The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command

I have read almost every book written on gettysburg and I would without hesitation say that Coddington's book on the Campaign is the most thorough and best book on the battle. You can read other for quick overviews and or abridged editions, but, only Coddington delivers with unrivaled research,in-depth battle descriptions and a full history of the regiments invloved and thier role in the battle. This is a must read for anyone seriously interested in what transpired on those hot, humid days in July 1863.

Edwin Coddington's (1905-1963) "The Gettysburg Campaign" (1963) remains not only the seminal account of the Battle of Gettysburg but also a model of Civil War and historical writing. The book is an inspiring example of scholarship at its best. Coddington writes in a clear, eloquent, yet non-polemical style as he explores his subject. He does not back away from offering opinions and conclusions, which flow clearly from his narrative account. The reader can understand the basis of the judgments which Coddington offers. The account is detailed and yet selective. Coddington focuses on the broad picture of the Gettysburg story without getting bogged down in the minutae and legends that mar some otherwise excellent treatments of this battle. Coddington focuses on "why" things happened as well as "what" happened. The reader is given a context for the Gettysburg campaign and is seldom at a loss over the reason the author is discussing and devoting time to an issue. The book is thoroughly documented and the footnotes include much essential material.Coddington begins with a lengthy consideration of the factors that led Robert E. Lee to propose an invasion of the North following the Battle of Chancellorsville. He concludes with a discussion of the Confederate retreat from Gettysburg, culminating in the return to Virginia on July 14, 1863. He discusses well the Union pursuit and considers judiciously whether Meade should have been more aggressive in trying to cut off the fleeing foe.I found the factual account comprehensive on the major points of the Battle and careful and circumspect in its conclusions. Coddington allows the reader to see the deficiencies in the Confederate command structure (lack of coordination) and the overconfidence of the Southern forces at virtually every level as contributing factors to the defeat at Gettysburg. He is more critical of General Longstreet's role in the Battle than are many more recent accounts. On the Union side of the line, Coddington is highly critical of Third Corps General Sickles and his salient on July 2, which came close to costing the Union the Battle. The longest critical section of the book consists of an examination of the dispute between Meade and Sickles and his supporters following the battle regarding the wisdom, or lack of it, in Sickles's movement of the Third Corps.Coddington has high, but careful praise for Commanding General Meade, for Hancock, Reynolds, Buford,Howard, and Slocum. He shows how the Army of the Potomac, for all its awkward structure (seven Corps at Gettysburg compared to the Confederate three) and for all the rivalries between its leaders was able to function as a coordinated unit when it needed to do so and hold the Union position at Gettysburg. Coddington has high praise for the valor of the fighting troops on both sides of the line.Sometimes implicitly and sometimes explicitly, Coddington's book comes to grips with many competing accounts of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Coddington presents a very detailed description of the Gettysburg campaign from events following Hooker's defeat at Chancellorville to Lee's retreat across the Potomac. I have always been fasinated with this chapter of Civil War and the arguments which have risen among various historians and military strategists. In the course of the book Coddington presents the various sides and analyzes them based upon different source materials, testimonials and logical sequences of events. One of the main points he makes is that the Union victory at Gettysburg was more likely as a result of the Union commanders good strategy, tactics and logistics, and finally the termendous valor in battle and tireless efforts in marches of the Union veterans rather than only as a result of mistakes committed by Lee, Longstreet, Stuart, Ewell.... The latter being the more popular theory among some historians. The maps provided both of the battles and troop movements are quite detailed and helpful. As a whole, Coddington gives relatively fair assessment of commanders of both sides and points out both merit and fault equally. As a result, he does burst some the more romantic myths associated with Battle of Gettysburg by shedding the light of more realistic explanations on them. All in all, I would recommend this book for Civil War buffs but beware, this is not a light read!!!

--read Coddington. But not until you have read a few other accounts (Catton, Friedman, & Foote or whoever else strikes your fancy) and visited the site with one of their experienced guides.This is a massive book, written by a scholar and sometimes the writing is dry, but never passionless. It is meticulously researched and foot noted. I use it as a reference constantly; therefore, I'm nearly at the place to buy another copy for show and hide my battered, much thumbed (eye tracks all over it!) much beloved book where only I can find it.I find it very balanced with no hero worship for either side. He does go into detail about Meade that I find invaluable. Meade is the forgotten man at Gettysburg. Ask any average citizen who was the winning general of the battle--I'll save you some time. They don't know. Some very minor quibbles. He refers to Col. Chamberlain as "Josh." Chamberlain vastly preferred to be called "David," and I am sure would never have answered to "Josh." Longstreet is treated somewhat harshly (I am a Longstreet fan), but, as the general himself defended his actions in print until his dying day, he is not in need of rescuing from Coddington.A fine definitive work. I am saddened that Dr. Coddington did not live to see his fine work published and praised.

While most books regarding Gettysburg focus on the three days of the battle, Coddington takes the time to review the entire campaign, helping to explain why the battle was fought where and when it was. His analysis of Lee's difficulties with his new command structure provide an excellent explanation of the consistent failures of the Army of Northern Virginia to take advantage of the slow Federal arrival at the battlefield and Meade's errors. In short, if you're looking for a comprehensive review of the Gettysburg Campaign and the Battle of Gettyburg accompanied with incisive analysis, try this book.