Pale Horse at Plum Run: The First Minnesota at Gettysburg [Hardcover]

Brian Leehan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2002

Minnesota Book Award Winner! The smoke had just cleared from the last volley of musketry at Gettysburg. Nearly 70 percent of the First Minnesota regiment lay dead or dying on the field--one of the greatest losses of any unit engaged in the Civil War. The significance of this July 2, 1863, battle at Gettysburg is widely known, but the harrowing details of the First's heroic stand that stopped a furious rebel assault have long been buried. In Pale Horse at Plum Run Brian Leehan brings the full story of the First at Gettysburg to light as he examines personal accounts, eyewitness reports, and official records to construct a remarkably detailed and compelling narrative. "Brian Leehan's account of the First Minnesota on Cemetery Ridge is the most detailed and complete I have read. His exhaustive research and compelling narrative are impressive and offer a much fuller understanding of the regiment's extraordinary feats." -- Richard Moe, author of The Last Full Measure: The Life and Death of the First Minnesota Volunteers

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Brian Leehan's account of the First Minnesota on Cemetery Ridge is the most detailed and complete I have read. His exhaustive research and compelling narrative are impressive and offer a much fuller understanding of the regiment?s extraordinary feats." -- Richard Moe, author of The Last Full Measure: The Life and Death of the First Minnesota Volunteers

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Brian Leehan is a librarian at the Minneapolis Star Tribune. This is his first book.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 244 pages
• Publisher: Minnesota Historical Society Press (July 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873514297
• ISBN-13: 978-0873514293
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #984,797 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Detailed description of the 1st Minnesota Regiment experiences in the Civil War, June 21, 2010

By 

J. Groen "Jerry Groen" (GURNEE, ILLINOIS USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pale Horse at Plum Run: The First Minnesota at Gettysburg (Paperback)

This book provides a detailed perspective of the 1st Minnesota Regiment's experiences during the Civil War. It does this primarily through the first person comments of the men who served in the regiment. It shares the ups and downs of serving and fighting in the Civil War.

To me, this book was an excellent one for a couple of reasons. First, it provided a more detailed layout of what happened on July 2nd than any other book that I've read - when the 1st Minnesota charged the Confederates and stopped their attack on Cemetary Ridge. This is the best description of that event that I've read so far - laying out what happenend on both flanks of the regiment - with Willard's New York regiments on their left attacking Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade and the 19th Maine on the right, and what occured with the primary companies of the 1st regiment that were involved in the charge. It also mentions the experiences of some of the companies that were placed on separate duty including the sharpshooters. Second, it questions some of the myths regarding this event in the main body of the book and then provides a very logical and fact based reason why it disagreed with these myths in an excellent appendix. The myth that 262 men attacked and 47 returned for 82% casualties is questioned with facts. Third, it provides a very readable perspective of what happened after the battle of Gettysburg with the individuals who survived and the regiment.

This book isn't for a casual reader of the Civil War though. This is for a reader who wants to dig into the details of what happened during the largest and most important battle fought on US soil - the battle of Gettysburg. Since this book provides the details for the experienced Civil War reader, I highly recommend it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, May 4, 2010

By 

William Wolfenbarger - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pale Horse at Plum Run: The First Minnesota at Gettysburg (Hardcover)

Besides being a very good book on the 1st Minnesota, it was interesting to read about Christopher Heffelfinger. His 2nd Great Grandfather is my 5th Great Grandfather.

5.0 out of 5 stars Well written, January 20, 2012

By 

Gary A. Robinson (Maplwood MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pale Horse at Plum Run: The First Minnesota at Gettysburg (Paperback)

I have been to Gettysberg twice. The book discribes the area well. Having been there you can almost feel the battle the way the book is written. To make it even more personal My Great, Great, Great,Grandfather and his two brothers were there serving in Co D. of The First MInnesota. Grandfather was wounded in the battle.