Customer Reviews

Battlefields: Then & Now

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It is very difficult to understand the full nature of a battlefield unless you walk the ground. The lie of the land alters strategy, and sometimes alters outcomes. For example, Bosworth Field is more comprehensible as an event if you can inspect it as a place. The Chattanooga Campaign, impressive as a historic event, becomes both more "human" and more emotional when you stand on Lookout Mountain and stare across the distance at the terrain. The effort and valor of the men of both armies who fought there can be appreciated fully only when you actually view the steep slopes and consider what it meant to scale them carrying full battle pack. But its not always possible to tour the world inspecting battle sites. This book is the next best thing to being there. The sites and the battles are outlined in well-written text. Color plates and diagrams make the battles much easier to understand. For many key battles, there are color plates with overlays demonstrating what the site looks like today and how it appeared at the time of the battle. I've found the book to be useful as a reference work and enjoyable to read.