The author is among many who have recently put the Confederate loss at Gettysburg squarly on the shoulders of Robert E Lee. He tells about the horror the civilians had to contend with cleaning up after the battle. “proclaimed a predictably democratic unwillingness to be disagreed with, and used that unwillingness to pull down the entire house.”, “refusal to abide by the rules of democracy”, Gilder Lehrman Prize for Military History (2013), Richard Barksdale Harwell Book Award (2014), The 60 Hottest New (and Upcoming) Mysteries & Thrillers. This was a faboulas book. Gettysburg: The Last Invasion (2013) by Allen Guelzo charts the Gettysburg Campaign, June 3 to July 24, 1863, Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s second invasion of the North during the American Civil War. Still, I found the book very readable, and good at showing some different views than commonplace or hollywoodized. I’ve wanted to read more American history, and thought that starting with something micro and manageable – like a single battle – would be a good place to start. For me, this was partially remedied by undertaking background research and copious note taking. Allen Guelzo’s book magisterially describes this battle and how it came to be, how it was executed, and the consequences of the Confe. Having read several books about the battle (Gettysburg is where I went to college), this is perhaps the best. Although this book was released in 2013, I just now got around to pulling it out from one of my multiple TBR piles. Some came into their own at the right time to make a difference in the battle. I will give you all a full review shortly. a deeper understanding of the invasion . Despite the semi-lame title, I'm going to get this book and will try to remember to report back with my impressions. I expect Gettysburg: The Last Invasion won't necessarily add new facts or issues but will make the reader see them in a new and more meaningful light. This just may be the best book about Gettysburg I’ve ever read. He makes a strong case (or suggestion) that Meade intended to withdraw after the second day, only to be overruled by his commanders and that Meade assumed Pickett's charge would be successful so, rather than hailing his troops, he was preparing his reserve artillery to cover the presumed retreat after defeat! He gives the victory to the individual Union soldiers and Officers, who rose to the occasion. In. This is a comprehensive treatment of the battle that includes a brief summary of both the state of the American Army before the war and the progress of the war before July 1963. Guelzo’s analysis is a little different than what has been rehashed for that past 150 years. The battle of Gettysburg was a human and environmental catastrophe and, for the United States, almost the beginning of the end of its existence. This exacting account of ‘the last invasion’ may well go down as the last word on the subject.” —Publishers Weekly “[Gettysburg] deserves to be included among the finest campaign studies of our generation. A twenty hour audiobook covering all aspects of the biggest, bloodiest battle of the American Civil War. May 14th 2013 The book was published in multiple languages including English, consists of 656 pages and is available in ebook format. Gettysburg: The Last Invasion by Allen C. Guelzo is a work of nonfiction about the battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. (He also argues that Gettysburg was more Lee's defeat than Meade's success.). Although the book doesn't focus on several important parts of the battle, including the struggles for Devil's Den and Little Round Top, this book has still earned a place on my shelf alongside other important Gettysburg battle studies. I think it would be difficult if not impossible to find a book about Gettysburg that was more thoroughly researched and coupled with thought provoking analysis than what Allen Guelzo has presented us with in this book. Excellently and abundantly sourced, "Gettysburg: The Last Invasion" paints a rich tableau of the town before the battle, the course of events that brought the armies to the quiet crossroads, and manages to explain the strategic and tactical elements of the battle while not neglecting at all the very human elements of the experience of Civil War combat. 4.6 out of 5 stars 643. Clear, authoritative, balance and readable, Allen Guelzo has given as a helpful addition to the literature surrounding the last invasion by the South of the Civil War. Gettysburg: The Last Invasion (2013) by Allen Guelzo charts the Gettysburg Campaign, June 3 to July 24, 1863, Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s second invasion of the North during the American Civil War. Gettysburg: The Last Invasion is the work of a consummate professional, and an excellent one-volume treatment for novice, fan, and scholar alike. From Coddington (a magisterial treatment) on, there have been many fine works on this battle. He considers issues in passing that are valuable additions to the book: e.g., the actual lethal effects of rifle fire, the work of those who enshrined Lee's reputation after the war, the amateurish nature of many of the movements on the field of battle, the play of strong personalities on the battle, the pro and anti-McClellan factions within the Army of the Potomac, as well as the pro and anti-abolitionist factions. Like a number of the other reviewers, I have read many books about the Civil War (and Gettysburg in particular) over the years. For me, this was partially remedied by undertaking background research and copious note taking. Gettysburg: The Last Invasion is fresh, fascinating, and compellingly provocative. His Epilogue about Lincoln's speech at the dedication of a cemetery the following Fall seem to put the whole war into perspective. He additionally provides fresh, often-. What amazed me was Guelzo's analysis. Allen Guelzo's new book "Gettysburg: The Last Invasion" (2013) offers a detailed, insightful, and beautifully written history of the Gettysbu The sesquicentennial of the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1 -- July 3, 1863) offers the opportunity to reflect upon the battle and its significance. Click here to see the trailer video for Dr. Allen C. Guelzo's book, Gettysburg: The Last Invasion. Gettysburg: The Last Invasion Allen C. Guelzo. Allen Guelzo talked about his book, [Gettysburg: The Last Invasion], in which he recounts the Battle of Gettysburg, which took place on July 1-3, 1863. My Account This was less impressive, however, when I read about the unit that I re-enact, in which the author misnames the officer who was killed (John) instead of his actual name Augustus Van Horn Ellis (no, he never used a nickname). This book is great for the historian, the 'buff', and the casual reader who wants a better understanding of a pivotal event in American history. 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