For almost 100 years, analysis of the Gettysburg Campaign has been centered around a set of commonly held beliefs, among them an oversimplified view of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's goals for the battle. Author and Gettysburg National Military Park historian Troy D. Harman believes this view is misinformed. Lee's Real Plan at Gettysburg presents a provocative new theory regarding Lee's true tactical objectives during this pivotal battle of the American Civil War.
Lee's Real Plan at Gettysburg
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"Troy Harman's Lee's Real Plan at Gettysburg is a thoughtful, well-researched, and provocative study that seems certain to create controversy. All serious students of the battle will want to read it and ponder its conclusion."
About the Author
Troy D. Harman has been a National Park Service Ranger since 1984. His assignments have included historical interpretation at Appomattox Court House N.H.P., Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania N.M.P., and, since 1989, Gettysburg N.M.P. This is his first book.
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37 of 42 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Troy Harman has written a truly outstanding and engaging work of revisionist history--revisionism based not upon some ideological or personal agenda but upon getting to the truth behind years of myths and (usually unintentional) distortions. He uses the historiographical methods of Carl Becker as a starting point, particularly the notion of an "ephemeral event" versus an "affirmed event." The ephemeral event is the actual historical occurrence--here, the battle--as it unfolds; the affirmed event is the event as it is described, explained, and constructed by participants and historians in the years following. The ephemeral event evanesces, is never completely knowable, while the affirmed event assumes layer upon layer of interpretation, exaggeration, and distortion. Harman seeks to strip away the chaff and get to what he believes is the true story of the ephemeral battle of Gettysburg.
Harman's thesis is straightforward: Lee's real plan at Gettysburg was to gain control of Cemetery Hill. His argument is cogently and logically presented; one point flows into, and provides a foundation for, the next. Beginning with the opening of the battle, Harman explains the importance of Cemetery Hill and why Lee focused on it. From there, he spends a great deal of time--indeed, the bulk of the book--on the battle's second day, July 2, and places the rebel assault, particularly Longstreet's, within the Cemetery Hill scheme, rather than in the affirmed version that depicts the day's action as an assault on both Union flanks. Lee's day-two objective was the Peach Orchard, from which artillery could fire on Cemetery Hill, and thus Sickles's moving his III Corps is seen as somewhat less foolish. Moreover, as Harman posits, Lee did not aim for Little Round Top; rather, the fight for it occurred quite by accident when the intended Confederate attack up the Emmitsburg Road diverted to the right and toward the Round Tops after Hood was wounded. Finally, day three and Pickett's Charge receive treatment. The objective of the attack was Cemetery Hill, which commanders such as Longstreet and Hancock understood, and Harman explains at length how the "copse of trees" came to be seen as Lee's focus.
Harman supports his points with the words of the participants, with his intimate familiarity with the lay of the land (from his experience as a Park Ranger), and with his rigorous analysis and close-reading of sources. So much of this book's fun is seeing Harman build up his argument piece by piece and assemble Lee's tactical strategy into a coherent whole. It is a joy to read. Except for a minor quibble here or there, I find Harman's thesis convincing. More than that, his insightful and refreshing ephemeral-versus-affirmed approach has fundamentally changed the way I look at history; I will now view the past through that lens. As others have said, this is not a book for the neophyte, but anyone interested in Gettysburg, willing to think, and willing to re-consider traditional understandings should enjoy this book.
Harman's thesis is straightforward: Lee's real plan at Gettysburg was to gain control of Cemetery Hill. His argument is cogently and logically presented; one point flows into, and provides a foundation for, the next. Beginning with the opening of the battle, Harman explains the importance of Cemetery Hill and why Lee focused on it. From there, he spends a great deal of time--indeed, the bulk of the book--on the battle's second day, July 2, and places the rebel assault, particularly Longstreet's, within the Cemetery Hill scheme, rather than in the affirmed version that depicts the day's action as an assault on both Union flanks. Lee's day-two objective was the Peach Orchard, from which artillery could fire on Cemetery Hill, and thus Sickles's moving his III Corps is seen as somewhat less foolish. Moreover, as Harman posits, Lee did not aim for Little Round Top; rather, the fight for it occurred quite by accident when the intended Confederate attack up the Emmitsburg Road diverted to the right and toward the Round Tops after Hood was wounded. Finally, day three and Pickett's Charge receive treatment. The objective of the attack was Cemetery Hill, which commanders such as Longstreet and Hancock understood, and Harman explains at length how the "copse of trees" came to be seen as Lee's focus.
Harman supports his points with the words of the participants, with his intimate familiarity with the lay of the land (from his experience as a Park Ranger), and with his rigorous analysis and close-reading of sources. So much of this book's fun is seeing Harman build up his argument piece by piece and assemble Lee's tactical strategy into a coherent whole. It is a joy to read. Except for a minor quibble here or there, I find Harman's thesis convincing. More than that, his insightful and refreshing ephemeral-versus-affirmed approach has fundamentally changed the way I look at history; I will now view the past through that lens. As others have said, this is not a book for the neophyte, but anyone interested in Gettysburg, willing to think, and willing to re-consider traditional understandings should enjoy this book.
19 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By civwarguy
Format:Hardcover
Harmon's book is a repackaging of his thesis in his original book entitled Cemetary Hill-The General Plan was Unchanged. So if you have that book, you essentially know what he is talking about. This new book is a bit more polished. He presents an interesting theory, although unconvincing for me.
20 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Excellent! This a well thought out idea that "fits" within the accepted story of the battle. In place of Lee blundering into battle and willing to trying anything in the hopes that something would work. In place of Lee being controlled by Ewell or unable to move Longstreet. In place of a sick desperate Lee willing to throw away the lives of his men. In place of fixing the "blame" for losing Gettysburg on Longstreet or Ewell or Stuart. In place of missing cannons, lack of water or the thousands of other "reasons" why the South lost at Gettysburg this small book presents a logical overall plan that Lee had and kept to from the afternoon of the July First to the end of the battle. Excellent maps and photos illustrate the why and how of the central idea. In addition, the author defines what happened to cause Lee's master plan to fail. This is not an introduction to the Battle of Gettysburg and without a good working knowledge of the battle the reader will quickly become lost. For students of the battle this will be a "must have" book that will be referenced and augured over as long as people talk about the Battle of Gettysburg.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
ok
I liked the book enough and the writing was done really well. I would definately read the authors books in the future
Published 2 months ago by Smart Shopper
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lee's Real Plan at Gettysburg
Lee's Real Plan at Gettysburg as far as breaking from the common belief this says much. I always thought Lee should have made a play for Washington while keeping the Union busy in... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Ezra Stickette
4.0 out of 5 stars
Graphics and Maps
Graphics and maps leave a lot to be desired when reading a kindle. The text itself was very informative and enlightening.
Published 3 months ago by Nicholas J. Visconti
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lee's Real Plan at Gettysburg by Troy D. Harman
This book was an excellent study of the battle. It presented a well thought out explanation of Lee's vision for the way he wanted to approach the Confederate attack. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Avid Student of History
4.0 out of 5 stars
Short and Provocative
History is a great argument and perspective is everything.Historian and National Park ranger Troy D. Read more
Published on June 29, 2009 by George J. Heidemark
1.0 out of 5 stars
Thin, very thin
Mr Harman's thesis that R E Lee's "real plan" is to simply capture a hill, rather than constantly seeking the best way to get at and defeat the enemy, certainly flies in the face... Read more
Published on March 23, 2008 by Jim Scott
1.0 out of 5 stars
Harmans real plan ar Gettysburg
Harman's major point is that Lee could not be so dumb as to order Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg--but that a masterful plan of the Southern Genius General went awry. Read more
Published on November 17, 2005 by Robert Ehrlich
4.0 out of 5 stars
Troy Harman's Gettysburg
From the moment of its conclusion, the Battle of Gettysburg has provoked endless controversy regarding its significance, the plans and strategies employed by the armies, the... Read more
Published on July 7, 2004 by Robin Friedman
5.0 out of 5 stars
The forest for the trees
Sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees. As an airline pilot, civil war buff, and trained historian I found Mr. Harman's thesis right on the mark. Read more
Published on June 7, 2004 by Robert C. Olson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finally, a book that uses realism to evaluate!
As an old Army Field Artillery Officer, I had always wondered why the obvious nature of the Cemetery Hill was never presented. It was the high ground for crying out loud! Read more
Published on April 9, 2004 by Myron A. Skulas
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 30
books:
See all 30 books this book cites
- The Truth About Chickamauga by Archibald Gracie on 4 pages
- The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command by Edwin B. Coddington on page 3, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Cemetery Hill: The Struggle For The High Ground, July 1-3, 1863 by Terry Jones on page 80, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The Civil War: The Vindication of Richard Atkyns, Esq and the Military Memoirs of Captain John Gwyn (Military memoirs) by Richard Atkyns in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- The Battle of Gettysburg: A History of the Civil War in America by Comte De Paris in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
See all 30 books this book cites
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