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Monday, May 6, 2013

Gettysburg Bibliography

Devil's Den at Gettysburg. You can see the scale and size of the rocks
 if you notice the man standing on top of one, left center. This isn't even a wide shot of all the huge boulders.




You may or may not read Wargames Soldiers & Strategy magazine but Mike Evans and I have written several articles for them. In the recent issue 66 we did a several articles and scenarios for the 1st day’s fighting at Gettysburg. We had to trim a bit since in total it became too much to fit. The bibliography didn’t make it in due to space. We felt it was important but… you can’t fit 5 pounds of stuff into a 3 pound bag. I have included it below because I felt it would be invaluable for readers that might want to follow up and get details of the actual fighting. This especially true now that the 150th anniversary is less than two months away. The list below is by no means complete. It is just the ‘first books’ you might want to read about the battle.  Enjoy!

We have another batch of scenarios and articles coming soon about Vicksburg so check it once it hits the newsstands.

40th New York monument facing Devil's Den
Picture by Mike Evans


Bibliography.

The Battle of Gettysburg is one of the most written about battles in history. Here are just a few that we have used extensively to prepare these articles:

Bruce Catton:              Glory Road, Fairfield Press.
From the author of the essential Army of the Potomac trilogy. A Stillness at Appomattox is the 3rd book in this trilogy. This book (the 2nd book) deals with the political as well as military aspects of the war in Northern Virginia in 1863.  Recommended.

Eric J. Wittenberg:      Gettysburg’s Forgotten Cavalry Actions, Savas Beatie.
The book covers the South Cavalry battlefield, Farnsworth’s charge & the battle of Fairfield. If the cavalry interests you this is the book for you.

Eric J. Wittenberg:      Brinkerhoff ridge

Harry W. Pfanz:          Gettysburg the First Day,
Gettysburg the Second Day,
Gettysburg Culp’s Hill and Cemetary Hill,
All University of North Carolina Press.

Hugely detailed these are musts for the serious students of the battle. Great information for gamers because of this detail.

Noah A. Trudeau:       Gettysburg a Testing of Courage, Perennial.
A classic. Easy to read and highly recommended.

Bradley M. Gottfried: The Maps of Gettysburg, Savas Beatie
            Detailed maps outline troop movements through-out the campaign. The battle is covered in detail. Wargamers will find this a treasure trove for scenarios. Highly recommended.

Stephen W. Sears – Gettysburg,

Edwin B. Coddington – The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command,                                                          
Morningside House.               
            Was often sited as the book about the campaign when it was first published in 1963. In the past 20 years or so many additional books have come out and have uncovered new information about the battle. The book still holds up well but the newer books (above listed) are written with a fresher style.

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