Pickett's Charge (Paperback)

by George Stewart (Author) "ON THE BATTLEFIELD, in their tens of thousands, the men slept, or lay resting..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, Second Corps, Cemetery Hill (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Stewart tells this only too familiar story as if it had never been told before . . . in spite of ourselves, we sit breathless to the end. A splendid and stirring book." -- Review

Review

"Stewart tells this only too familiar story as if it had never been told before . . . in spite of ourselves, we sit breathless to the end. A splendid and stirring book." The New Yorker

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Product Details Paperback: 384 pages Publisher: Mariner Books (October 18, 1991) Language: English ISBN-10: 0395597722 ISBN-13: 978-0395597729 Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #242,016 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in this category: (What's this?) #50 in  Books > History > United States > Civil War > Campaigns > Gettysburg

Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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First Sentence:
ON THE BATTLEFIELD, in their tens of thousands, the men slept, or lay resting. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Second Corps, Cemetery Hill, Cemetery Ridge, Little Round Top, North Carolina, West Point, Army of the Potomac, New Jersey, North Carolinians, Culp's Hill, Eleventh Corps, First Corps, General Lee, United States, Civil War, General Meade, General Pickett, Seminary Ridge, Sixth Corps, Third Corps, Harpers Ferry, Twelfth Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, Artillery Reserve

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 52 books:

• North Carolina by ANON in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
• General Hancock by Francis A. Walker in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
• Battle of Gettysburg (American Heritage Junior Library) by Bruce Catton in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
• The Art Of War by Antoine De Jomini on page 76, and Back Matter
• West Virginia (Portrait of America. Revised Edition) by Kathleen Thompson on page 60

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Books on Related Topics (learn more)

If It Takes All Summer by William D. Matter

Discusses:

• large regiments
• North Carolinians
• First Corps

Grape and Canister by L. Vanloan Naisawald

Discusses:

• corps battery
• Cemetery Hill
• Cemetery Ridge

If It Takes All Summer by William D. Matter Discusses: large regiments North Carolinians First Corps Grape and Canister by L. Vanloan Naisawald Discusses: corps battery Cemetery Hill Cemetery Ridge Loading...

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Customer Reviews

16 Reviews 5 star:  (10) 4 star:  (5) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:  (1)           Average Customer Review 4.4 out of 5 stars (16 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 10 of 10 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A great history of the Civil War's pivotal moment, June 17, 2001 By  David E. Levine (Peekskill , NY USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    This fine book goes into detail about what has become known as "Pickett's Charge" without becoming boring. There is complete coverage of the connonade which preceded the charge and a discussion of the damage which was done. We learn of the different types of artillary and ammunition used by both sides in the canonade and the placement of these guns. The author also gives detailed coverage of the placement of troops and how they marched in formation. Ultimately, under heavy fire, the Confederate formations break up and in the ultimate "charge" it became almost impossible to map out where each regiment was as they fell apart. Therefore, to a great extent, the Confederate army on Cemetary Ridge was each man for himself. Although we know the outcome in advance, the narrative is still thrilling as we read about Confederate troops breaking through and penetrating the Union defenses. Through the author's masterful story telling, the outcome, for a while, almost seems to be in doubt. In addition to documenting, almost regiment by regiment, the action which occured, the author provides many interesting, and often amusing, annecdotal tales of individual experiences. The carnage was terrible and the Confederate army suffered a horrific loss of officers, including generals. The author also gets us into the heads of the key players in this event. He gives a lot of coverage to Lee's steadfastness in ordering the charge and Longstreet's serious misgivings. Written in the elegant, highly readable style of other Civil War historians of that era (the late 1950s), such as Bruce Catton, this is historical writing which almost reads like a novel. I highly recommend this classic history of this key event in American history. 13 of 14 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Eminently readable, thoroughly enjoyable., February 17, 2000 By  Joseph Haschka (Glendale, CA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)       The author has written an eminently readable, thoroughly enjoyable, and well-researched book on the third day of the Gettysburg battle, July 3, 1863. An especially rewarding read if one has toured, or plans to visit, the battlefield site. The author's unpretentious, conversational style of writing succeeds in putting the reader on the ground occupied by both the Confederate and Union forces before, during and after Pickett's and Pettigrew's famous assault on Meade's Second Corps. Interspersed with humor and down-to-earth observations concerning battlefield conditions, the author conscientiously describes all aspects of the battle, from massing of the assault columns and pre-assault artillery barrage to the last shots and the flight of the surviving rebels back to the safety of their lines. Having visited Gettysburg several years ago (my chief interest then being Joshua Chamberlain's heroic defense of Little Round Top on the battle's second day), this superb volume makes me want to go again. 9 of 9 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely detailed, excellently told., October 29, 1998 By A Customer Having been a Civil W buff for years, and having read many of the more common titles dealing with Gettysburg in particular I found this to be the most detailed book I have read. Opinions are expressed, and backed with explanations, yet never placing blame. After having read this book, if you had been there, even knowing what you do today and that the charge was going to be a tragic failure, agreeing with Longstreet that, "no 15,000 men ever lived could break that line", you would still have giving the orders to make the charge.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 4.0 out of 5 stars The Highwater Mark This is a concise account of the decisive third and final day of fighting at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Read more Published 15 months ago by Borowy26 5.0 out of 5 stars Lee's worse mistake of the war. George R. Stewart brings to life the dramatical but death blow to the Confederacy because of Pickett's Charge. Read more Published on May 14, 2006 by Indiana Lee 5.0 out of 5 stars What an enjoyable read Stewart has an excellent style to his story telling. It's sort of like your grand pa is relaying the story to you while you get warmed up near the fire place. Read more Published on January 14, 2005 by Weegee 4.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Study of Pickett's Charge Both as symbol and as history, Pickett's charge, the climactic Southern attack on the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg, exerts a powerful hold on the American imagination... Read more Published on May 24, 2004 by Robin Friedman 5.0 out of 5 stars A classic! Stewart covers the action based from information available during the 1950's which certainly explains the battle quite well. Read more Published on July 24, 2002 by Todd E. Newman 5.0 out of 5 stars the classic account George Stewart's history of the final great assault at Gettysburg combines scholarship with (all too rare today) excellent, flowing writing. Read more Published on September 24, 2001 4.0 out of 5 stars good microhistory This is a fairly good and interesting microhistory. Stewart has not overly dramatized anything, as many do, but has merely described the way he, as a historian, sees things... Read more Published on August 6, 2001 by Berek Qinah Smith 4.0 out of 5 stars well worth the read The Stewart book on Pickett's charge is well written, well documented and clearly presented. It is evident that the author spent numerous hours researching primary documents... Read more Published on August 26, 2000 by Robert G. Knurek 1.0 out of 5 stars Not Worth The Paper It's Printed On I thought this book was trash! I have been studying the CW (particularly Antietam and Gettysburg) for about 30 years and this is one of the worst "modern" books on the... Read more Published on March 20, 2000 5.0 out of 5 stars If you read one book on Gettysburg, this should be it! How good is this book? I bought it, gave it to someone else to read then bought it again. While a minute-by-minute account of the charge, it does not descent to such a degree that... Read more Published on January 1, 1999 by [e-mail] Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books (October 18, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395597722
• ISBN-13: 978-0395597729
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #242,016 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #50 in

  Books > History > United States > Civil War > Campaigns > Gettysburg

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great history of the Civil War's pivotal moment, June 17, 2001

By	David E. Levine (Peekskill , NY USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This fine book goes into detail about what has become known as "Pickett's Charge" without becoming boring. There is complete coverage of the connonade which preceded the charge and a discussion of the damage which was done. We learn of the different types of artillary and ammunition used by both sides in the canonade and the placement of these guns. The author also gives detailed coverage of the placement of troops and how they marched in formation. Ultimately, under heavy fire, the Confederate formations break up and in the ultimate "charge" it became almost impossible to map out where each regiment was as they fell apart. Therefore, to a great extent, the Confederate army on Cemetary Ridge was each man for himself.

Although we know the outcome in advance, the narrative is still thrilling as we read about Confederate troops breaking through and penetrating the Union defenses. Through the author's masterful story telling, the outcome, for a while, almost seems to be in doubt. In addition to documenting, almost regiment by regiment, the action which occured, the author provides many interesting, and often amusing, annecdotal tales of individual experiences. The carnage was terrible and the Confederate army suffered a horrific loss of officers, including generals.

The author also gets us into the heads of the key players in this event. He gives a lot of coverage to Lee's steadfastness in ordering the charge and Longstreet's serious misgivings. Written in the elegant, highly readable style of other Civil War historians of that era (the late 1950s), such as Bruce Catton, this is historical writing which almost reads like a novel. I highly recommend this classic history of this key event in American history.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eminently readable, thoroughly enjoyable., February 17, 2000

By	Joseph Haschka (Glendale, CA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

The author has written an eminently readable, thoroughly enjoyable, and well-researched book on the third day of the Gettysburg battle, July 3, 1863. An especially rewarding read if one has toured, or plans to visit, the battlefield site. The author's unpretentious, conversational style of writing succeeds in putting the reader on the ground occupied by both the Confederate and Union forces before, during and after Pickett's and Pettigrew's famous assault on Meade's Second Corps. Interspersed with humor and down-to-earth observations concerning battlefield conditions, the author conscientiously describes all aspects of the battle, from massing of the assault columns and pre-assault artillery barrage to the last shots and the flight of the surviving rebels back to the safety of their lines. Having visited Gettysburg several years ago (my chief interest then being Joshua Chamberlain's heroic defense of Little Round Top on the battle's second day), this superb volume makes me want to go again.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely detailed, excellently told., October 29, 1998

By A Customer

Having been a Civil W buff for years, and having read many of the more common titles dealing with Gettysburg in particular I found this to be the most detailed book I have read. Opinions are expressed, and backed with explanations, yet never placing blame. After having read this book, if you had been there, even knowing what you do today and that the charge was going to be a tragic failure, agreeing with Longstreet that, "no 15,000 men ever lived could break that line", you would still have giving the orders to make the charge.