ONE CONTINUOUS FIGHT: The Retreat from Gettysburg and the Pursuit of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, July 4-14, 1863 [Hardcover]

Eric J. Wittenberg (Author), J. David Petruzzi (Author), Michael F. Nugent (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2008

The titanic three-day battle of Gettysburg left 50,000 casualties in its wake, a battered Southern army far from its base of supplies, and a rich historiographic legacy. Thousands of books and articles cover nearly every aspect of the battle, but not a single volume focuses on the military aspects of the monumentally important movements of the armies to and across the Potomac River. One Continuous Fight: The Retreat from Gettysburg and the Pursuit of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, July 4-14, 1863 is the first detailed military history of Lee's retreat and the Union effort to catch and destroy the wounded Army of Northern Virginia. Against steep odds and encumbered with thousands of casualties, Confederate commander Robert E. Lee's post-battle task was to successfully withdraw his army across the Potomac River. Union commander George G. Meade's equally difficult assignment was to intercept the effort and destroy his enemy. The responsibility for defending the exposed Southern columns belonged to cavalry chieftain James Ewell Brown (Jeb) Stuart. If Stuart fumbled his famous ride north to Gettysburg, his generalship during the retreat more than redeemed his flagging reputation. The ten days of retreat triggered nearly two dozen skirmishes and major engagements, including fighting at Granite Hill, Monterey Pass, Hagerstown, Williamsport, Funkstown, Boonsboro, and Falling Waters. President Abraham Lincoln was thankful for the early July battlefield victory, but disappointed that General Meade was unable to surround and crush the Confederates before they found safety on the far side of the Potomac. Exactly what Meade did to try to intercept the fleeing Confederates, and how the Southerners managed to defend their army and ponderous 17-mile long wagon train of wounded until crossing into western Virginia on the early morning of July 14, is the subject of this study One Continuous Fight draws upon a massive array of documents, letters, diaries, newspaper accounts, and published primary and secondary sources. These long-ignored foundational sources allow the authors, each widely known for their expertise in Civil War cavalry operations, to describe carefully each engagement. The result is a rich and comprehensive study loaded with incisive tactical commentary, new perspectives on the strategic role of the Southern and Northern cavalry, and fresh insights on every engagement, large and small, fought during the retreat. The retreat from Gettysburg was so punctuated with fighting that a soldier felt compelled to describe it as "One Continuous Fight." Until now, few students fully realized the accuracy of that description. Complimented with 18 original maps, dozens of photos, and a complete driving tour with GPS coordinates of the entire retreat, One Continuous Fight is an essential book for every student of the American Civil War in general, and for the student of Gettysburg in particular.

REVIEWS

"...Is there anything left unwritten about the Gettysburg Campaign? Absolutely, and this book is but one example. It is a must have for any student of the Civil War, and especially for a student of the Gettysburg Campaign." Civil War Notebook, 06/2008

"..popular history at its best- simultaneously engaging and educating." The Midwest Book Review 08/2008

"...text and primary sources smoothly fit together unlike some book which are just a collection of primary sources with no real transition language between them... deserves a spot in any Civil War historian's library because of the author's detailed account and analysis of the days following the battle of Gettysburg." Collected Miscellany, 08/2008

"...includes many previously unknown or little used sources...... a fresh and detailed retreat account..." America's Civil War, 03/2009

Product Details

• Hardcover: 576 pages
• Publisher: Savas Beatie; First Edition edition (June 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 193271443X
• ISBN-13: 978-1932714432
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #974,889 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...an excellent military history of the fighting following Gettysburg and the problems in the pursuit" --Civil War Courier, 02/2009

"...most likely the definitive book covering the battles and skirmishes with all the major players associated with the time period... One can't help but enjoy the well done narrative with such fine, thorough detail." -Reviewer's Bookwatch, 08/2008

"This is entertaining, thoughtful, and well-presented history, and is a fitting tribute to the soldiers of both armies. [One Continuous Fight] is probably the most original, complete, and exciting history of this frequently overlooked period of the Civil War." --William D. Bushnell, USMC Col. (Ret.), Civil War Book Review

"This is entertaining, thoughtful, and well-presented history, and is a fitting tribute to the soldiers of both armies. [One Continuous Fight] is probably the most original, complete, and exciting history of this frequently overlooked period of the Civil War." --William D. Bushnell, USMC Col. (Ret.), Civil War Book Review

"...most likely the definitive book covering the battles and skirmishes with all the major players associated with the time period... One can't help but enjoy the well done narrative with such fine, thorough detail." --Reviewer's Bookwatch, 08/2008

About the Author

Eric J. Wittenberg has written widely on Civil War cavalry operations. His books include Glory Enough for All (2002), The Union Cavalry Comes of Age (2003), and The Battle of Monroe's Crossroads and the Civil War's Final Campaign (2005). He lives in Columbus, Ohio.

J. David Petruzzi is the author of several magazine articles on Eastern Theater cavalry operations, conducts tours of cavalry sites of the Gettysburg Campaign, and is the author of the popular "Buford's Boys" website. Petruzzi lives in Brockway, Pennsylvania.

A long time student of the Gettysburg Campaign, Michael Nugent is a retired US Army Armored Cavalry Officer and the descendant of a Civil War Cavalry soldier. He has previously written for several military publications. Nugent lives in Wells, Maine.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 576 pages
• Publisher: Savas Beatie; First Edition edition (June 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 193271443X
• ISBN-13: 978-1932714432
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #977,624 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Fighting Retreat from Gettysburg June 28, 2008

By Robin Friedman HALL OF FAMETOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

For many years, there were few full-length studies of the retreat of the Army of Northern Virginia following its defeat at the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1 -- July 3, 1863). But two outstanding books have recently been written to fill this gap. In 2005, Kent Masterson Brown published his "Retreat from Gettyburg." Brown's book focuses on the logistics of the retreat and on how Lee was able to mask his intentions, slowing Meades's pursuit. It also views Lee's goal in the Gettysburg campaign as primarily a raid -- an attempt by the Army of Northern Virginia to secure needed foodstuffs and other goods from Northern soil. With that objective in mind, Brown discusses the retreat after the Battle of Gettysburg, and implicitly the battle itself, in the context of the entire campaign. He finds that the campaign partially met its objectives.

I was eager to learn more about the retreat after reading Brown. His book has been followed by a new (2008) study of the retreat: "One Continuous Fight" by three noted students of the Civil War: Eric Wittenberg, David Petruzzi, and Michael Nugent. Wittenberg and his coauthors have written extensively on Gettysburg and they have focused on the role of the cavalry. This focus on cavalry operations is critical in understanding the retreat.

Wittenberg and his co-authors give a detailed tactical study of the retreat from both Union and Confederate perspectives. They offer a detailed military discussion of the over 20 engagements that occured between the beginning of Lee's retreat on July 4,1863, and Lee's crossing over into Virginia on July 14. The book includes many stories, quotes and anechdotes from and about participants on both sides of the line.... "One Continuous Fight" is an excellent study in its own right of the retreat and a worthy complement to Brown.

Many people think, when they consider the retreat, of Meade's alleged failure to pursue Lee's army. The title of this book "One Continuous Fight" should dispel that misaprehension. Wittenberg shows that there was continuous and severe fighting throughout the retreat. He describes in detail the engagements at Monterey Pass, Hagerstown, Boonsborough, and Funkstown, among other engagements. He also describes the fighting at Williamsport when on July 6, Confederate General Imboden led a heroic defense by his wounded soldiers and teamsters against a Union cavalry attack. The book offers detailed descriptions of the movements of the armies and of the results of little-studied battles.

Wittenburg gives a full picture of the strong defenses Lee constructed at Williamsport in the face of the flooded Potomac River which hindered his crossing. For three days, Meade and the Union Army failed to attack the position. When Meade at length wanted to attack on July 14, Lee's army had slipped away into the night. The hazardous crossings at Williamsport and Falling Waters are described in full detail.

The major issue surrounding the retreat is whether Meade could have done more in stopping Lee, won another victory, and perhaps ended the war. Wittenburg's study shows the complexity of this question, which in fact folds several discrete issues into one. Meade would have taken an enormous risk by attacking the fortified Confederate position at Williamsport with his exhausted and ill-provided army. His decisions to refrain from attack until the Confederate position had been fully reconnoitered was probably sound. But the Union pursuit of Lee, Wittenburg argues, was flawed in several respects. He is somewhat critical of Meade but places most of the responsbility on Meade's cavalry chief, Pleasonton, for dividing his forces and not following the retreating Army in an agressive, coordinated manner. In contrast, the individual cavalry commanders for the Union, especially Buford, get high marks for their efforts during the retreat as do Stuart, Imboden, and, generally, the entire Confederate cavalry. Lee's conduct of the retreat receives high praise.

Unlike Brown's study, Wittenberg's book gives little attention to the goods the Confederates carried back with them to Virginia. In fact, with Wittenberg's emphasis on the privations of the retreat, he doesn't seem to think the goods secured through foraging were a factor. Wittenberg also, in contrast to Brown, sees the Gettysburg campaign as a dismal failure for the Confederacy in terms of loss of life and loss of leadership. Overall, the impression is that Lee was fortunate to get away, and that the supplies of food he may have carried with him were of scant consolation for the large military defeat at Gettysburg.

This book is clearly written with good portrayals of the complex fighting. It offers good maps and includes two lengthy driving tours, one for the route followed by Imboden and his train of Confederate wounded, the other for the route followed by Lee's army. This book will appeal to serious students of the Civil War with a good background knowledge of the Battle of Gettysburg and the Gettysburg campaign.

Robin Friedman Read more ›

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Campaign that ruined General Meade June 16, 2008

By James W. Durney TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

The Battle of Gettysburg is the battle of the American Civil War. Its' importance can be disputed but the place it occupies in our history cannot. The retreat and pursuit of Lee's army often receives scant coverage in Gettysburg histories. Most often, this coverage is Lincoln's disappointment over the escape of the Army of Northern Virginia and General Meade's problems because of this. Very few books have attempted an in-depth look at the military campaign that July. The campaign did not end with Pickett's Charge. It ended about 10 days later with the AoNV safe in Virginia. This book covers, in detail, those days as a military campaign. It is the often-overlooked history of a series of movements, engagements and battles occurring as the armies struggle south. There are nearly two dozen separate distinct engagements, many mapped at about one mile to the inch. An updated campaign level map always seemed to be there just as I needed it. The Area of Operations map inside the front cover is for quick reference and reorientation. These maps make it all but impossible to get lost and are worth the effort put into them.
This book concentrates on the army not on Imboden's retreat with the supply train and wounded. While covered in one chapter, it is not slighted. For instance, there are three pages on the civilian attacks on the train in Greencastle. About 300 pages cover July 4 to 14 as the armies struggle south, clash, rebound and repeat. The authors allow the participants to contribute their stories, keeping this from being a dry history. Those who have read Wittenberg and/or Petruzzi know how well they do this. If you have not read them this is an excellent introduction.... Eric Wittenberg posses and in-depth understanding of Cavalry operations, the strengths and weakness of that arm. J. David Petruzzi understanding of Gettysburg complements this. Both men are the author of several books on Civil War Cavalry and/or Gettysburg. They co-authored "PLENTY OF BLAME TO GO AROUND" in 2006. Michael Nugent is the new member of this team. He is a speaker on the Civil War circuit and an expert on the Gettysburg Campaign.
I sometimes skip the Preface. Do not skip this one! Noah Andre Trudeau has written a thought provoking essay on Meade vs. Lee that needs to be read. It made me hope for a follow up history that would cover from August 1863 to Grant's arrival in the East.
Did I mention the Driving Tours? After you read a good history, do you want to see the land and stand in those spots? This book has detailed driving tour of the Wagon Train of the Wounded and the military operations. It is an extra that more histories need to consider including.
Was Meade derelict? Did Meade, working under impossible conditions, conduct as good a pursuit as possible? Did Meade move to slowly, star struck by Lee and feeling lucky to have won a battle? Did Meade make a reasonable decision in not attacking Lee's entrenchments? Was Meade the victim of politics and robbed of what he earned? Did Meade lack a killer instinct? The chapter "Conclusions" provides a balanced look at these questions and gives real answers.
This is a "must have book" for a Gettysburg library. It is an intelligent, readable, enjoyable history. I don't think we can ask more of a book. Read more ›

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Long and Winding Roads After The Battle of Gettysburg July 1, 2008

By Steve Basic

Format:Hardcover

I recently finished the book and am glad to see that this part of the Gettysburg Campaign has finally received the recognition that it deserves. The authors have given us a full blown history of the battles that occurred as Lee's army retreated from their loss at Gettyburg. It's a day by day travelog that shows just how each army reacted to the aftermath of the fighting at Gettysburg.

The authors have shared stories of the heroism on both sides as they found themselves involved in the 10 days described in the aftermath of the most significant battle of the Civil War that took place in the Eastern Theater. They have delivered a fascinating tale of those in the ranks, whether on foot or riding a trusted horse as they dealt with the horrible weather and the lack of sleep.

My favorite chapter deals with the events of July 8, 1863, as I was born 100 years after that date. The events at Boonsboro and what Lee and Longstreet were doing that day provided this reader with a glimpse in to the Civil War that I have rarely come across. I had no clue that on that day 145 years ago, a son of NJ, Judson Kilpatrick received 3 cheers from his men. This son of NJ was happily surprised reading that, as in all my reading on Kilpatrick I have not come across "Kilcavalry" being cheered like that.

Highly recommend this book for those who are interested in the Gettysburg Campaign. It's a fascinating and well written treatise on what happened after the battle. As others have mentioned, take advantage of the tours listed at the end of the book. It's well worth your time following in the footsteps of those who walked the walk 145 years ago. You will not be disappointed.

Steve Basic