Product Description

Gettysburg, fought over three days at the beginning of July 1863, is the subject of the third of Mark Adkin's magisterial 'Battle Companions' which have been universally acclaimed as comprehensive and definitive works, distinguished by their superb illustrations and selling in impressive quantities. The Waterloo Companion (2001, ISBN 978 1 85410 764 0) has so far sold 23,000 copies while The Trafalgar Companion (2005, ISBN 978 1 84513 018 3) has sold 16,500 to date. After a prologue describing the Union defeat at Chancellorsville and the death of the Confederates' greatest general, 'Stonewall' Jackson, the book begins with a chapter on the orders of battle showing, in diagrammatic form, unit strengths, commanders down to regimental and battery level, and casualties for all the units engaged. There then follow chapters on each of the arms - infantry, cavalry, artillery and other arms such as signals, medical and transport - followed by a chapter on the military and political command and control on both sides. The next chapter covers the campaign leading up to the battle followed by one on the battlefield itself. A single chapter is then devoted to each of the three days fighting, starting with a summary of the situation the rival generals faced at the start of the day and their plans and then describing in detail the phases of the day's fighting and its decisive 'highlights' such as the defence of Little Round Top on the second day and Pickett's Charge on the third, concluding with a section on the historical controversies' that have subsequently emerged. . The book is completed by a chapter on the battle's aftermath, an epilogue on the 50th anniversary celebrations in 1913 and appendices. Throughout, the main text is supplemented by 'boxes' featuring curious or little-known facts or the first-hand accounts of participants.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10826 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 544 pages

About the Author
Mark Adkin is a retired army officer. In addition to The Waterloo Companion and The Trafalgar Companion, he has also written a 'Companion' to the Sharpe television series and a number of other books on military history including Goose Green, The Bear Trap and The Charge.

Customer Reviews

Gettysburg companion
The book is very good as expected. I did have to chase it up when it had not arrived a day or so after the predicted date given for delivery.

gettysburg companion
THIS IS A SUPERB ACCOUNT OF THE CAMPAIGN,WITH MAPS THAT ENABLE YOU TO FOLLOW THE ACTION AND SOME NICE ILLUSTRATIONS THROWN IN,IF THE CIVIL WAR IS YOUR THING GET THIS BOOK NO MATTER HOW MANY BOOKS ON GETTYSBURG YOU'VE GOT,ITS ALL IN HERE RIGHT DOWN TO THE LAST ROUND.

Excellent Resource
An impressive and well laid out source of information regarding the battle, arms and equipment, the characters and forces involved. An essential addition to any Civil War library.