Customer Reviews

The Gettysburg Companion: A Guide to the Most Famous Battle

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is simply an incredible book with outstanding organization, graphics, maps, photos, and narrative. It is large, 11-1/2" x 9", thick, 1-5/8" and long, 554 pages. Forget the cost. BUY IT!

The Chapters (Sections) are as follows:
Chancellorsville -- The Rebels Lose a General, the Yankees a Battle
Orders of Battle
The Infantry
The Artillery
The Cavalry
Other Arms and Services
Command and Control
The Road to Gettysburg
The Battlefield
The Battle -- Day One
The Battle -- Day Two
The Battle -- Day Three
The Aftermath
The 50th Anniversary Reunion

Author Adkins starts with Chancellorsville, Jackson's death and Hooker's defeat. The organization of both armies, the Union Army of the Potomac and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, follows in five chapters; Orders of Battle, Infantry, Artillery, Cavalry, and Other Arms and Services.

In the Orders of Battle Chapter, photos of all the main commanders are shown on organizations charts, all the statistics with respect to strength and losses are given, and commanders are noted on the charts down to regiments and batteries. The charts include narratives of unit actions prior and during the battle of Gettysburg.

In the Infantry Chapter rank insignia is given along with a number of pages with photos and graphics of equipment, armament, uniforms, organization, tactics, formations with positions of officers and NCOs, marching organizations, and many, many details of interest. The Artillery and Cavalry chapters are organized similarly, and these chapters provide a wealth of information in one book that specialists would otherwise have to spend many hours to extract from other references. If one wants to know the sequence of steps to firing a cannon, it is here. If one is interested in seeing how a cavalry picket system is organized and conducted, this book has it. Signal stations, hospital locations and wagon train parks are shown and fully discussed in the Other Arms and Services Chapter. The coverage is comprehensive and all that anyone could want in a single book.

Then comes Command And Control, giving brief biographies of the principal commanders and the organizations of the various services. Chaplins, couriers, escorts, slave usage, intelligence and civilians are included to complete the picture.

The Road to Gettysburg Chapter gives the military situation in May, 1863, Lee's plans and preparations, the Battle of Brandy Station, and the movements of both armies from Virginia to Pennsylvania. The maps are simply outstanding and easy to follow.

The Battlefield Chapter discusses the actual battlefield with maps, photos, various features, and even a detailed map of the town. Little if anything is overlooked.

Day One starts the actual battle, July 1, 1863. The movements of the two armies are shown in detail with maps, graphics, photos and narratives. I checked some of the 1st day maps and graphics with reports in the Official Records (OR), and I was unable to find anything arguably in error. My conclusion, therefore, is that the author has been extremely thorough in his research and one can assume the presentation to be accurate. This chapter alone contains 56 pages, 17 multi-colored maps showing terrain, unit positions, movements, times, and various notes, and 7 photographs, 6 of which are annotated to point out features and the presence of formation locations.

Day Two is even more extensive over 66 pages and the reader can easily understand the conduct of the battle and the terrain over which it was fought. Maps, graphics, photos and narrative are similar to those in the Day One Chapter.

Day Three centers around Pickett's Charge in a 62 page presentation of very comprehensive maps and graphics showing almost every detail of the charge.

The Aftermath Chapter gives the casualties and statistics, then follows with Lee's withdrawal back to Virginia. The maps show how Lee escaped from the Union pursuit, and the narrative includes the various communications and comments on both sides.

Without belaboring the point, this is a wonderfully produced book with more color than often found in coffee-table art books, and can be always be used in conjunction with any other book on Gettysburg. So often Civil War narratives are poorly furnished with maps and assume the reader is familiar with the arms and tactics used. This book solves all such problems with respect to Gettysburg.

This book is a bargain at three times the price.

I brought this book after reading all the fireworks that went before. Being caught in several myself, I can kind of understand how self-interest, passion and logic can be so acrimonious at times. But having read all the author's previous books, buying this one based on the author's reputation was a no brainer for me.

Still, I have to say that I enjoyed going through this book. Its not exactly perfect but I dare say that no book does a better job accessing all aspects of Gettysburg from uniforms, leaders to tactics. The narrative proves to be well written and easy to read. I enjoyed the maps, even the questionable one that seems to dragged this book through some little mud. The modern photographs were very nice but as one previous reviewer wrote, it would be nice if the author were more exact in his description of what happened and from where the shot was taken in some of the photos. However, unlike some other reviewers, I can live with minor errors and nitpicking mistakes. None of the mistakes noted can be considered devastating in nature. I have yet to read a perfect history book. All history books are imperfect in some way. We humans do err quite a bit.

But overall, I was very pleased with this book and what it offer. I think most people who enjoy this subject will be happy with this book. Of course, price tag not withstanding here.

This book is about so much more than Gettysburg. It contains amazing background information on every aspect of tactics, drill, army organization, supply, weapons, transport...and not the usual toss-away, two paragraph information you find in big books like this, but detailed information with wonderful illustrations that explain how you clothed, fed, marched, armed and commanded 100,000 men (and several thousand horses and mules) in 1863. The battlefield photographs and maps are fantastic.

I have 200 Civil War books -- if my house was under fire from a 3-inch ordinance rifle, this is the book I would grab and save.

Just to note, I'm a 16 year old using my dad's account to write this review. But anyway, I first must say that this is not the "definitive" guide to Gettysburg (which the author warns the reader ahead of time). It instead goes into intense detail on the separate military branches for both the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia, everything from the equipment used to the tactics to the leaders, and has the basic campaign information (most of which you should know if you're even contemplating buying this book, because it is massive!) that is found in most books written about Gettysburg. In addition, is has highlights from each of the three days of the battle (such as Barlow's Knoll and the charge of the 6th Wisconsin), which i found extremely interesting and only wish that it went into such detail for all the combat of the battle. There are already other reviews that give the names of all the chapters and the basic info in each so I won't get into that; instead I'd like to talk about the writing and photographs themselves. The text itself can get fairly dry at some points, especially during areas where Adkin is trying to estimate the total ammunition expenditure of both armies (frankly a waste of time) but I never found myself completely disinterested at any part. The photos and maps are excellent, though unless you have a detailed map of the military park sometimes you don't have a clue where the "5th New Jersey" monument is, but the authors basic location is never in question. Also, the illustrations are superb and photos with the troop deployments/movements are especially helpful. Other reviewers have stated that some captions for cannons and such are completely wrong, describing a 3inch rifle as a Parrot gun, ect. While this is unacceptably for an author to let such an obvious mistake slip past him (and certainly an author who has written two similar books prior), it is not as detrimental as it may be thought as these blatant mistakes very rarely occur. Overall, I can in good conscience recommend this book to anyone whom already knows a fair amount about Gettysburg but would like to increase their knowledge even further.(For a far better read, with less technical info, I HIGHLY suggest Stephen W. Sears' Gettysburg, a truly masterful book).

Wow! I was initially hesitant to purchase this book due to previous reviews, but am now glad that I took the chance. Although there are inaccuracies (what Gettysburg book doesn't have at least one), overall the book is a fabulous collection of maps, images, and factoids about the battle of Gettysburg and Gettysburg National Military Park itself. I do regret that the author did not give proper credit to the sources from which he gathered this information. However, that being said, this is a wonderful resource for those who want to delve a little deeper into the study of Gettysburg. I particularly enjoyed the diagrams which showed how the infantry, cavalry and artillery units were arrayed, and the maps of the battlefield maneuvers. Please read the previous reviews for source credits, but then sit back and enjoy the book for the information it contains.

5 pounds of Facts
Mark Adkin's The Gettysburg Companion is an immense compendium of the massive amount of information concerning the epic Battle at Gettysburg. One of the most researched and written about battles ever fought, Mr. Adkin's massive work covers all aspects in a relatively concise format. That said, there are mistakes and the novice should be aware of that, but overall the book is a good beginning general resource for the entire battle. There are lots of photos, pictures, maps, lists, and charts of the battle, people, commanders, soldiers, equipment and other minutia to keep anyone interested in the battle entertained for hours if not days. Keep in mind this is NOT an in-depth definitive study of the battle but a gigantic overall fact companion to the battle. This work in combination with The Maps of Gettysburg and Harry W. Pfanz's 3 book series on Gettysburg, would give anyone interested in the battle a good overall view and understanding of just what happened during those 3 violent days in July, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Like I said there are a variety of minor mistakes, and to the Civil War buff this creates a credibility problem, but to the novice this is a great beginners guide to that pivotal battle. Any 3 day battle creates difficulties in overall understanding of just how everything fit together not just in the tactics used, but in comprehending the shifting strategies as well. The Gettysburg Companion does a good job of fitting the pieces more or less together in a comprehensive and understanding way. My only real complaint was rather trivial in nature and centered on the weight of the book itself. It is heavy and sitting for any time with it in one's lap can lead to leg numbness! Best to be viewed at a table along with the previous works I alluded to.
A good addition to any Civil War library in at the hefty price.

I didn't find this book until after my first trip to Gettysburg. My loss in a way, but having studied this enormous volume - and, yes, studied as opposed to merely read - I will be far better prepared for my next visit to this profoundly moving site.

This is far more than merely a description of the Battle of Gettysburg: it is an encyclopedia.

Divided into twelve sections, the first part of the book "provide a comprehensive examination of how the armies were organized and armed , and the way the fought, with comment and analysis that draws upon examples from the battle itself to explain what happened and why". That flyleaf description is vastly inadequate in explaining what treats the reader is in store for.

Indeed, Sections 1 through 6 are grandly illustrated excursions into the composition of the two forces, the compositionof the infantry and how they lived and fought, the artillery (including some really neat illustrations of how the guns were towed and manned), cavalry, other units and the command and control structure. These six sections are an education unto themselves. The illustrations are great and informative on a wide range of topics, from the 8th Cavalry dispositions to Confederate uniforms. The text is very informative and there are many interesting sidebars.

Section 7 covers the two weeks leading up to the battle. Remember, Gettysburg was not planned: it happened by accident and the events preceding it are of vital importance. This section is particularly fascinating.

Section 8 describes in great detail the battlefield and the area surrounding it. This is a marvelous section with descriptions of all the important features of the battlefield. It would have been very helpful to have this on my visit.

Sections 9 to 11 cover the battle itself. Plenty of maps and tables illustrate what was happening on each day of the battle.

Section 12 covers Lee's retreat.

There is also a touching epilogue featuring the 50th anniversary gathering of battle veterans.

I wish I had this book before my trip - and look forward to my second trip having studied this massive volume. It is not easily portable because of its size and heft, but the tour is self-guided in your car. Maybe I'll keep with me as I go from stop to stop.

Jerry

I've been reading military history for many decades and have read some fine books. The Gettysburg Companion is one of the favorite books in my collection. It's a beautifully crafted tome that covers so many aspects of the battle with sound commentary and illustrations, maps and photos that are second to none. I particularly like how the author has delved into different and often untouched areas of the battle, for example "Lee's Horse at Gettysburg" "Revolver Skills" "Mules - Cantankerous and Dangerous" and the list goes on. This is a superlative work and I just can't recommend it highly enough.

Now I'm going to rock the boat here and point out the book's one flaw, admittedly the only one I could find. This being the lack of a biography for General John Buford, the man without whom the Union might have lost the battle on the first day.
Apart from that this is truly an excellent, if expensive, volume.

Book provides detail that the normal person probably does not care about but I enjoyed the quality and readability of tons of detail. Would recommend to History buffs