Although he took command of the Army of the Potomac only three days
before the first shots were fired at Gettysburg, Union general George G.
Meade guided his forces to victory in the Civil War's most pivotal
battle. Commentators often dismiss Meade when discussing the great
leaders of the Civil War.
But in this long-anticipated book, Kent
Masterson Brown draws on an expansive archive to reappraise Meade's
leadership during the Battle of Gettysburg. Using Meade's published and
unpublished papers alongside diaries, letters, and memoirs of fellow
officers and enlisted men, Brown highlights how Meade's rapid advance of
the army to Gettysburg on July 1, his tactical control and coordination
of the army in the desperate fighting on July 2, and his determination
to hold his positions on July 3 insured victory.
Brown argues
that supply deficiencies, brought about by the army's unexpected need to
advance to Gettysburg, were crippling. In spite of that, Meade pursued
Lee's retreating army rapidly, and his decision not to blindly attack
Lee's formidable defenses near Williamsport on July 13 was entirely
correct in spite of subsequent harsh criticism.
Combining compelling
narrative with incisive analysis, this finely rendered work of military
history deepens our understanding of the Army of the Potomac as well as
the machinations of the Gettysburg Campaign, restoring Meade to his
rightful place in the Gettysburg.
Kent Masterson Brown an award-winning writer, filmmaker, and attorney
residing in Lexington, Kentucky. His previous books include Retreat from Gettysburg: Lee, Logistics, and the Pennsylvania Campaign.
Text Source: University of North Carolina Press Press
No comments:
Post a Comment