Gettysburg, July 1 [Hardcover]

David G. Martin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1996

The most detailed regimental level account ever written of the critical and often overlooked first day of the Civil War's greatest battle, using primary, first-hand sources almost entirely, many of which are unpublished, and some of which have not been cited before.

Gettysburg July 1 combines the most recent scholarly interpretations of the action with original analysis by the author and gives a fresh approach to the battle at the tactical level, with emphasis on the experience and competence of regimental and brigade commanders.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Martin's Gettysburg, July 1 is now the standard source for the first day's fight." -- Civil War Regiments

"One of the most definitive accounts on the fury of America's most famous battle." -- Civil War News 5/20/04 --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Dr. David G. Martin has written numerous books of military history including The Vicksburg Campaign, The Shiloh Campaign, The Philadelphia Campaign, and Confederate Monuments at Gettysburg.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 732 pages
• Publisher: Combined Publishing; Rev Sub edition (1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0938289810
• ISBN-13: 978-0938289814
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #330,796 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, December 23, 2004

By 

Weegee - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gettysburg July 1 (Paperback)

This book is soooooo good. I read Pfanz Day One and Martin's July 1st back to back, and without a doubt, Martin gets the nod. Pfanz book is wonderful, don't get me wrong, but it reads too matter of factly and there weren't as many of the analytical remarks I was expecting. However, Martin provides many more details, but also a lot of the analytical questions and answers that makes reading about the battles interesting.

Maps are excellent and numerous. As usual, a few more wouldn't have hurt, but I'm happy with the ones they had.

I read the "revised" version so I had no troubles with the editorial mistakes like some others. Just make sure you get the revised copy.

The flow of battle is a little tricky to handle because you have multiple troop movements, engagements, important orders going on at the same exact time. Martin's style is to stick with one "action" all the way through. For instance, the action at Barlow's Knoll leads to Kryz's moving in reenforcements, which leads to Union retreat on the right, which leads to Coster's stand, etc. Then he goes back and handles the entire action of Pender's action which was happening at about the same time. I prefer the style that jumps around from section to section so you can read the actions in a chronological order, but Martin handles his style quite well.

Simiply put, the amount of research, details, and nuggets of info (i.e. stories of valor, etc.) are excellent and well worth the price, and make an excellent addition to your civil war book shelf and most certainly your GB collection. This book is for the more advanced student, so beginners are better off starting with an entire campaign or battle book (like Trudeau or Sears) before tackling the micro study.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best Gettysburg books I've read, March 5, 2005

By 

B. Morris (Raytown, Missouri United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Gettysburg July 1 (Paperback)

First off, when you get this book, make sure it's the revised edition. Amazon only carries the revised one now so if you order through them you'll be sure to get it. It has eliminated the errors in the first edition that previous reviews make mention of.

As far as the book itself, I have read a lot of Gettysburg books and this one ranks up there with the very best such as Harry Phanz's book on the second day. It is an incredibly detailed account of the event of the 1st day.

There are two things about this book that most impressed me. First is the way Martin approached the battle itself. Rather than cover the entire battlefield together in one timeline, he approaches sections of the battle separately. It's almost like the book is a series of smaller books. He will take a brigade such as Cutler's Brigade and concentrate on them rather than try and insert into that narrative what was going on on other parts of the field. Then he will back up and cover in detail other regiments or Brigades that were going on simultaneously that are connected to the previous section and so on.

The result is he'll do Cutler's Brigade and then back up a bit and cover the 6th Wisconsin and how they connected to what was happening and then Stones Brigade. It allows the reader not to be overwhelmed with to many units at one time and develope a clear view about how it all fits together.

The second thing is Martin goes into details on certain controversies. Rather than say "this is definitely what happened" he will explain that there were alternate views of the same thing and then explain why he believes one has more merit than the other.

The only criticism I have of this book are the maps. I've walked the areas of the battle numerous times so I am familiar with the terrain but not everyone has had that chance. Many of the maps in the book cover the entire Gettysburg area as far south as Big Round Top. Far to wide ranging when you are dealing with regimental level actions on McPherson Ridge. The book would have served the reader better with more maps that covered a smaller area and just a few showing the entire Gettysburg area.

In short, this is a book that belongs in the library of anyone who has a strong interest in Gettysburg. It covers the first day in a way no other book does. It will become a prize book of reference for those who own it.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One day in total detail, October 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Gettysburg, July 1 (Hardcover)

David G.Martin gives us a detailed look at the first day at Gettysburg. A day usually neglected by most. He has done a good job. He paints the picture without fine brushstrokes. The engagement of July 1 is able to be held in your hand and..(most importantly) it can be followed easily. It is detailed, informative and full of incidents that make up a battle. A battle as important as this needs a good opening. Martin gives me that. Worth the read for the appendix alone. Against all the other books that concentrate on other events at Gettysburg it is good to have one that makes you cross the fields of the first day. He has taken his time analysing and gathering facts and gives good service allowing the reader to see several viewpoints at a time. There is a possibility that a few minor details may be 'here say' but in the smoke of battle who sees the entire picture? David G Martin gives the best picture of the first day at Gettysburg I've read. Glad I have it amongst my collection.