Guide to the Battle of Gettysburg

Gettysburg is the first battlefield I've ever visited. I have no actual military experience, though I fancy myself a military and general history buff. I was not sure of what my reactions would be. Just a "ho-hum", looking over some fields were men had battled for their lives more than a century ago? A sense of reverence that so many men were willing to put themselves in harm's way to protect the Constitution and the Union? Something else? I didn't know. This marvelous, relatively slim volume helped set the tone for my visit. The tour most people take at Gettysburg is in their own automobile with designated stopping points along the way. The National Park Service provides a simple, attractive map, which does not have a lot of history in it and certainly not a detailed analysis. "Guide to the Battlee of Gettysburg", prepared for the U.S. Army War College provides a topographic map of the military operations for each of the stops, a brief military analysis of the action(s) that transpired at that particular point and, variously, military reports and documents, diaries, letters and other materials from participants in the battle. The book is a marvelous companion to your tour of the battlefield. It adds a richness to the experience that is, frankly, somewhat indescribable. To read of the action at The Peach Orchard, for instance, to review the topographical map and the contemporaneous military reports is to understand the (arguable) foolishness of General Sickles in disobeying orders and moving his troops - while being as well to comprehend why he believed to the end of his life that he made the correct decision. It is quite a book. I don't know of it is the "best", because I have not reviewed every offering - but it certainly made my Gettysburg more profound and far richer than it might otherwise have been. Jerry

The Gettysburg battlefield guide is the first of many Civil War guidebooks and set the standard for the other books. The book covers the largest battle of the American Civil War and our most visited Battlefield Park. This is one of a multitude of guidebooks on the battle and can be an option to employing a guide or purchasing a park driving tour. The series format is directions to a point on the field, orientation, a general lesson on what happened in your view, followed by first person accounts of the action. These guides are designed using the general staff training concept of a Staff Ride. This is when a class is taken to a historic location, discuss what happened and see how the terrain influences the event. Staff Rides are designed to be intensive "on the ground" training couple with physical observation in the hopes students will gain experience for later use. I am not saying this to frighten you away from this guide but to tell you this is not a walk about and look at the monuments type of guide. This guide will have several pages devoted to the action at this point. It may contain a critique of the local commander's actions with possible alternates. My experience is that reading the book prior to my visit works best. This allows me more time observing the field and less time reading the book. Of the tour options, a professional guide is usually the best but most expensive choice. The park driving tour is the best choice for a quick trip through the field to get the kids passport stamp. This book is the best choice for a serious student of the battle looking for a detailed explanation.

Luvaas has written an excellent guide for anyone wishing to know more about the Gettysburg battlefield and the actions of July 1-3, 1863.The book's format is different from what you might expect from a typical Civil War book. Each chapter focuses on either a particular day and/or action of the battle and basically is formatted as follows:1. Precise driving directions are provided for reaching the particular battlefield feature.2. Description of what happened at the site. 3. A report of the action by an actual participant at the site.4. A map of troop dispositions at the site.I have attended one of Luvaas' staff rides (at the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Battlefields in Virginia) and thoroughly enjoyed listening to him describing an account of the battle. During that time I was an active duy Air Force Officer and gained a greater appreciation of strategies and difficulties a commander faced in battle.You do not have to be an active-duty military or veteran to enjoy this book. The only gripe I really have are the quality of maps - I wish they were more detailed!Complaint aside, I highly recommend the book - read and enjoy!

I generally agree with the other reviewers that this guide book is informative and useful. I have had it in had twice when I visited Gettysburg. A solid resource with some very interesting historical exerpts from after action reports etc.I would also encourge people considering this book to take a look at Gettysburg: A Battlefield Guide by Mark Grimsley. (ISBN 0803270771) In my opinion the Grimsley book is a bit clearer on some of the more confusing parts of the battle - the fighting in the Wheatfield for example.All things considered both books are quite good.

These series of books from the U. S. Army War College are the best available resource for conducting ACW battlefield tours - assuming that your purpose in touring battlefields is to study and understand the applicable tactics, strategy and terrain and to develop an appreciation for the objectives and efforts of the participants. If you go to ACW battlefields to gawk and gossip as an everyday tourist then an investment in these guides is unnecessary. If you have an active interest in ACW history, military history in general or fascinating chapters in human history, then these guides are remarkable values, "Best Buys". Helpful maps illustrate troop engagements and key terrain features, excerpts from the Official Records provide first person commentary from the participants at each "Stop" on your tour and concise analysis is provided to tie the story together. Thorough but not intimidating, insightful and objective, with no deficiencies noted.