Gettysburg--Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill (Civil War America) [Hardcover]

Harry W. Pfanz (Author)

Book Description

Series: Civil War America | Publication Date: July 2, 1993

In this companion to his celebrated earlier book, Gettysburg—The Second Day, Harry Pfanz provides the first definitive account of the fighting between the Army of the Potomac and Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia at Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill—two of the most critical engagements fought at Gettysburg on 2 and 3 July 1863.

Pfanz provides detailed tactical accounts of each stage of the contest and explores the interactions between—and decisions made by—generals on both sides. In particular, he illuminates Confederate lieutenant general Richard S. Ewell's controversial decision not to attack Cemetery Hill after the initial southern victory on 1 July. Pfanz also explores other salient features of the fighting, including the Confederate occupation of the town of Gettysburg, the skirmishing in the south end of town and in front of the hills, the use of breastworks on Culp's Hill, and the small but decisive fight between Union cavalry and the Stonewall Brigade.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Pfanz follows Gettysburg--The Second Day with a definitive reconstruction of the fighting in a sector which has been neglected by historians. In early July 1863, the Union right wing was based on Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill. Had the Confederates broken through these positions, Pickett's charge would have been unnecessary. The South nearly succeeded in a series of attacks between July 1 and 3. Pfanz describes Richard Ewell's failure to storm Cemetery Hill on July 1 as a reflection of command friction rather than of incompetence. It nevertheless gave Union troops the respite they needed. Pfanz, a master at describing the tactical details that shaped Civil War battles, is especially adept at evaluating the commanders. Union generals Alpheus Williams and Adolph von Stinewehr and Confederates like "Maryland" Steuart and "Extra Billy" Smith emerge in full dimension in a book that Civil War buffs and scholars will greet with enthusiasm.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

After visitors have recoiled in horror from the kitschy tourist trade, their first impression of present-day Gettysburg is the spaciousness of the battlefield that lies just south of the town. The opposing lines of regimental cenotaphs march for miles through the hilly countryside, conveying the distinct sense that in July 1863, the left wing of the line could have had but a hazy notion what the right wing was doing. In actuality, the battle was a series of disjointed improvisations, which, combined with the endless fascination with this turning point in the Civil War, constantly inspires titles on the minutest aspects of the fighting. And who better to supply the insatiable demand for such facts than Pfanz, once official historian at Gettysburg's national park. His previous declamations have perhaps been listened to by the likely reader of this exacting narrative chronology of the struggle for the northern end of the Union line. If a cannon, caisson, or colonel had a shred of importance, Pfanz will speculate about how differently the entire battle could have turned out. Best for the lifelong Gettysburg buff. Gilbert Taylor

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 528 pages
• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press; 1st ptg. edition (July 2, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807821187
• ISBN-13: 978-0807821183
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #525,133 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Detailed Account of the Fighting at Culp's and Cemetery Hill, May 27, 2005

By 

Michael Taylor "Michael Taylor" (Indian Trail NC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Gettysburg--Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill (Paperback)

Pfanz' final book in his trilogy of Gettysburg covers a relatively forgotten area of the Battle of Gettysburg. Granted, while I have visited Culp's and Cemetery Hill during each of my Gettysburg visits, I tended to spend most of my time around the second day's fighting (Little Round Top, Devil's Den, Wheatfield, Rose Farm and Woods, Peach Orchard, Trostle Farm) and Pickett's Charge. Pfanz has done the public a great service by providing a book of the actions around Culp's and Cemetery Hill. Indeed, no one probably knows more about Gettysburg than Pfanz.

As usual, he provides sometimes overwhelming details of the actions. His narrative is interesting and I enjoyed reading anecdotes of the main characters (Greene, Steuart, Howard, Meade, Ewell, Early, etc.). Pfanz describes terrain features, battle participants, battle actions, and other details like only he can.

However, there is one sticking point that I have noticed in other Civil War books and have noted in other reviews - there simply are not enough maps. While the maps provided are of excellent detail and contain helpful summaries of the actions represented in the maps, there could have been at least 10 more. I believe there are about 15 maps in the book - there easily could have been 25. I say this because of Pfanz' attention to detail - having more maps to support the battle actions would have made it easier for me to follow the actions. On more than one occasion I was bug-eyed trying to follow what Pfanz was describing!

I am certainly not a military expert (although I am an ex-Air Force Officer) nor an armchair general. I simply enjoy reading more about the heroic actions of soldiers on both sides during a tragic period of our great nation's history.

Complaint aside, I highly recommend Pfanz' title as the definitive account of Culp's and Cemetery Hill. Read, enjoy, and be prepared to follow the large amount of detail - you will need to put on your thinking cap for this and the other Pfanz titles!

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Informative, but at times overwhelming, May 2, 2001

By 

T. Parry "Stonewall63" (Mont Alto, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Gettysburg--Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill (Civil War America) (Hardcover)

In Gettysburg: Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill, Harry Pfanz sheds light on one of the lesser known aspects of the Battle of Gettysburg. In the common history of the battle, much attention is paid to actions like Buford's stand, the attack on Little Round Top, and Longstreet's Second Assault (Pickett's Charge). In the shadows of these momentous events is the action on Cemetery and Culp's Hills. Ironically, these two hills formed the anchor of the Union line-the reason for fighting at Gettysburg in fact-yet the battles for them are nearly forgotten. Pfanz reminds us of their importance in this informative but somewhat lengthy tome. There can be no argument; Pfanz knows what he is talking about. His attention to detail, and the extent of his knowledge is truly impressive. However, when the entire Gettysburg Campaign can be explained thoroughly in 575 pages as Codington did, it can be somewhat tedious to read a 375-page book on two days of that campaign, and which only involved between fifteen and twenty percent of the combined armies. This is really the only shortcoming of the book. The story could have been better presented in fewer pages with less mind-boggling details. One is often confused when Pfanz shifts between brigades, regiments, and companies, while trying to remember the names of all their commanders. It appears that Pfanz was trying to please too many people with this work, and did not have the same skill of weaving the common soldier's story into the battle history that someone like Stephen Ambrose has. Aside from those technical complaints, the book is very informative and enjoyable to read if you take your time. There is nothing very controversial, as this is primarily a narrative. Pfanz does a good job of presenting all the facts available, allowing the reader to make their own decisions for the most part. On the whole, Pfanz' book is nothing spectacular, just good, informative history-a stepping-stone for further study and analysis.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another MUST Read for anyone interested in Gettysburg, April 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Gettysburg--Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill (Civil War America) (Hardcover)

Another fasinating read by Pfanz. The book compliments his earlier work of Gettysburg The Second day. Pfanz gives the reader the events leading up to the "showdown" at Culps and Cemetary Hill, an important event during the climatic battle of the Civil War. His detail for the commanders, unit and soldiers compliment the account, not confuse the reader. I HIGHLY reccomend this book to any Civil War Historian, or anyone curious about the greatest battle fought on American Soil.