Beneath a Northern Sky: A Short History of the Gettysburg Campaign

Of all the places and events in this nation's history, Gettysburg may well be the name best known to Americans. Millions flock each year to the little town in south-central Pennsylvania where more than 135 years ago the largest, bloodiest, and most dramatic battle of the Civil War raged across the now-peaceful hills and meadows. The subject of an epic movie and a best-selling work of fiction, the battle continues to fascinate Americans. Indeed, for most Americans, Gettysburg is the Civil War. In Beneath a Northern Sky, eminent Civil War historian Steven E. Woodworth offers a balanced and thorough overview of the entire battle, its drama, and its meaning.From Lee's decision to take his heretofore successful Army of Northern Virginia across the Potomac and into Pennsylvania to the withdrawal of the battle-battered Confederate's back across the river into Virginia, Woodworth paints a vivid picture of this pivotal campaign. In this day-by-day account, he describes the fierce fighting that left 48,000 men dead or wounded at sites that have now become famous: Little Round Top, Cemetery Ridge, Devil's Den. This new book provides a realistic sequence of events surrounding the legendary Pickett's Charge, detailing the Confederate's magnificent display of courage and the Union's stalwart, rock-hard defense. Woodworth describes the strategic and tactical decision making and shows how infighting and disagreements among the leaders on both sides impacted the campaign. He details the mind set and morale of the soldiers, revealing how--surprisingly--Union leaders did not take advantage of their troops' high spirits after their victory to finish off the retreating Confederates. Instead of focusing on only one aspect of the Gettysburg Campaign as most other books do, Beneath a Northern Sky tells the tale of the entire battle in a richly detailed but swiftly moving narrative. This new approach to a defining battle is sure to fascinate Civil War buffs and all those interested in the rich history of the United States.

About the Author :
Steven E. Woodworth is professor of history at Texas Christian University, specializing in the Civil War and Reconstruction. He has written and edited several Civil War books, including Jefferson Davis and His Generals (1990), Davis and Lee at War (1995), and The Human Tradition in the Civil War and Reconstruction (2000).

Review :
A clear and rather stirring story about the Battle of Gettysburg.-- "H-Net: Humanities and Social Science Reviews Online" A cogent but insightful account of one of the great clashes between North and South.-- "The Roanoke Times" A concise and scholarly synthesis that focuses on command decisions and performance, plus regimental and brigade encounters garnished by quotations from soldiers' letters that convey the range of individual experiences.-- "Journal of Military History" A good introductory history of the Gettysburg Campaign.-- "Civil War Times" A succinct, provocative, and useful overview of the Gettysburg campaign, integrating recent scholarship into a lively narrative.--Brooks D. Simpson, Arizona State University, author of Ulysses S. Grant: Triumph over Adversity Lucid and engrossing. An interesting, fast-paced, and efficient narration of the battle and the campaign.-- "Civil War Book Review" Readers in search of a good, concise telling of the battle of Gettysburg can do no better than this excellent book.--Mark Grimsley, Ohio State University For those with time to read only one book about Gettysburg, this is the one. In the huge literature on Gettysburg, Steven Woodworth's Beneath a Northern Sky stands out as a small but brilliant start. In little more than 200 pages it offers a gripping story of the campaign and battle.--James M. McPherson, author of Crossroads of Freedom: Antietam In Beneath a Northern Sky: A Short History of the Battle of Gettysburg, Steven E. Woodworth presents the battle clearly and concisely, no small achievement for only 219 pages. The treatment is of the whole rather than concentrating on individual aspects, with a fair analysis of the strategy and reasoning of the commanding generals. While the intent is an overview, nothing of importance is left out. The narrative is first rate and includes sufficient detail to hold the interest of the reader. . . . If you have to read only one book on this battle, be sure this is the one.--James P. Weidener "Army History" Steven Woodworth, one of the most accomplished Civil War military historians of his generation, has made an important contribution to the already long shelf of books on the Battle of Gettysburg. Beneath a Northern Sky is a briskly paced, short history of the most studied battle of the American Civil War.--Matt Gallman, Gettysburg College