Pickett's Charge

By George R. Stewart

Book Overview

This book covers a critical part of the Battle of Gettysburg.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0395597722
• ISBN13: 9780395597729
• Release Date: October 1991
• Publisher: Mariner Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.09 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.6" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

the classic account

George Stewart's history of the final great assault at Gettysburg combines scholarship with (all too rare today) excellent, flowing writing. It is the standard work on the subject - the event simply cannot be fully understood without this book. Unlike so many of today's books, it is more than just a long series of quotations, and the writing brings events to life instead of turning the event into an academic treatise. More than anything else, Stewart appreciates the human aspect of the battle. Among other things, Stewart appears to be the first writer to question the traditional "15,000" figure for the attacking troops, and he is not afraid to synthesize his research and say what he thinks and why he thinks it. Like Catton's work, this is truly elegant and worthwhile history.

Eminently readable, thoroughly enjoyable.

The author has written an eminently readable, thoroughly enjoyable, and well-researched book on the third day of the Gettysburg battle, July 3, 1863. An especially rewarding read if one has toured, or plans to visit, the battlefield site. The author's unpretentious, conversational style of writing succeeds in putting the reader on the ground occupied by both the Confederate and Union forces before, during and after Pickett's and Pettigrew's famous assault on Meade's Second Corps. Interspersed with humor and down-to-earth observations concerning battlefield conditions, the author conscientiously describes all aspects of the battle, from massing of the assault columns and pre-assault artillery barrage to the last shots and the flight of the surviving rebels back to the safety of their lines. Having visited Gettysburg several years ago (my chief interest then being Joshua Chamberlain's heroic defense of Little Round Top on the battle's second day), this superb volume makes me want to go again.

Extremely detailed, excellently told.

Having been a Civil W buff for years, and having read many of the more common titles dealing with Gettysburg in particular I found this to be the most detailed book I have read. Opinions are expressed, and backed with explanations, yet never placing blame. After having read this book, if you had been there, even knowing what you do today and that the charge was going to be a tragic failure, agreeing with Longstreet that, "no 15,000 men ever lived could break that line", you would still have giving the orders to make the charge.

A superb recreation of that fateful July day.

This book is simply the best for students of the battle. Stewart brings the reader along through a journey in time with his unbiased, simple narrative. It's an informal read that will tempt the reader for more. Along with Harry Pfanz and Edwin Coddington, an excellent addition for that Gettysburg library.