Gettysburg: A Novel of the Civil War
by Newt Gingrich, William R. Forstchen
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Book Summary Information
Author: Newt Gingrich, William R. ForstchenEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-04-05
ISBN: 0312987250
Number of pages: 544
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Book Reviews of Gettysburg: A Novel of the Civil War
Book Review: A thunderous, gloriously gory epic
Summary: 5 Stars
Rather than take full advantage of the fantasy nature involved in some alternate history novels (like Turtledove's time travellers in "Guns of the South"), Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen give the Confederacy two things, small on their own, to provide ultimate victory for them in the Battle of Gettysburg: General Stuart's early return to the army, and a sudden blast of insight from General Lee and Longstreet when they realize the Union army is deeply entrenched in the city.
Unlike Shaara's "The Killer Angels", the writing here is rich, vivid, and very dense and gritty. The battle scenes are so bloodsoaked and gore-ridden as to compare with Pressfield, and the likes of "Gates of Fire".
The way the two write, you feel the pain, exhaustion, and emotions of the soldiers and generals involved. Rather than repeat what's been done by Michael Shaara in The Killer Angels, Gingrich and Forstchen focus primarily on the primary characters such as Lee and Longstreet, Meade and Hancock, as well as lesser generals and soldiers, such as Artillery General Henry Hunt, Seargents Hazer (CSA), Major Williamson (CSA), General Haupt (US) and noncombatants such as Lincoln himself.
The battle scenes are done to such an intensely bloody and emotional degree as to rival Pressfield in sheer scope and drama. While not nearly as gritty and gory as Pressfield, it gets as close as possible in a more modern realm of war. The knowledge of artillery specifically is evident throughout the book, and expert detail goes into such specifics as the timed fuses on cannons, the casualties caused by improperly fired cannons, and the science of how a minie ball pierces through flesh, shatters bone, and flattens into a disc, the way the splintering of wood from shattered cannons or muskets wreaks havoc on troops in battle.
The military strategy is also highly vivid and utterly compelling, truly experiencing the mastery of the likes of Lee, the frustration when Ewell fails to move properly, or with Meade's panic and pressured decision-making.
The alternate history:
*POTENTIAL SPOILERS*
Despite being alternately historical, common themes and events which occur in the actual battle unfold in different order here.
With Stuart's return to the army on the first day, rather than the end of the second, allowing Lee the benefit of cavalry. Rather than spreading southwards, along Cemetary Ridge and to the Round Top, Lee recognizes the importance of Cemetary Hill and commits an immense amount of soldiery to it. This fails, leaving the Confederates locked in to Gettysburg. This is where another pivotal point occurs, as Longstreet points out the Union army's lack of support south of their lines. Any reader of "The Killer Angels" knows that this is absolutely crucial, and that had Lee listened to Longstreet, they may well have cut off the Union army from their supplies.
In this instance, Lee realizes just how pivotal a move this is.
With Stuart commanding a division to demonstrate and distract the Union forces to the north (using trees for cover, and acting as though an entire corps were moving into place), Lee begins moving huge pieces of his army south, towards Taneytown, to eventually attack and take Westminster, and cut the Army of the Potomac off from supplies and Washington. Lee is absolutely critical in having Longstreet move quickly, before the Union realizes what is happening and attempts to stop them.
With great pains and brutal skirmishing, as well as Buford and his cavalry making another stand at the bridge leading to Taneytown, between Emmitsburg and Taneytown, leading to Buford's death, Lee finally moves his army down, and storms into Westminster, which is in a panic and flees, leaving the Army of Northern Virginia with a large piece of the Union's supplies.
From here, the events of the actual Gettysburg unfold in similar fashion for the Union. The Union moves on Confederate forces, aiming to take Taneytown, and besiege the heavily entrenched enemy at Westminster. Similar to his stand on the Little Round Top on July 2nd, Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and his 20th Maine regiment are the extreme right flank of the Union army marching into Taneytown, which is destroyed down to nearly a man by Pickett's Division and Armistead's Brigade. Chamberlain is badly wounded, but survives.
On July 4th, the Union chooses its own "Pickett's Charge" at Union Mills, and Pipe Creek. With nearly 20,000 or more Union soldiers marching across open land, while under heavy Confederate fire (keep in mind the CSA has taken the Army of the Potomac's supplies, and now has plenty of cannon ammunition and rifles), attempting to break through the Confederate's entrenchment at Union Mills. The battle is so bloodily and gloriously written, it outshines Pickett's Charge in sheer scale, blood, and dramatic courage and flourish. It ends with the Army of the Potomac badly battered, Meade proclaiming "It is all my fault", and Pickett's fresh Division finishing off the remnants of the army still at Gettysburg.
While 1/3rd of the Army of the Potomac survives, it is a bloody defeat, and an equally bloody victory for the Army of Northern Virginia, with new instances of battlefield events leading to deaths of well-known heroes and characters, and some shocking decisions many would see as fanservice (such as Lee's utter rage at Ewell's failure to attack the Union forces at Cemetary Hill while the bulk of the Army of the Potomac is being slaughtered at Union Mills, that leads to him dismissing Ewell from the army entirely).
While Lee achieves his victory, it is not absolute, and it does not end the war, as the series continues with two more editions. Gingrich and Forstchen write so epically, with amazing emphasis on strategy, battle, and humanity, that it stands as an action-packed, thrillingly dramatic epic even on its own.
In my opinion, and I can't imagine very many detracting thoughts, this single edition far exceeds "The Killer Angels" in nearly every field of literature and novel writing. Outstanding effort by Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen.
Summary of Gettysburg: A Novel of the Civil War
The Battle of Gettysburg has become the great "what if" of American history. Gettysburg unfolds an alternate path and creates for General Robert E. Lee the victory he might have won. Full of dramatic battle scenes, military strategy, and captivating period details, Gettysburg stands as a remarkable entry in the pantheon of Civil War literature and as a vivid novel of the realities of war.
The year is 1863, and General Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia are poised to attack the North and claim the victory that could end the brutal conflict. Launching his men into a vast sweeping operation, General Lee, acting as he did at Chancellorsville, Second Manassas, and Antietam, displays the audacity of old. He knows he has but one more good chance to gain ultimate victory. Now Lee's lieutenants and the men in the ranks, imbued with this renewed spirit of the offensive, embark on the Gettysburg Campaign that many dream "should have been"...
The year is 1863, and General Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia are poised to attack the North and claim the victory that could end the brutal conflict. Launching his men into a vast sweeping operation, General Lee, acting as he did at Chancellorsville, Second Manassas, and Antietam, displays the audacity of old. He knows he has but one more good chance to gain ultimate victory. Now Lee's lieutenants and the men in the ranks, imbued with this renewed spirit of the offensive, embark on the Gettysburg Campaign that many dream "should have been"...
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