Indeed, when Stuart did finally return–too late to do any real good regarding Gettysburg–he had an enormous trainload of wagons filled with the things Lee had sent him to get. The rebels were looking forward to gaining food and other supplies from the well-fed Pennsylvanians.

This was intended to be trip #3, and it was expected to net similar results, apart from the foraging. Earlier in the war,Stuart had ridden all the way around Union commander McClellan’s forces twice to upset him and cut off his communications. Sears says this was overall (from the Confederate side) a case of great overconfidence. And still others say the buck stopped with Lee, who after all was in charge and made the call. Some blame Longstreet for not enthusiastically embracing and supporting Lee’s plan of attack. Some who specialize in the Confederate angle blame JEB Stuart for not coming in when Lee expected him with the intelligence that was needed. For those not interested in as thorough an account, it may be easier to start with historical fiction, and then move to nonfictional accounts of the war to help you straighten out the facts from the frills.įor me though, I was ready to get down and resolve some conflicting ideas I had read. I wouldn’t have wanted this to be my first, second, or third book about this war actually, for the serious reader who is just getting started, McPherson’s Battle Cry of Freedom (which won the Pulitzer) is the best starting point. I used to teach about the American Civil War, and it continues to be a strong area of interest for me. If you aren’t ready to have the complete, detailed account, you should know before you buy it or check it out from your library that this isn’t for you. Hey, folks, look at the title, and look at the number of pages.

I have to laugh at the reviews that claim there is too much detail here. This is the most thorough and brilliant account of the Battle of Gettysburg (all three days, plus the approach and the departure) I have ever read.

Gettysburg by Stephen W. Sears