History of the Battle of Gettysburg

This stunning narrative of the epic Battle of Gettysburg begins with the clash of Union and Confederate armies at Chancellorsville, which set the stage for Robert E. Lee's second invasion of the North, and concludes with Lee's retreat through Pennsylvania and his escape across the Potomac. Craig L. Symonds masterfully recounts the events of the three days in July when two armies struggled in a virtual death grip across a dozen square miles of rolling Pennsylvania countryside.

Symonds captures the grand sweep of this pivotal battle by detailing the military strategy of both sides, including the Confederate decision to invade the North, the cat-and-mouse game in Maryland and Pennsylvania, and, finally, the terrible clash of arms on the hills and fields of Gettysburg. The book also draws upon firsthand accounts from the front lines, humanizing the individual soldiers of the Blue and Gray who fought for their lives, their homes, and for one another.

Richly illustrated with nearly three hundred photographs, color paintings, and illustrations, and with a wealth of letters, diaries, and memoirs accompanying the text, this is the story of Gettysburg as it has never been told before.