Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg; A Guide to the Most Famous Attack in American History

x, 310 pages. Illustrations (many in color). Maps. Notes. Bibliography. Index. Inscription on fep signed by both authors. Three oversize (14 inches by 11 inches, with units in red and blue) map reproductions (believed to be from the Atlas of the Official Records), for the first, second and third day of the battle laid in James Hessler is a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park. His book Sickles at Gettysburg was awarded the R.E. Lee Civil War Round Table's Bachelder Coddington Award and the Gettysburg Civil War Round Table's Distinguished Book Award as the most outstanding work on the Gettysburg Campaign. Jim was one of the primary content designers for the Civil War Trust's mobile Gettysburg application and animated maps. Wayne E. Motts, CEO of The National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park. Steven A. Stanley is a graphic artist specializing in historical map design and battlefield photography. His maps, considered among the best in historical cartography, have been a longtime staple of the Civil War Trust. Steve's maps have appeared in a wide variety of publications. 150 years after the event, the grand near-suicidal attack against the Union position on Cemetery Ridge still emotionally resonates with Gettysburg enthusiasts like no other aspect of the battle. On the afternoon of July 3, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee ordered more than 12,000 Southern infantry to undertake what would become the most legendary charge in American military history. This attack, popularly but inaccurately known as "Pickett's Charge," is often considered the turning point of the Civil War's seminal battle of Gettysburg. Although much has been written about the battle itself and Pickett's Charge in particular, Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg is the first battlefield guide for this celebrated assault. After the war, one staff officer perceptively observed that the charge "has been more criticized, and is still less understood, than any other act of the Gettysburg drama." Unfortunately, what was true then remains true to this day. The authors of this book—two of Gettysburg's elite Licensed Battlefield Guides along with one of the Civil War's leading cartographers—have corrected that oversight. Grounded in the premise that no better resource exists for understanding this unique event than the battlefield itself, Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg encourages its readers to explore this storied event from a wide variety of perspectives. For the first time, readers can march toward the Copse of Trees with Armistead's Virginians, advance on the Confederate left with Pettigrew's North Carolinians, or defend the Angle with Alonzo Cushing's gunners and thousands of Union soldiers. There is much here to enrich the experience, including dozens of full-color original maps, scores of battlefield and other historic photographs, a unique mix of rare human interest stories, a discussion of leadership controversies, and a rare collection of artifacts directly related to the charge. Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg is designed for readers to enjoy on or off the battlefield, and will give Civil War enthusiasts an entirely new appreciation for, and understanding of, Gettysburg's third day of battle. First Edition [stated], First Printing [stated].…