Customer Reviews

Gettysburg, July 1

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

The battle of Gettysburg (July 1 -- 3, 1863) continues to fascinate scholarly and lay readers alike. The battle can be explored from innumerable perspectives and with a greater or lesser degree of depth depending upon the interests of the reader.

David Martin's study, "Gettysburg, July 1" is a thorough, detailed study of the first day of the battle, of the events leading up to it, and of the impact of the first day's fight on the remainder of the contest. The book examines day 1 of Gettysburg on the macro and micro levels. Martin discusses the strategies of the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia after they stumbled into each other on July 1. But in addition to command decisions, Martin gives great attention to the battle on the division and regimental levels. He also painstakingly describes and analyzes many anecdotes, legends, and accounts of individual soldiers. The detail may make it difficult for the reader to separate the important from the secondary, and it makes the account repetitious at times.

Together with his account, Martin offers his own assessment of the course of the battle and of the decisions of the commanders. At times he falls into speculation and into "what-ifs", but he is clear to indicate to the reader when he is doing so. Martin is critical of the Union 11th Corps, of Union Generals Howard and Slocum, of Confederate commander Robert E. Lee and of Confederate Third Corps commander A.P. Hill. He praises the Union First Corps and Generals Meade, Hancock,Reynolds Doubleday, and Buford. His analyses flow well if slowly from his factual presentation. Martin treats his subject with seriousness and respect.

The reader would be well advised to begin this book with appendix 2 which is an outstanding account of the topography of the first day's battlefield and of the road network surrounding Gettysburg. These factors are critical in understanding the events of July 1. I also thought the maps in this book were highly useful in understanding the battle. The maps are of two kinds: a "situation" map showing the position of the troops at a given point in time and an "action" map focusing on an incident of the battle -- for example Confederate General Iverson's ill-conceived attack on Baxter's troops early in the afternoon.

Discussion of July 1 at Gettysburg almost always focuses on the Confederate's apparent failure to follow-up on their success and attack the heights -- Cemetery and Culp's Hills. Martin does a masterful job of showing how the Confederate decision was in fact a sum of many small decisions. I found his analysis helped me a great deal in sorting out and understanding this controversial issue. Martin concludes that General Lee (not General Ewell, comander of the Confederate Second Corps) was responsible for the decision not to advance on the heights and the attack probably would have been unsuccessful if it had been attempted.

As I indicated at the beginning of this review, there are many ways of approaching the Battle of Gettysburg and many levels of detail that may interest different readers. I suggest that this book can best be read by readers who have a good grounding in the Civil War and, more particularly, a good background in the battle of Gettysburg itself. But because of the detail of this book, I suggest the reader also have examined something of the first day's actions before tackling this study. I recommend Warren Hassler's shorter account of day 1 "Crisis at the Crossroads." Harry Pfanz's study of day 1 is also a detailed and lucid account, and shorter than Martin's book.

This is a thorough account of day 1 at Getttysburg that will appeal to readers with a passion to learn everything they can about this important event in our Nation's history.

Martin can easily rank up with Harry Pfanz's work. Martin has taken the first day at Gettysburg and offered an absolute, extensive and highly detailed study of the events. Martin rarely misses a regiment's detailed movement that can often be over looked in books that consider only the first day of battle at Gettysburg. It was interesting reading about the 1st Corps movements with General Reynolds and what I liked about Martin's book, was that he was fair and brought myths or otherwise cloudy possibilities to better reasonable conclusion. Events such as where Cavalry was positioned, the death of General Reynolds and even Slocum's slow cautious movements towards Gettysburg where very thorough. Martin also considers the time elements as well. He brings in various witness accounts and has well over 100 pages in references to back up his points.

I highly recommend this book for those seeking a very deep understanding of the events on July 1st at Gettysburg. This book may be too deep for novices or people just starting to read about the battle.

In his book, Martin has done for the First Day of Gettysburg what Harry Pfanz did with his two books on the Second Day's actions. The author has obviously done a great deal of research on the minute details of the movements and actions of many of the regiments involved on Day One. Of special mention is the lead up to July 1 and also the afteraffects, including answering some "What If's" that are intriguing. My only fault with the book is some incorrect information regarding some facts on the 26th North Carolina, which by itself is not crucial, but if the same is true of information regarding other units of which I am not familiar, it could be a problem. But do not let that criticism keep you from purchasing this book.

As mentioned...get the latest edition you can find.

Martin writes a wonderful book. With Pfanz in hand, you will have Day One covered. Each is just enough different to compliment. Martin is more detailed...and hence is prone to some small error...but the pile of information he brings is worth the nit picking shortfalls.

I would recommend you read them in tandem. But, Martin jumps around a little more than does Pfanz. Solid book. For the student of the battle.

This book gives a very thorough breakdown of the many events on July 1st. Very good as a resource for fleshing out any generic overview with nitty-gritty details. Mostly impartial, presenting both sides of various arguments with no apparent bias.

Gettysburg is a three (3) day battle, but most coach High School teachers focus on the last 24 hours. (Coach history teacher's kill a childs desire to read more about history.) Until I visited the National Battlefield I didn't even realize what I'd been missing. This visit changed me and I started doing two things. Studying Civil War history, something I'd never done before thanks to poor history teachers in High School. (He was also poor at coaching, we never won a game.) I also, started looking for a book detailing the 1st days action and found that one did not exist. Now one does! This is a must for anyone interested in Gettysburg! The author has gone to all the trouble of researching all the various books on the subject bring a spotlight on the conflicting stories and bring the reader as close to the action as can possibably be achieved without actually taking part in the battle itself. (The author also has saved you the time of rearching all those books yourself, now you can sit down by the fire and just enjoy reading about the actual battle.) After reading this book you will probably know more about what actually happened, than the actual participates did themselves. BUY this book and read it. It is a must for anyone seriousally interested in the Civil War! You'll thank me

Kudos to David Martin! He has demonstrated a rare talent by simultaneously providing historical accuracy while maintaining a vibrant stream of heartfelt prose. Gently carried into the context of Gettysburg, this author drew me ever closer to the battlefield. A subtle transformation then occured and I soon found myself scurrying for cover (through mud, rivers, blood and cannon fire). I strongly encourage this text for anybody with an interest in the civil war (and even those without!)