Gettysburg--The First Day

For good reason the second and third days of the Battle of Gettysburg have received the lion’s share of attention from historians. With this book however the critical first day’s fighting finally receives its due. After sketching the background of the Gettysburg campaign and recounting the events immediately preceding the battle Harry Pfanz offers a detailed tactical description of events of the first day. He describes the engagements in McPherson Woods at the Railroad Cuts on Oak Ridge on Seminary Ridge and at Blocher’s Knoll as well as the retreat of Union forces through Gettysburg and the Federal rally on Cemetery Hill. Throughout he draws on deep research in published and archival sources to challenge many long-held assumptions about the battle.