Don’t Give an Inch: The Second Day at Gettysburg July 2, 1863, - From Little Round Top to Cemetery Ridge
Chris Mackowski, Kristopher D. White, and Daniel T. Davis
Savas Beatie, 2016, 170 pp. + 22 pp. introduction, $14.95
ISBN: 978-1-61121-229-7
Image courtesy of amazon.com
 
The Emerging Civil War Series has been a collection of excellent books introducing campaigns and battles which are less travelled than some of the major Civil War sites.  But recently, the series is tackling the most travelled of all sites: Gettysburg.  However, they are going about this in a completely different way than some of the other works in the series.  Instead of devoting one book to the Battle of Gettysburg, the authors are splitting up the work into three volumes on the battle and one guide to the campaign as a whole.  This treatment from the series not only gives the Emerging Civil War a chance to tackle this popular subject, but also offers some much needed information for those just getting into the realm of Civil War studies.

                Chris Mackowski is the editor-in-chief of Emerging Civil War and splits his time between teaching writing at Saint Bonaventura University and Fredericksburg, Virginia where he is the historian in residence.  He has worked previously at the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.  Kristopher D. White is the chief historian for the Emerging Civil War and is also a historian for the Penn-Trafford Recreation Board.  He is a graduate of Norwich University with a Masters in Military History.  Chris Mackowski and Kristopher D. White are co-founders of Emerging Civil War.  Daniel Davis is the managing editor of Emerging Civil War and is a graduate of Longwood University with a Bachelors in Public History.  He is the co-author of Bloody Autumn: The Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864, Hurricane from the Heavens: The Battle of Cold Harbor, May 26-June 5, 1864 and  Calamity in Carolina: The Battles of Averasboro and Bentonville.

                As it has been with many of the other Emerging Civil War books, this work is well organized to aid the reader in understanding where they are on the field.  The chapters are split into the areas of the battle along with pictures of the people who participated and the field itself.  One thing which stood out to me in this work was the narrative.  After reading many Civil War books, especially books on Gettysburg, there were some parts in the narrative which seemed fresh to me.  Through their writing style, the authors were able to make me feel like I was visiting this material for the first time.  With the touring directions in the book, this work can very easily be one of the most enjoyable guides on the second day of combat I have read in some time.  On top of the fantastic narrative, the book is expanded upon with the excellent appendices.  The four appendices each cover a fascinating subject concerning the second day at Gettysburg ranging from the Hero of Little Round Top to the Home of a Rebel Sharpshooter.  Readers should note that this book only covers the combat from Little Round Top to Cemetery Ridge.  I have no doubt in my mind that these authors will bring us a work concerning the rest of the field including Culp’s Hill.  Nevertheless, this is an excellent work and is a great partner to the previous volume on day one of Gettysburg.
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                I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Battle of Gettysburg, especially those who are new to the study.  This is a great work to take along with you on the battlefield in order to gain the full experience of the campaign.      The Emerging Civil War Series has released yet another good book and I anticipate the book on the third day.

The Second Day at Gettysburg: The Attack and Defense of Cemetery Ridge, July 2, 1863
David L. Schultz and Scott L. Mingus, Sr.
Savas Beatie, 2015, 532 pp. + 12 pp. introduction, $32.95
ISBN: 978-1-61121-074-3
Image courtesy of amazon.com
 
When I first saw that this book was being written, I was excited.  Most people would not bat an eye at a book about the second day at Gettysburg, but this book dealt with an area which has been largely ignored in history.  Most books focus on the southern end of the battle where many names ring out true: Chamberlain, Little Round Top, the Wheatfield, and Hood.  But this book deals with the center of the Union fishhook; most coverage on the center of the fishhook has to do with the action on the third day of combat.  This book gives the reader some much needed treatment regarding the overall study of the Battle of Gettysburg.

                David L. Schultz has written many books, articles, and other writings on the Civil War including Double Canister at Ten Yards: The Federal Artillery and the Repulse of Pickett’s Charge, and co-authored Guide to Pennsylvania Troops at Gettysburg with Richard Rollins.  He is the recipient of numerous awards including citations from the House of Representatives and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 

                Scott L. Mingus Sr. is a scientist and executive in the paper industry.  He has written many books surrounding the Gettysburg campaign including Flames Beyond Gettysburg: The Confederate Expedition to the Susquehanna River, June 1863, Confederate General William “Extra Billy” Smith, and Human Interest Stories of the Battle of Gettysburg Volumes I and II.  He was awarded the Nathan Bedford Forrest Southern History Award and the Dr. James I. Robertson, Jr. Literary Prize for his work on Confederate General William Smith. 

                The book begins with an overview with what has happened so far up to the second day of combat during the Battle of Gettysburg and while this may seem unnecessary at first, there are many important points made which are pertinent to the rest of the book.  When the coverage on the second day of combat begins, Schultz and Mingus show the reader that all was not quiet on the part of the battlefield.  The authors do pay attention to what else is going on the field, but the book shines when talking about the activity on Cemetery Ridge.  This book proves that the adage, “there is nothing new to learn about Gettysburg” is false.  One of the points which stood out to me through this text was the treatment given to the Bliss Farm which was destroyed during the battle.  There are a few small monuments out on the field to commemorate where the Farm once stood, but nothing remains, and that includes writings on the action there.  Schultz and Mingus give it a fair analysis into the second day’s action in that part of the field.  In the end, what we have here is a comprehensive work on the second day’s fight at Cemetery Ridge that is invaluable to any Gettysburg student.
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                I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Battle of Gettysburg.  So many historians have quoted Little Round Top as the saving grace of the Union, but after reading this book, I am not so sure the efforts of one area of fighting was crucial to the second day of combat.  The fighting here at Cemetery Ridge is definitely worth looking over and appreciating for what happened there.  The authors make the action come alive with a sweeping narrative, fueled by excellent maps and photographs.  When visiting Gettysburg, this is a must to not only have read, but to take with you in order to understand the terrain more so than before.  This is a welcome addition to the Civil War academia.