Gettysburg: The First Day (Civil War America (Hardcover))

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Summary: Gettysburg: The First Day destined to become a classic!
Review: Whenever a Civil War study receives the kudos of Gary Gallagher and the redoutable Ed Bearss a lover of history should take notice!
In this excellent book Pfanz describes in great details the fighting in the Oak Hil, McPherson Ridge area northwest of Gettysburg the fighting of the first day of the battle on July 1st.
Pfanz has included an impressive bibliography and the work contains many maps. He gives thumbsketch portraits of the commanders and common soldiers who took part in this opening round of the three day bloofest that makes Gettysburg the most famous battle of the Civil War.
This book is not for beginners since it is detailed and the battle actions are complex in his descriptions.
The book is well illustrated but more maps are needed to clarify the description of the actions.
The author knows the battle perhaps as well or better than anyone else writing history. This book is well recommended!

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Summary: Another terrific book by Pfanz
Review: Harry Pfanz has done it again with this fascinating book about the underappreciated first day at Gettysburg. As with his other books on the battle, the focus is on unit action at the brigade and regimental levels, liberally interspersed with interesting anecdotes about the actions and experiences of individual soldiers. As has been said by others, Pfanz seems to have learned everything that it is possible to know about the battle, and it shows in this book. The level of detail is, at times, staggering, but the writing style is so fluid that the reader is carried along nicely.

One of the most interesting aspects of the book, though, concern decision making at the division and corps levels. For instance, Pfanz takes Barlow to task for advancing his division to the knoll that now bears his name, arguing that its original position at the outskirts of the town was preferable. Pfanz also takes pains to describe Ewell's decision not to attempt an assault of Cemetary Hill on the evening of July 1; given all of the factors to consider, Ewell's decision comes across as quite reasonable if perhaps somewhat lacking in aggressiveness. Unfortunately, Pfanz does not give the same attention to Lee's refusual to support such an attack with available troops from Hill's corps.

The book is not without its flaws. In addition to some occasional editing slips, like his other books this one could use more maps. There are fairly frequent references to geographical features that do not appear on any of the maps in the book. The most serious students of the battle will want to read this book with additional maps at hand.

Overall, though, this is a superb work. If your interest in the battle goes beyond the surface, then you will be well repaid for reading this book.

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Summary: Another Pfanz Triumph
Review: Harry Pfanz has given us another of his definitive books on Gettysburg. It's all there: detailed descriptions of unit fighting down to the brigade and regimental levels, brief biographical sketches of the commanders, personal stories of the rank and file soldiers and pithy explanations of various actions. This will undoubtedly stand for some time as the best account of the first day's battle.

Pfanz provides what could have been some of the best battlefield maps in print except for one annoying feature: he only provides a regiment's number, but not its state, on his maps. Thus you have the 63rd or the 16th but not the 63rd NY or 16th NC making unit identification difficult. Hopefully this problem, the one flaw present in all of his fine books, will be corrected in future editions.

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Summary: Pfanz's Gettysburg - The First Day is recommended reading.
Review: Harry Pfanz, a former historian at Gettysburg National Military Park and retired Chief Historian of the National Park Service, is well known in American Civil War literary circles for his excellent work on Gettysburg - The Second Day and its companion volume, Gettysburg - Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill. Both are definitive works featuring new interpretations and fresh looks on both known and more obscure facets of the famous battle.

Now Pfanz has written Gettysburg - The First Day, which continues his excellent research and writing to cover the marches to Gettysburg leading to that fateful first day. Pfanz details the personalities behind the first day's fighting, down to the brigade level (and occasionally the regimental level). He handles the day's fighting in somewhat chronological order (see below), and as major units arrive he details their command and personality individually and succinctly. Controversial and contradictory events or decisions -- such as who fired the first shot of the battle, the Union XI Corps' rout, the battles at the railroad cut, the work of the Union cavalry at the beginning of the day, and Ewell's lack of attack at the end of the day -- are covered (as well as many others) on a factual and well-thought basis. I couldn't find myself arguing with any of the points he brought up to any great extent, and there doesn't appear to be any kind of side bias.

One of Pfanz's great strengths is his ability to recreate the terrain of the battlefield in various ways and the deployments therein, giving the reader a visual capacity to understand the peculiarities, vulnerabilities, and practicalities of various positions over others -- the advantage of I Corps's position on the afternoon of July 1 over that of XI Corps, for instance. When Pfanz describes Schurz's anxiousness at the beginning of Chapter 19, you can feel it.

The other great ability of Pfanz is to describe the fighting in such a way that the reader can identify with it - typically by a mixture of describing how the regiments and sometimes even companies were moved and deployed, mixed with a description of that particular event and how the survivors on either side recalled it. With literally hundreds of tons of writings about the battle from its survivors, there is a lot of good material to choose from, and Pfanz has chosen wisely. Of course, it seems like every little action or scrap was the "hottest" the speaker had ever been in, but that is understandable given the circumstances.

What the reader doesn't get is a great sense of is the serious of movements that led to Gettysburg. While Pfanz describes them somewhat, it can still be hard to visualize, and the maps provided that lead up to July 1 are not particularly helpful. On the other hand, the tactical maps that help describe the action (and have textual footnotes) are completely wonderful and accompany the text very well. Pfanz also doesn't seem to dwell on the events that led up to Gettysburg or the political machinations (aside from Meade replacing Hooker) that took place before the battle, which is thankful.

Another thing the reader may find annoying is that while the battle unfolds in a chronological fashion (as it should), it is not entirely in order. For instance, the multiple attacks by Daniel's brigade near the railroad cut and the huge flanking attack by Early on the XI Corps right is fully featured before cutting back to Heth's attack against the I Corps, though the latter is mentioned during the former. It's not that big of a problem, but to those not initially educated about the battle it can be a little disconcerting because the reader may quite honestly have no idea what was going on at the other flank.

Despite a few quibbles Gettysburg - The First Day is a wonderfully researched (with a meticulously detailed end notes section), complete with first-rate tactical maps, an order of battle (shortened for the units that fought on the first day only), and some interesting appendices of related or side stories. Gettysburg - The First Day is another great work by this well-respected author and I recommend it.

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Summary: Pfanz' Gettysburg - Day 1
Review: Harry Pfanz, former Chief Historian of the National Park Service and historian at the Gettysburg National Military Park, has written a three-volume trilogy on the Battle of Gettysburg. This book, the last of the volumes to be written, covers the opening day of the great battle, July 1, 1863. For many people, the fighting on the first day tends to be overshadowed by events such as the struggle for Little Round Top on July 2 and Pickett's Charge on July 3. But the first day was critical to the progress of the Battle of Gettysburg. Without an understanding of day 1, the interested student cannot fully grasp the events which followed on the second and third days and their aftermath.

Pfanz gives a very brief account of the reasons underlying the Confederacy's decision to invade the North following the Battle of Chancellorsville in May, 1863. He also is very short in describing the early stages of the invasion and Stuart's ill-conceived cavary ride around the Union rear. But his account of day one of the battle itself and of the course of the fighting is full and outstanding.

I have found the events of July 1 difficult to follow in reading earlier studies. This is because, I think, the meeting between the two armies was unplanned and unexpected. Neither Union nor Confederacy expected to fight a major battle at Gettysburg. When the armies stumbled into each other, activities on both sides were improvised. There were a number of different fights at different times and different locations on the field and a lack of coordination. It is important to keep in mind the different units of each army involved and the different times and locations on the field.

Pfanz develops his story slowly and tries to present an integrated, cohesive account. He begins with the meeting between Burford's cavalry in the early morning of July 1, followed by lengthy discussions of the fighting between the Union First Corps and Heth's Division of Hill's Corps to the West and Northwest of the town and of the fighting between the Union 11th Corps and Ewell's Division to the North of the town. His account is less critical of the activities of the Eleventh Corps than are many other accounts of July 1, 1863.

Pfanz pays attention to leadership -- or its overall lack during the first day of the fighting -- and focuses on the troops on the ground. The fighting brigades and their leaders get a great deal of attention. There are excellent maps and descriptions on the maps which lead the reader step-by-step through the key encounters on day 1. The book is enlivened by many human interest stories and histories of the participants. Pfanz draws many insightful parallels, comparisons and contrasts, between the fighting on day 1 and some of the events which followed on days 2 and 3.

Students of Gettysburg have long debated whether the Confederacy could have gained a decisive victory if it had followed-up its inital success and attempted to occupy Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill after it had driven the Union army through Gettysburg. Pfanz studies this question carefully and shows the difficulties and uncertainties that General Ewell would have faced if he had decided to mount a further attack. Pfanz offers a thoughtful, sobering discussion of an important question about the battle.

This book is not for the beginning student of the Battle of Gettysburg. It presupposes a certain familiarity with the battle as a whole and with its ebb and flow over the three days. For those readers who have a basic grasp of the battle and a desire to learn about the events of day 1 in detail, Pfanz' study is an indispensable source.

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Summary: The Beginning of the End
Review: I had the greatest pleasure in spending the first week of my retirement reading this account of the first day's struggle at Gettysburg and it's outlying areas. Pfanz continues as absolutely one of the greatest Civil War historians writing today.
So much has been written about the struggle for Little Round Top, Chamberlain's exploits, Pickett's Charge, and all of the other events which followed the first day's events, however, this book is an essential read for those who really want to examine how day two and three evolved. It is certainly understandable why the average reader would be drawn to the flashier confrontations which followed, however after day one it became clearer and clearer that the Confederate states could not conceivably win this battle.
The beauty of this account is that it is studded with maps which is a definite plus to anyone not particularly familiar with the outlying geography of the battle. And the dominant sites such as McPherson's Woods, the Railroad Cuts, Oak Ridge, the various farms all become focus points for the reader to see how the battle surged back and forth. Pfanz also details the battle unit by unit and interlaces his narrative with wonderful inserts of recollections by the participants.
The first day of the battle will also introduce the casual reader to soldiers both north and south who are not the usual suspects in Civil War accounts. People like Buford emerge as heroes and corps commanders play lesser roles. The effect of combat on civilians is also greatly documented and gives a real picture of the total impact of war in the 19th century.
This is not a work for the casual reader who would just want to pick up a book on Civil War history. However, for those who have a humble introduction it is very approachable and for those who have done additional reading it is a valuable resource.
Thanks for writing this one Mr. Pfanz.

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Summary: Excellent Description of the First Day at Gettysburg
Review: In my humble opinion, Pfanz has written what I believe to be the standard for the first day of Gettysburg. His writing style is clear and detailed without being simplistic and dry. His descriptions are balanced between North and South and officer and enlisted participants. He seems to be fair in his praises and criticisms of both sides.

The 16 maps and over 50 illustrations contribute greatly to the book by adding a human element and clear descriptions to the first day's engagement. Some Civil War histories lack adequate maps that complicate the reader's understanding of troop movements. The book's maps are wonderfully detailed and well-drawn - I only wish there would have been a few more!

I look forward to reading his other two titles on Gettysburg - Getysburg The Second Day, Culp's Hill & Cemetery Hill to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the events of July 1-3, 1864. While I have visited the Gettysburg battlefield six times in my lifetime and plan to visit again soon, I have learned something new during each visit. Pfanz' books will serve as a valuable guide on my next visit.

While I have not completely read Coddington's book on Gettysburg, I have skimmed it and his book seems to be more focused on the strategy instead of the human interest stories approach Pfanz has utilized. Because of this I cannot recommend one book over the other - that really depends on your personal preference.

Pfanz' book on the first day will help the reader better understand the events of the first day and will be a valuable guide for the person who plans to visit the battlefield soon. If you are a serious Civil War student, you need to include this title in your personal library!

Highly recommended. Read and enjoy!


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Summary: Gettysburg the details
Review: Mr. Pfanz has contributed an unprecedented work of importance on the battle of Gettysburg. I couldn't claim to have read everything of worth on this pivitol, but I have read many. This one is the best.
Almost minute by minute coverage of the battle with detailed troop movements, the reader is transported back to July 1, 1863. Fair treatment is given to both Confederate and Union participants, not always common among some modern authors. Major characters are developed with enough detail to make them interesting, but not so much that the book threatens to become a biography of actors and not a story about the battle itself. I especially like the inclusion of residents of Gettysburg into the coverage. This group is too often ignored.
I think anyone with even a mild interest in this battle would agree that reading this book is not a waste of time. I can't wait to read Gettysburg the Second Day originally published in 1987 but missed by me.

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Summary: Very Good, but there's another one better
Review: Normally I would have given Pfanz's First Day a hearty 5 stars. His knowledge of GB is astounding. However, I believe, after reading Pfanz and then Martin's July 1st book back to back, that Martin comes up on top.

Sometimes, two books on the same subject work very well together as far as offering different view points, style, etc. But in this case, I found Martin's book a better, more thorough, more analytical, and more detailed recounting of the battle of day 1. I am sure that I will re-read Martin many times, but I don't think I ever need to reread Pfanz's First Day because Martin covers it better.

Again, there is nothing wrong with Pfanz's book and it is a great read. However, the only advantage over Martin's is that Pfanz's is about a couple hundred pages shorter. Therefore it's a quicker read and a little more concentrated with info. Martin has a lot of "as previously noted" type comments.

In short, I like to have a big Civil War library, so I bought both books, but if you're looking to save money, you can get away with just Martin. Either book is for the more experienced student of Gettysburg, so don't start your general interest here or you'll be lost in the details. I'd recommend Trudeau as a good overall campaign start, then go to the micro studies of particular days or actions (i.e. Little Round Top, Wheatfield, Culps Hill, etc.)

Also, there's a couple of minor errors on one or two of the first maps which kind of turned me off. I love the summary of actions at the bottom of the maps, but why no state designation for the units (i.e. 26th North Carolina is noted simply as 26)

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Summary: Pfanz once again writes a great one
Review: The first day at Gettysburg is probably the least talked about of the battle. Day two has such recognizable names as Little Round Top, The Wheatfield, Peach Orchard and Devil's Den. Day three is of course Pickett's Charge. However the first day has it's equally interesting dramas. You have the Iron Brigade engaged in McPherson Woods, The death of General Reynolds, France Barlow on the knoll, Coster's Battle in the Brickyard and the retreat through the town.

In this book Harry Pfanz finally gives these areas the detailed examination they deserve. Like his book on Culp's Hill and East Cemetery Hill, we get a detailed account of some of the less celebrated actions in the battle and in such a way that we are left with a much better understanding of the actions and their importance to the overall battle.

One of the things I really liked about this book was Pfanz's dealing with the retreat through the town. It's such a confusing area that for most authors if they have to deal with it they simply give us a cursory explanation and move onto the defence of Cemetery Hill. Not Pfanz. We have a nice good sized chapter dealing with the retreat.

This is a book that anyone who is truly interested in the battle of Gettysburg should have. No other book even comes close to dealing with the events of the first day like this one does.