J. Miller

Book Description

CONTROVERSIES AND COMMANDERS is a fascinating look at some of the most intriguing generals in the Union's Army of the Potomac and at some of the most extraordinary events of the Civil War, chronicled by one of our leading historians, Stephen W. Sears. Sears investigates the accusations of disloyalty against General Charles Stone; the court-martial of Fitz John Porter; the crisis in army command on the eve of the Antietam battle; the Lost Order of Antietam; the revolt of the Potomac army's high command; the notorious General Dan Sickles, who had shot his wife's lover outside the White House; the murderous Kilpatrick-Dahlgren raid on Richmond; the firing of corps commander Gouverneur Warren on the eve of victory; and the much maligned Generals McClellan (justifiably) and Hooker (not so justifiably). The book follows the Army of the Potomac through the course of the war, from 1861 to 1865, painting a remarkable portrait of key incidents and personalities that influenced the outcome of our nation's greatest cataclysm.

Customer Reviews:

Army of the Potomac McNuggets.......2006-11-15

In "Controversies and Commanders," Stephen Sears offers a number of interesting essays on the leadership of the Army of the Potomac.

In something of a response to Joseph Hersh's classic "McClellan Go Round" essay, Sears offers a sketch of recent scholarship on that controversial general and, just as in his biography "The Young Napoleon," Sears continues to insist that Little Mac had severe psychological problems which undermined his usefulness to the Union. Interestingly, Sears casually dismisses Thomas Rowland's detailed criticisms without actually answering them. That's disapointing to say the least and this may rank as the worst essay in the collection.

Nonetheless, the book bounces back with an excellent look at Ball's Bluff scapegoat Charles Stone and a solid, if rushed, account of the Fitz John Porter Controversy. Sears also provides an intriguing look at the state of the army after Second Bull Run and how McClellan resumed command. Oddly, despite Sears' view on McClellan, the reader is left with a very favorable impression of Little Mac's capacity to organize an army as well as inspire men. The essay on the controversial "Lost Order" before Antietam is interesting though not as gripping a narrative as some of the other pieces in the book.

Once McClellan is off the scene, Sears presents some of his most insightful essays. "Revolt of the Generals" offers an excellent look at the plots and politics that undermined Ambrose Burnside and Jospeh Hooker. An extended essay on Hooker shows a great deal of admiration for that general and corrects some of the myths that have gathered about "Fighting Joe." Looking at Dan Sickles, one of the leading political generals in the Army of the Potomac, Sears offers some insight into the controversies that plagued George Meade after the battle of Gettysburg. An extended essay on the Kilpatrick-Dahlgren raid on Richmond maintains that Edwin Stanton was the mastermind behind that nefarious operation.

The end of the war is barely covered and that remains something of a disapointment. After the essay on the raid on Richmond, the only essay is a look at the feud between Phil Sheridan and G.K.Warren which led to Warren's removal at Five Forks. Warren's tragic struggle for vindication (he died before a court cleared him of some of the more grave accusations) is also covered.

The book is useful certainly and some of the essays are excellent. Nitpickers can find places where Sears contradicted some of his other works. Sears is an excellent writer and a sharp craftsman of words. The chief problem, besides the complete lack of focus on the Overland campaign, is Sears' continued trashing of McClellan. Had Sears simply questioned Little Mac's abilities, there would be no problem. But Sears continues to insist that McClellan was paranoid, delusional and suffered from crippling psycholgical problems. Sears is a historian and not a psychologist. A historian has to be very careful not to throw around terms that he simply can not support and Sears fails to do that, as can be seen in the response to Rowland. By his own logic, it would not be unfair to say that Stephen W. Sears has crippling mental and emotional issues in terms of dealing with George McClellan and that hampers him as a historian. Is that fair ? Of course not which is why Sears needs to be more of an armchair general and less of an armchair shrink.

Controversies and Commanders.......2004-05-31

Stephen Sears' CONTROVERSIES & COMMANDERS "examines ten incidents of war as waged by the Army of the Potomac in which `controversy' and commanders' were spoken in the same breath." In the process he examines the court-martialed and the cashiered, the mad and the mutinous. Not surprisingly for the man who has written the biography and edited the selected papers of that most controversial of Civil War generals, Sears seldom strays far from the aura of George B. McClellan.
Indeed, the book's first essay concerns Little Mac and his treatment by the historians. It arrives at the decidedly uncontroversial conclusion that McClellan was a deeply flawed warrior general and a highly expert executive general.
We pick up a little speed with the second entry on the `Ordeal of General Stone,' who was arrested in 1861 after the debacle at Ball's Bluff. Sears does a masterful job in explaining the political pressures at work behind the scenes in both Gen. Stone's arrest and in the court-martial of McClellan's protege Fitz John Porter, which is the topic of the third essay.
`September Crisis' and `Last Words on the Lost Order' rework very old subjects indeed, and Sears has nothing much new to say about McClellan's reinstatement to his old role as commanding general of the Army of the Potomac or on the discovery of SO191, the famous lost order that would allow McClellan to whip Lee at Antietam.
Jumping ahead a bit, no book about Civil War controversies would be complete without the embodiment of controversy, the political general Dan Sickles. The infamous Dahlgren raid on Richmond and the little discussed removal of General Warren by feisty Phil Sheridan during the war's last battle are also treated.

I found Sears' essays on the revolt of the generals and a defense of Fighting Joe Hooker the most compelling. Sears brings a sense of order to the tangled tale of the knaves and marplots among the officers following Little Mac's final dismissal and the arrival of General George Meade. "It had," Sears writes, "become virtually open rebellion in the high command." The villains included political generals, disgruntled holdovers from the McClellan regime and various ambitious loose cannons. Their first victim was the inadequate innocent Ambrose Burnside, who replaced McClellan against his wishes and his better judgment. The second lamb to fall under their knife was the epitome of conniving generalship, Fighting Joe Hooker.
Sears' defense of Hooker's reputation is poignant. (A little ironic, too, considering the rather harsh verdict he delivers on McClellan in this and other more extended treatments.)
Sears' defense rests on the testimony of Lincoln secretary John Hay and hinges on the interpretation of the Bigelow footnote. The incident in question is Hooker's behavior as commanding general at the battle of Chancellorsville. Hooker, never short of self-confidence or bluster, began the Chancellorsville campaign sure that his brilliant plan would lead him shortly to the gates of Richmond. On the first day the Union army met a terrible reverse (Chancellorsville has been called Lee's greatest battle) and Hooker was seriously injured - a pillar he was standing next to was hit by a cannonball and he was knocked unconscious. Drifting in and out of consciousness Hooker was incapacitated but never ceded command. Later in the day the Union lines stabilized and a majority of his lieutenants recommended resuming the offensive the next day. Going against this advice, and casting a cloud over his career, Hooker ordered a retreat.
Hooker, like Ulysses Grant, had a reputation as an alcoholic that preceded his Civil War career. Again like Grant he had apologists. Lincoln's personal secretary, John Hay, is quoted by Sears as observing that it took very little alcohol to make Hooker seem drunk. This testimony is used to counter the claim of some historians that Hooker, who vowed to abstain from spirits upon his promotion, perhaps needed a shot or two to steel his courage.
The Bigelow footnote speaks to Hooker's irresolution, and Sears refutes its authenticity. The footnote first appears in 1910, and cites as its source an aide to General Abner Doubleday, who asked Hooker what happened to him at Chancellorsville and was reportedly told: "Doubleday, I was not hurt by a shell, and I was not drunk. For once I lost confidence in Joe Hooker, and that is all there is to it." Whether suffering from the d.t.s or, as Sears would have it, a severe concussion, Hooker acted like a man who'd suffered a sudden lack of confidence in himself. The Bigelow footnote fits regardless of its authenticity.

CONTROVERSIES & COMMANDERS may be a little thick for someone new to the topic. For the Civil War buff it's a treat.

Sears at his very best.......2004-04-08

There were a lot of battles during the Civil War but the one battle that often gets over looked is the political battle. This book examines the political battles that raged on inside the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War. Battles that at times that became so bad that they nearly crippled the entire army.

This book isn't really one solid story but a series of short stories written by Stephen Sears that examine specific incidence inside the army. We see the Corp Commanders of the army revolt against more than one commander as both Burnside and Hooker have their Corp commanders go behind their backs to get them relieved. We see General Stone arrested in one of the worst cases of scapegoating during the war and Dan Sickles, the epitome of the political general. And looming over all of this is the shadow of George McClellan.

I was almost surprised by this book. I've liked every book I've read by Sears and expected to enjoy this one but I really found this to be one of his very best. Sears does a great job. His piece on Dan Sickles makes you almost want to stand up and throttle the man.

Essays on the Army of the Potomac.......2003-12-18

Stephen W. Sears is one of the better-known Civil War Historians alive. A former editor of American Heritage, he's been writing books on the Civil War for about 20 years now, and has concentrated almost exclusively on the Army of the Potomac, and its nemesis the Army of Northern Virginia. This volume contains ten essays ostensibly on the Army of the Potomac, though one (the Lost Order essay) is really about Lee's army.

The essays are topical rather than combat-oriented. There are two discussions of a particular character's treatment by historians: in one installment, Sears insists that McClellan deserves the bad reputation he's gotten from historians, in another he carefully dissects Hooker's fall at Chancellorsville, and decides he's been unfairly condemned by his colleagues. Several other essays deal with incidents (the Dahlgren Raid, the crisis between 2nd Manassas and Antietam). Two essays are about generals who were wronged by their superiors: Charles Stone as a result of Ball's Bluff, Gouvernor Warren at Five Forks. One of the essays is a straight mini-biography, of Dan Sickles, the colorful character who shot his wife's lover and went on to be a Civil War hero, at least in the newspapers. One deals with an unsolved mystery, that of the fabled lost order at Antietam.

Most of these essays are valuable and interesting. I only had objection to one: Sears accepts without much discussion that the famed Dahlgren orders (calling for Richmond to be burned and the Confederate leadership to be murdered) are authentic. Without going into details, I've always found this explanation to be improbable in the extreme. Sears seems to dislike Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, and places most of the blame for the plot on his shoulders.

Other than that, the history here is to my mind impeccable, and the writing is clear and readable throughout. I enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to all Civil War buffs.

Fascinating essays on the Civil War.......2003-09-22

"Commanders and Controversies" is a series of essays, some previously published, on issues and personalities that still leave enthusiasts, and some historians, shaking their heads. Dan Sickles, the "General's Revolt", and thoughts on the infamous lost orders 191 are just three of the chapters. As with any collection like this, some of the essays are more interesting to this reader than others. The chapter of the court martial of Fitz-John Porter being one of the latter.
Perhaps the most interesting chapter is "Fighting Joe" Hooker's. Sears thesis is he was/is unjustly condemned after Chancellorsville. His subordinates, who frankly varied widely in simple competence, worked against him and his plan, turning what should have been a battle of annihilation into another defear for the Army of the Potomac. Sears made this point as well in his outstanding "Chancellorsville", but here he adds a little more background and detail. Overall, this is a great read, like all Sears' works and good history as well. Recommended.

Average customer rating:

Excellent
Explosive history from Devils Den to Cemetery Ridge by Harry W. Pfanz
Genious
Excellent Account of Gettysburg's Second Day
Excellent

Gettysburg--The Second Day
Harry W. Pfanz
Manufacturer: The University of North Carolina Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0807847305
Release Date: 1998-02-18

Book Description

The second day's fighting at Gettysburg—the assault of the Army of Northern Virginia against the Army of the Potomac on 2 July 1863—was probably the critical engagement of that decisive battle and, therefore, among the most significant actions of the Civil War.

Harry Pfanz, a former historian at Gettysburg National Military Park, has written a definitive account of the second day's brutal combat. He begins by introducing the men and units that were to do battle, analyzing the strategic intentions of Lee and Meade as commanders of the opposing armies, and describing the concentration of forces in the area around Gettysburg. He then examines the development of tactical plans and the deployment of troops for the approaching battle. But the emphasis is on the fighting itself. Pfanz provides a thorough account of the Confederates' smashing assaults—at Devil's Den and Litle Round Top, through the Wheatfield and the Peach Orchard, and against the Union center at Cemetery Ridge. He also details the Union defense that eventually succeeded in beating back these assaults, depriving Lee's gallant army of victory.

Pfanz analyzes decisions and events that have sparked debate for more than a century. In particular he discusses factors underlying the Meade-Sickles controversy and the questions about Longstreet's delay in attacking the Union left. The narrative is also enhanced by thirteen superb maps, more than eighty illustrations, brief portraits of the leading commanders, and observations on artillery, weapons, and tactics that will be of help even to knowledgeable readers.

Gettysburg—The Second Day is certain to become a Civil War classic. What makes the work so authoritative is Pfanz' mastery of the Gettysburg literature and his unparalleled knowledge of the ground on which the fighting occurred. His sources include the Official Records, regimental histories and personal reminiscences from soldiers North and South, personal papers and diaries, newspaper files, and last—but assuredly not least—the Gettysburg battlefield. Pfanz's career in the National Park Service included a ten-year assignment as a park historian at Gettysburg. Without doubt, he knows the terrain of the battle as well as he knows the battle itself.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-08-10

Considering the author was a former historian at the battlefield, this book offers the most in-depth account of what occurred before, during, and after the three-day battle at Gettysburg. A must-read for anyone interested in the Civil War, but take note that it is very detailed, listing countless names and locations.

Explosive history from Devils Den to Cemetery Ridge by Harry W. Pfanz.......2006-05-14

Harry W. Pfanz attention to detail is what I love the most about this incredible research. Harry spent 10 year assign as a park historian at Gettysburg and he spent it well. Harry learn and walked over every inch of the terrain. Harry's knowledge of the battle is unsurpassed. Harry knows more about this battle then Lee or Meade ever learned. Harry I salute you and thank you for the detail and amazing research you have preformed for our country's history. AWESOME AND HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
*** WARNING this book is not for someone who is looking for the "Cliff Notes" for their history class.

Genious.......2005-05-12

Harry W. Pfanz has written down the most information about the Gettsburg battle in the Civil War then anyother author. The facts just surprise you. I knew alot about Gettsburg before this book but I learned so much more by reading this. I want the world to know that Gettsburg was worse then what people believe it was.

Excellent Account of Gettysburg's Second Day.......2005-04-14

I have heard that Harry Pfanz has probably forgotten more about Gettysburg than many will ever learn about the battle. In my humble opinion, after reading Gettysburg The Second Day, there is much truth to that statement.

Pfanz' narrative is full of details about Little Round Top, Devil's Den, the Stony Hill, the Wheatfield, Rose Farm and Woods, and other important landmarks during the July 2 conflict. He weaves terrain features in with descriptions of several units in the conflicts.

While some people criticize Pfanz for too much battle narrative and little analysis (saves it for the last chapter), I personally enjoyed the book. If you are the kind of reader who enjoys reading battle narratives and descriptions of the participants, then this is the book for you.

The main gripe I have with the book concerns the maps. While excellent (goes down to the regimental level, clear terrain features, and has a unique description of the action portrayed in the map), there are not enough. Unfortunately, this is an all too common weakness in many Civil War titles. While Pfanz' narrative is full of interesting details, not having enough maps is distracting when trying to comprehend the actions of several units during the engagements. While there are 13 maps in the book, there easily could have been at least 20 total to provide more clarity to the action.

Complaint aside, I recommend this book as the definitive title on the second day at Gettysburg. I plan to refer to this book often during my next trip to Gettysburg. Read and enjoy! Recommended.

Excellent.......2005-01-06

Pfanz is the champion of Day 2 at Gettysburg. Although his First Day treatment was very good, he excels with the focus on the Day 2 action.

The action is very detailed and certainly not for a newbie. Definitely read a good one volume account of the entire battle first (maybe even read it twice).

Many will claim that the meat and the potatoes of the battle of GB is on the second day, particularly in the area of The Peach Orchard, Wheatfield, and Little Round Top. Longstreet called it "the best three hours of fighting" and I tend to agree.

Pfanz does an excellent job of setting up the different regimental, brigade, divison, and corps leaders who were in charge of these certain subsections of the fight, along with providing some grunt reports to present a complete picture. Of course the book is meticulously footnoted and you will not doubt his knowledge on the subject.

Movements and phases of battle tend to overlap. The Wheatfield is probably one of the most complex actiions to understand because of the involvement of 2 different Confederate divisions and at least 3 different Union corps, not to mention the ebb and flow of battle. Pfanz handles this action superbly.

Little Round Top, although not as complex a movement, has potential to become magnified in importance and to actual events. However, Pfanz relies of meticulous research and tempers any far flung notions, but simply presents the events as they happen. Well done.

Pfanz is not a big Sickle's fan. Most would agree with him. I'd like to have seen a more neutral stance or at least present the counter argument, but that's okay. When it comes to Sickles, you can write a book alone about his decision to move his corps forward.

There are several maps. The complex action might require a more thorough set if you really want to break down the details. I'd suggest getting a copy of Imhoff's Day Two A Study in Maps. It's an excellent source of about 50 beautiful maps covering all the Day 2 action. Reading Pfanz and comparing against Imhoff's maps is the perfect one two punch you'll ever come across.

Simiply put, if you are student of the battle of gettysburb, your bookshelf is extremely incomplete without a copy of The Second Day, and his other book on the Culp's Hill and Cemetary Hill part of the field. Skip his First Day book and go with Martin there who has written the definitive account.

The Man Behind the Guns: A Military Biography of General Henry J. Hunt, Commander of Artillery, Army of the Potomac

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Master of Artillery
Good biography.
A good biography with a few flaws
An awesome book, a hero of Gettysburg!

The Man Behind the Guns: A Military Biography of General Henry J. Hunt, Commander of Artillery, Army of the Potomac
Edward G. Longacre
Manufacturer: Da Capo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0306811545
Release Date: 2003-01-07

Book Description

The deadly accurate guns of the Union artillery were the most feared weapons on Civil War battlefields. General Henry Jackson Hunt, the highest-ranking artillery officer in the Union army, was "the man behind the guns"--the military genius who transformed a disorganized artillery corps into the most effective service arm of the army. Even the Confederates admired General Hunt. One Rebel general once boasted, "Give me Confederate infantry and Union artillery, and I'll whip the world!"

The Man Behind the Guns tells the life story of General Hunt, who, by the time he died in 1889, was recognized as one of the finest tacticians and military theorists ever to wear an American uniform. His outstanding reputation, however, had been established years before when his 270 strategically placed cannon shattered Pickett's Charge and decided the outcome of the most significant battle in American history.

This classic military biography, published twenty-five years ago and now available for the first time in paperback, is a "must" for every student of Civil War history.

Customer Reviews:

Master of Artillery.......2005-10-11

When reading this book you can't help but admire Henry Hunt. This is a man who knew what he was best at, artillery, and knew how best to use it. If only his superiors understood what a true asset they had in this man. Henry Hunt was a Hero of the Mexican War and the Civil War. It was a mistake for the government and Grant never to promote him to Major General during the war, and to Brigadier General after the war. This man really can be considered the father of American Artillery in my opinion. He designed artillery, wrote manuals on artillery, and was overall a true pioneer for the use of artilley. His theories on the massed use of artillery, which he was able to display at Malvern Hill and Gettysburg to great effect, were very good and it was a shame he never saw his dream of a unified corps of artillery come true.

I think Longacre did a pretty good job with General Hunt. His chapters on Malvern Hill and Gettysburg in particular were very good. I think he did a good job portraying the situation between Hunt and Joe Hooker. You really do come away from this knowing that Hooker knew next to nothing when it came to artillery and that had he followed Hunt's advice and gave Hunt the power he needed Chancellorsville may very well have been a very different battle. One thing I found out from this book that both interested me and caught me by surprise was the friction between Hunt and Winfield Hancock. They really didn't get along that well at all, both having very different views when it came to the use of artillery. Hancock was an incredible Corps commander but when reading this biography you definitely see that Hancock would have been better off following Hunt's advice when it came to artillery.

Only real complaint would be that the biography could have been longer. I think Longacre could have done a better job, or at least more detailed job, with Hunt before the Civil War. I think Hunt in Mexico was rushed a bit. I also think the post-Gettysburg section of the book, specifically the Overland Campaign and Petersburg could have been given more spotlight. I thought this part of the book seemed a bit rushed.

But overall a very good biography of a very good soldier.

Good biography........2005-03-21

Edward Longacre's biography on General Henry Hunt was long overdue for most Civil War historians. Considered as probably the finest artillery man in the war, he was grossly overlooked by his contempories as well as historians there after until this book. I believed Longacre did pretty good justice to General Hunt.

Hunt's contribution to the Army of the Potomac was pretty considerable. The book reflects much of Hunt's life as a preparation of this great ordeal. The author also points out that one fatal flaw in Hunt's character that proves to be so devastating to his career and life, his very sensitive and over blown sense of pride which made him headstrong, politically foolish and judgmental. This made his career harder and exactly didn't helped his post-Civil War life. But he was a fair man overall, man of honor and man of his time and class. The book was pretty well written in showing all that to the readers.

The book revealed that Hunt spent much of the war trying to bring an unified central command of the army's artillery. Under such central command, the artillery units can be depatched where it was needed, when it was needed and with the proper strength. While that make common sense today, Hunt had a hard time during the war with it. What also make the book enlightening was that it shows why Hunt was so good with the guns. His performance at Gettysburg was a high water mark in his career and reflects his military skill as an artillery man.

If there was a weakness in the book, the author didn't show the parallel between what Hunt was trying to do and the what other armies during that period was doing as well. Even Napoleon had an Artillery Reserves type of formation, his "Grand Battery" was under a command of a single commander moving it around like a ground formation, much like what Hunt was trying to accomplished. It was interesting to note that most West Pointers who had commands in the Army of the Potomac didn't understand what Hunt was trying to do even although their education at West Point in Napoleonics must have been pretty considerable.

Overall, a well written book, interesting and filled a vital spot in any Civil War library.

A good biography with a few flaws.......2004-09-15

Civil War biographies seem to be a lost art as of late. We do see the occasional biography such as Sears' fine book on McClellan, Wert's on Custer and it seems there's a new Lee or Jackson biography every year. However for many Civil War commanders it's been years since we've seen full biographies for them. Generals George Meade and George Thomas haven't seen new full bios in 50+ years. Not since Freeman Cleaves wrote his works on them in the late 40s and it's been 60 years since Walter Hebert wrote his work on Fighting Joe Hooker.

So with that said, it's nice to see a modern biography of an important and yet overlooked man in the Army of the Potomac's leadership.

Partly that that makes this book interesting is it's as much a story of the evolution of artillery in the Civil War as it is Hunt, although it's evolution controlled and nurtured by Hunt. In Longacre's book we see Hunt's famous stubbornness and to some extent his temper. We also see his brilliance with artillery and unfortunately his tragic life after the war where one could argue that his country turned it's back on him after Hunt did so much to help preserve it.

While this book is an enjoyable read it does have it's faults. One fault is the book has a feeling of being rushed. One doesn't have a feeling one is reading a true in depth biography of the man. The writing style is good and the essential facts are there but the book in the end simply has a feeling of being a bit rushed and not as detailed as it should have been.

Another odd fault shows up in the chapter on Gettysburg. Longacre obviously isn't the biggest fan of George Meade and it shows. In the Gettysburg chapter Longacre repeats the Dan Sickles created myth that Meade was planning to retreat from Gettysburg on July 2nd. Not only does he repeat the myth but he credits Henry Hunt with talking Meade into staying! Then Longacre takes the myth one step further and claims Meade planned to retreat on July 3rd and the only reason he didn't was because his Corps Commanders talked him out of it! Only two chapters later in the section on the Congressional investigation into Gettysburg does Longacre tell the reader that any plans Meade had made for retreat were merely contingency plans.

For the rest of the Gettysburg chapter Longacre takes his shots at Meade where he can to the point that it becomes both obvious and a bit annoying. Meanwhile Hunt's faults are glossed over a bit. Yes he was a brilliant officer, often under appreciated these days but he still had his faults. By reading Longacre you'd think Hunt had never made an error.

While the book has it's flaws it still is worth picking up. Longacre's nice writing style makes it a pleasant read. Hunt was an important part of the Army of the Potomac and this book help's greatly to understand his role. Most Civil War enthusiasts will find this book worthwhile.

An awesome book, a hero of Gettysburg!.......2003-12-09

This biography of Henry Jackson Hunt, Chief of Artillery of the Army of the Potomac in the Civil War, is an outstanding example of a biography of an oft-overlooked yet key figure in the Civil War. Hunt's professional knowledge and expertise led to his prominent contribution to Union victory at Gettysburg, a
battlefield that offered tremendous opportunities to the side that more effectively utilized artillery. His role in the later
campaigns was reduced by the reduced reliance on artillery on the Virginia battlefields of 1864 & 1865. His prickly and sometimes quarrelsome disposition also failed to endear him to some of his peers, notably W.S. Hancock. Nonetheless, Hunt's story is one that all students of the Civil War should know.
Buy and read this book!

Army of the Potomac. History of its campaigns, the Peninsula, Maryland, Fredericksburg. Testimony of its three commanders, Maj.-Gen. G.B. McClellan, Maj.-Gen. ... the Congressional Committee on the Conduct

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Army of the Potomac. History of its campaigns, the Peninsula, Maryland, Fredericksburg. Testimony of its three commanders, Maj.-Gen. G.B. McClellan, Maj.-Gen. ... the Congressional Committee on the Conduct
United States. Congress. Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War.
Manufacturer: Cornell University Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Product Description

This volume is produced from digital images from the Cornell University Library Samuel J. May Anti-Slavery Collection

The Army Of The Potomac: Its Organization, Its Commander, And Its Campaign

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The Army Of The Potomac: Its Organization, Its Commander, And Its Campaign
Prince De Joinville
Manufacturer: Kessinger Publishing, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0548137315

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The Army of the Potomac: Its organization, its commander, and its campaign
Francois-Ferdinand-Philippe-Louis-Marie d'Orleans Joinville
Manufacturer: A.D.F. Randolph
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

The Army of the Potomac: its organization, its commander, and its campaign. By the prince de Joinville. Tr. from the French, with notes, by William Henry Hurlbert.

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The Army of the Potomac: its organization, its commander, and its campaign. By the prince de Joinville. Tr. from the French, with notes, by William Henry Hurlbert.
Michigan Historical Reprint Series
Manufacturer: Scholarly Publishing Office, University of Michigan Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

United States | History | Historical Reproductions | Formats | Books

Australia & Oceania | History | Historical Reproductions | Formats | Books
ASIN: 1425508286
Release Date: 2005-12-20

Product Description

This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's preservation reformatting program.

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Commanders of the Army of the Potomac
Warren W Hassler
Manufacturer: Louisiana State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Book Description

Between 1861 and 1865 seven men commanded the North's Army of the Potomac. All found themselves, one by one, pitted against a soldier of consummate ability, Robert E. Lee. How did they react to this supreme test? What were their patterns of conduct in battle and at the conference table? This book takes the measure of each soldier at the crucial moment of his life and the life of the nation.

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Commanders of the Army of the Potomac
Warren Hassler
Manufacturer: Louisiana State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NQ63PM

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