Days of Darkness: The Gettysburg Civilians

Rating:
Summary: AWESOME
Review: For the serious Civil War reader, this is a must! Billy Williams brings alive the haunted streets of the little college town of Gettysburg as its people struggled to survive the three darkest days in American history. Two enormous armies tore at each other relentlessly, men fighting and dying on the porches of the town, in the streets, the gardens, the schools. You will meet many of the residents of Gettysburg and will feel the terror that they felt as they dodged snipers' bullets, nursed the wounded, closed the eyes of the dead. There is heroism and cowardice, sacrifice and selfishness in this well done offering. When the battle was over, the armies left 50,000 casualties behind in once pretty little town. Graphic, agonizing, inspiring, loving...this book is all of that. A true star in the many offerings of that most savage of times in our history.

Rating:
Summary: Would make a hell of a movie
Review: I read this incredible and rare perspective on the great battle and came away with a rather astounding cinematic vision for its telling. This author has chosen to invite us into a glimpse of farmland simple life interrupted by ghastly warfare that changed all the lives of its citizens forever. How often do we think of that concerning the Civil War battlefields? Amazing take. I bought one for a friend immediately afterwards. This absolutely MUST be a film someday!

Rating:
Summary: The other battle of Gettysburg
Review: People tend to think of the battle of Gettysburg and consider the famous fields such as Pickett's Charge, Wheatfield, Little Round Top and Culp's Hill to be the history while the civilians in town shared their own battle. The entire town was littered with sharpshooters, Confederate soldiers, the wounded and prisoners. The Gettysburg people were basically caught up in this fray and this book demonstrates the horrors and hardships that these people witnessed. Personal accounts are placed together in almost a novel-like format which places the reader quite easily within the action itself. Stories such as housing the wounded, losing a home, sharing food with the soldiers caught up in battle and witnessing the bloodshed are among the many stories within this great book. It is a must read for those looking to understand Gettysburg completely.

Rating:
Summary: The other side of the Battle
Review: This book is a great read for someone who wants to have a citizen's perspective on the battle at Gettysburg. Even though I know a lot about the battle, itself, I learned that the town actually changed hands several times. The Civilians did not see Blue or Gray, but real men who were wounded, starving or just plain scared. I was especially taken by the knowledge that at times, the Union held the front porch of a house, while Confederate soldiers occupied the back porch, with the interior of the home being "no man's land". A great edition to any Civil War Historian's library.

Rating:
Summary: The other side of the Battle
Review: This book is a great read for someone who wants to have a citizen's perspective on the battle at Gettysburg. Even though I know a lot about the battle, itself, I learned that the town actually changed hands several times. The Civilians did not see Blue or Gray, but real men who were wounded, starving or just plain scared. I was especially taken by the knowledge that at times, the Union held the front porch of a house, while Confederate soldiers occupied the back porch, with the interior of the home being "no man's land". A great edition to any Civil War Historian's library.

Rating:
Summary: A Feeling Of Being There.....
Review: William G. Williams does an excellent job of blending real life accounts of the Gettysburg Civilians to create an educational and compelling novel. Included in the book are photos of some of the civilians whose stories are being told, as well as a map of Gettysburg to help familiarize yourself with the areas the story takes place in. Many books have been written about the Battle of Gettysburg, but this is a great way to get an understanding of how the families and storekeepers were affected by the battle that literally took place in their backyard!