Faces of Gettysburg, The [Paperback]

JoAnna McDonald (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1998

200 b/w photos 200 photos, 8 x 10 most previously unpublished Includes each soldiers rank, unit, and battlefield experience This remarkable volume presents photos donated to the Gettysburg National Military Park Library by descendants of soldiers who fought in the battle. In the 1850s a new process of developing photographs using tin plates, or tintypes, replaced the more expensive glass plate process, making paper prints affordable. When the Civil War broke out, thousands of soldiers, dressed in their new uniforms, posed for photographers to leave a record for families who knew they might not return. Entire families sat for photographers to create a visual record with a beloved father, son, brother, or husband. Soldiers, in turn, carried copies of these photos off to war. The photograph thus became the cultural artifact that bound thousands of war-torn families together. Included here are precious pieces of the past rarely seen outside the families of the men who fought and died at Gettysburg. Each photo in this book includes a caption summarizing the soldiers background, regiment, and role in the Civil Wars most famous battle.

Product Details

• Paperback: 62 pages
• Publisher: Rank & File (February 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888967005
• ISBN-13: 978-1888967005
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,791,134 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Faces of Gettysburg-Awesome!, April 23, 2000

By 

Charles L Phillips (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Faces of Gettysburg, The (Paperback)

This is a wonderful book that originated from the idea of the Wall of Faces at the Gettysburg Visitors Center. The Gettysburg Nat. Mil. Park Library has received over 500 images donated from families and private collectors. This book(album) contains 200 of these images. Some of the images arrive with a bit of history or family lore. The book is divided into three parts: July 1, July 2, and July 3. The images are arranged into alphabetical order and display the soldiers name, rank, unit, age(some)and the final result of the individual)survived,killed,wounded or captured.) Most of the images show amazing detail and I enjoyed studying the uniforms, weapons and gear that the soldiers actually carried onto the battlefield. Also on page 52 is my distant cousin,Capt.Charles A. Phillips from Salem, MA. who suvived to become an attorney after the war.

5.0 out of 5 stars Hope they follow up with a second..., November 2, 2009

By 

CW Carter (Gettysburg, PA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Faces of Gettysburg, The (Paperback)

This book is fantastic. The pictures are arranged in 3 groups, one for each day of the battle, and before each, there's a semi-brief page with a basic summary of what happened that day - nothing overwhelming, just gives a quick overview, and it's great. Then each picture has a note under it with the name of the soldier and for example, what company they were in, if available, the injury they endured, whether they survived or died and usually where - whatever info is available to them. Would be very quick to go through the book, but it's so easy to just look at each soldier's picture & the note on him for minutes at a time, just feeling for him & thinking about what he and all of them went through. I really wish they'd do another one with more of the soldiers not pictured here. A great book to get...I've looked at it sooo many times...