Publisher: Savas Beatie

Author: Bradley M Gottfried

Format: 7” x 10” Softcover Book, 304 pages.

ISBN: 978-1-932714-35-7

Price: $25

I would say not the best recounting of the Battle of Gettysburg. What makes this book special are the maps. Format is text on the left and an accompanying map on the right.

The first 60 pages cover the campaign. Lee’s advanced to Pennsylvania up to when both armies met at Gettysburg. Significant battles are done in detail.

The main portion is Gettysburg itself. In general Gottfried goes over one part of the battle at a time using several maps to show the fighting over the course of the day.

The maps are utilitarian. Done on a computer using basic graphics. Hardcover has color but it still looks fine in black and white. Each formation is named down to the regimental level.

The text mostly goes over maneuvers and unit placement. Quite a lot of detail but not much narration. I think more useful for someone who’s already familiar with the battle.

The maps show how units were arrayed and how they advanced. Gottfried uses official reports and first hand accounts. Sometimes there are knowledge gaps and Gottfried uses a reasonable guess (and states so).

The book ends with an order of battle for both sides, extensive footnotes and an index.

Quite impressive. It’s really nice to see units on a map and to see their general paths and actions during the battle. I wasn’t too familiar with the battle and reading this book was quite enlightening. Overall I’d recommend it.