Gettysburg (The Civil War Battle Series, Vol. 6)

Rating:
Summary: The Brannons at the high water mark of the Confederacy
Review: "Gettysburg," Book 6 in The Civil War Battle Series was always destined to be the most troublesome novel for James Reasoner because its climax would cover the same time and place as Michael Shaara's Pulitzer-Prize winner "The Killer Angels." Many of us interested in historical fiction about the Civil War have read Shaara's novel and it is impossible not to make comparisons. To a large extent, Reasoner tries to cover different ground. The story of the title battle, which readers of the series are well aware always takes place in the last two dozen pages of the novel, is told entirely from the perspective of the Confederate Army. Furthermore, the two Brannon brothers fighting at Gettysburg are involved in different parts of the battle from what Shaara covered: Will Brannon and the Stonewall Brigade attack Culp's Hill on the second day of the battle (while Shaara deals with Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and the 20th of Maine's defense of Little Round Top at the other end of the battlefield), while Mac Brannon is off on Jeb Stuart's joy ride around the Union army and arrives in time to have a cavalry fight with troops led by Custer. Of course, Custer is not mentioned by name, but then neither are Buford, Reynolds, or other key figures on the Union side in the battle (but Howard does get mentioned; go figure). However, those who have read "The Killer Angels" will be less than satisfied with the brief sketches of several memorable scenes they remember between Lee, Longstreet, and Stuart.

This book is also surprising in that the soap opera elements which have tended to dominate previous books in the series have been greatly reduced. Relatively little time is spent back on the Brannon farm, although the trouble between the Brannons and Duncan Ebersole is far from over. The novel begins focusing on Titus Brannon, who is a prisoner at the infamous Union prison camp Fort Douglas, and the stage is certainly being set for more soap elements in regards to that plot line, but most of this book focuses on how Will and Mac come to Gettysburg. For the first time in the series we really get the idea that the war is going on too long and even mother Abigail comes to the realization that her family is not going to make it through the war unscathed. Like Reasoner's other books, "Gettysburg" is a quick read and I think it is pretty clear that all of the elements are now in play in terms of setting up the conclusion. Although I do not remember Reasoner planning a 10-volume
series, that is clearly the plan now and we can the remaining battles will focus on the war in the "west" with Cory Brannon (Chattanooga, Atlanta, Sherman's March), and the finale in the east with the Wilderness, the siege of Petersburg, and the surrender at Appomattox. It will be interesting to see how he breaks this all down into four volumes and since it is pretty
clear how the war is going to end, all I can say is that as long as Ebersole gets his just deserts I will be happy.

Rating:
Summary: The Brannons at the high water mark of the Confederacy
Review: "Gettysburg," Book 6 in The Civil War Battle Series was always destined to be the most troublesome novel for James Reasoner because its climax would cover the same time and place as Michael Shaara's Pulitzer-Prize winner "The Killer Angels." Many of us interested in historical fiction about the Civil War have read Shaara's novel and it is impossible not to make comparisons. To a large extent, Reasoner tries to cover different ground. The story of the title battle, which readers of the series are well aware always takes place in the last two dozen pages of the novel, is told entirely from the perspective of the Confederate Army. Furthermore, the two Brannon brothers fighting at Gettysburg are involved in different parts of the battle from what Shaara covered: Will Brannon and the Stonewall Brigade attack Culp's Hill on the second day of the battle (while Shaara deals with Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and the 20th of Maine's defense of Little Round Top at the other end of the battlefield), while Mac Brannon is off on Jeb Stuart's joy ride around the Union army and arrives in time to have a cavalry fight with troops led by Custer. Of course, Custer is not mentioned by name, but then neither are Buford, Reynolds, or other key figures on the Union side in the battle (but Howard does get mentioned; go figure). However, those who have read "The Killer Angels" will be less than satisfied with the brief sketches of several memorable scenes they remember between Lee, Longstreet, and Stuart.

This book is also surprising in that the soap opera elements which have tended to dominate previous books in the series have been greatly reduced. Relatively little time is spent back on the Brannon farm, although the trouble between the Brannons and Duncan Ebersole is far from over. The novel begins focusing on Titus Brannon, who is a prisoner at the infamous Union prison camp Fort Douglas, and the stage is certainly being set for more soap elements in regards to that plot line, but most of this book focuses on how Will and Mac come to Gettysburg. For the first time in the series we really get the idea that the war is going on too long and even mother Abigail comes to the realization that her family is not going to make it through the war unscathed. Like Reasoner's other books, "Gettysburg" is a quick read and I think it is pretty clear that all of the elements are now in play in terms of setting up the conclusion. Although I do not remember Reasoner planning a 10-volume
series, that is clearly the plan now and we can the remaining battles will focus on the war in the "west" with Cory Brannon (Chattanooga, Atlanta, Sherman's March), and the finale in the east with the Wilderness, the siege of Petersburg, and the surrender at Appomattox. It will be interesting to see how he breaks this all down into four volumes and since it is pretty
clear how the war is going to end, all I can say is that as long as Ebersole gets his just deserts I will be happy.

Rating:
Summary: Maps
Review: Detailed map of Virginia during the war and a detailed map of the Gettysburg battlefield would have been helpful. It was difficult to follow the action with only a verbal description of the battle.

Rating:
Summary: Maps
Review: Detailed map of Virginia during the war and a detailed map of the Gettysburg battlefield would have been helpful. It was difficult to follow the action with only a verbal description of the battle.

Rating:
Summary: The High Water Mark
Review: July, 1863... Mac and Will Brannon, along with thousands of Confederate and Union soldiers, are converging on the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, as General Robert E. Lee, in a bold move, hopes to obtain a decisive victory over the Union forces in their own territory.

Soon, the two Brannon brothers find themselves in the midst of the bloodiest battle ever fought on American soil. While Mac rides through the Pennsylvania countryside with Jeb Stuart's cavalry, Will heads into the battle alongside his friend and sergeant from Culpepper, Darcy Bennett......

GETTYSBURG is fraught with tension and dramatic battle scenes, written with James Reasoner's usual attention to accuracy and detail. My two brothers-in-law, who are Civil War buffs and Battle of Gettysburg fanatics, visiting there whenever they get the chance, LOVED this book.

Rating:
Summary: great
Review: This novel, number 6 in a wonderful collection, is most entertaining. Unlike the other 5 novels, this one combines activites of both Will and Mac. Interwoven in the book is mention of the other family members. The depiction of the numerous encounters at Gettysburg was very exciting and served to capture the reader's attention and imagination. As always, one is left with a desire to quickly order and read the next novel. Reasoner continues to blend history with adventure in a most enlightening and engaging fashion. I prefer this book to many of the others because it is muti-faceted in approach and weaves all the characters, with the exception of Cory, into the story. I recommend it.