Gettysburg--Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill

This is a very good book for Gettysburg enthusiasts. Pfanz does justice to an important part of the Union position that is always overshadowed by stories of the assault on Little Round Top and Pickett's Charge. The casual Civil War buff may be overwhelmed. Pfanz is very detailed and much of the book is written at the regimental level. One not generally familiar with the right part of the Union line and the generals involved may find themselves getting lost. But for those who want to know the Battle of Gettysburg, this is an excellent work that gives great detail while preserving the flow of the story. I always enjoy Gettysburg works that focus on General Greene and his defense of Culps Hill against superior Confederate numbers. One could argue that he did the same service in holding the right flank that Chamberlain performed on the left with the 20th Maine. Greene, who was old, did not have the further battle opportunities Chamberlain would enjoy, and did not go on to be a Governor and become known, is unfortunately an unsung savior of the Union cause. This book does him and his men justice. I was struck by the fact that both Union and Confederate battle reports (through more Confederate) from Cemetery Hill / Culp's Hill don't seem to go into the detail that has produced fairly certain histories of other parts of the battle. Perhaps the fact that some of the fighting was at night or late evening and much of it in wooded terrain made the General less sure of their positions had something to do with it. Or perhaps Pfanz (this is the first one of his books I have read) is more diligent in writing about what is not known than other authors, but the difference is noticeable to the serious student of the battlefield. The book is almost all action. Bios of various commanders (down to the regimental level) who figure in the fight are given, but thankfully the author did a nice job of performing this background in a paragraph and not digressing from the battle progression the way some authors do. A very good and highly detailed work that is accessible and holds the reader's interest.

As a student of the Civil War, and particularly the Gettysburg campaign, I've read many accounts of the battle in preparation for seminars and tours. The Pfanz books on The First Day, The Second Day, and Culp's Hill & Cemetery Hill have proven to be the best and most comprehensive of the lot - they are the definitive reference materials for my purposes. Too often the activities on the southern end of the battlefield on the 2nd Day and the middle of the union line on the 3rd Day receive the preponderance of visitor, guide, and author attention, with the actions at Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill relegated to a cursory treatment or a late-day visit or drive-by. Pfanz has addressed the need for a detailed tactical study of the actions on the north end of the Gettysburg battlefield in readable and engrossing style - I enjoyed this book as I read it, which I can't say about much of the civil war research materials. I anticipate rereading it often in preparation for future Gettysburg tours.

Harry Pfanz is easily one of the most recognized names when it comes to knowledge on the battle of Gettysburg. Pfanz, the former Chief Historian of the National Park Service, has also written two outstanding books on the battle, Gettysburg: The First Day and Gettysburg: The Second Day. These books are simply mandatory reading for anyone trying to gain an understanding of the importance of the most definitive battle of the American Civil War, and this book offers terrific insight into why July 2nd is ultimately what decided Gettysburg. This work sets the scene perfectly for the second day, giving the reader an enormous amount of information as to why July 2nd represented the best opportunity for the South to achieve ultimate victory at the battle, as well as possibly the war. The second day of the battle of Gettysburg is easily the most impressive and important day of the three-day struggle in south-central Pennsylvania. Places like the Devil’s Den, Peach Orchard, Little Round Top, and the Wheat Field are cemented in the American psyche, and the sheer mention of their name remunerates the reader with scenes of blatant tenacity and bloodcurdling horror. However, other places like Culp’s Hill and East Cemetery Hill encompassed just about as much carnage and importance as these aforementioned locations. Pfanz does these places justice by meticulously recounting the actions on the evening of July 2nd, 1863, and the consequences they had on the battle at large. This book covers every minute aspect of the action at Culp’s Hill and East Cemetery Hill on July 2nd, 1863. Most impressively it showcases how porous the southern leadership from the top down was on July 2nd, while also showcasing the terrible performance of Pendleton’s artillery wing during the engagement. Pfanz offers a scything assessment of every southern leader’s performance during the battle, and it really made me rethink my how different the battle could have been, had July 2nd been a more concerted effort on the part of Lee and his lieutenants. Pfanz’s retelling of the intrepid assault by Harry Hays’ Louisianans and Isaac Avery’s North Carolina Brigade on the evening of July 2nd, is simply the best telling of this attack I have ever read. Why these locations remain relatively unknown is a mystery to me, and after reading this book, it has become moreso. The actions taken on the northern end of the Union defenses was as tenacious and bitter as anything at the Wheatfield or Peach Orchard, and could have reaped immense rewards for Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia, had these efforts been better exploited by men like Jubal Early and Robert Rodes. While Pfanz takes little time pointing the finger at anyone particular, the reader is made aware, and remains well aware that there were fundamental problems with southern command during the Gettysburg campaign. These issues that are brought to light by Pfanz makes the reader openly question how different this campaign could have been had the southern command structure been handled more efficiently in July of 1863. While this question will remain lost to history, Pfanz’s work does its best to answer whatever questions one may have about the action on Culp’s Hill and East Cemetery Hill. Pfanz’s work is as close to essential on Gettysburg as anything I have ever read before. The book offers immense, and sometimes inundating details about the battle and the men who waged it, but it never lets the reader forget that this battle was more of street brawl than a boxing match. I challenge anyone to read over the actions on Culp’s Hill and East Cemetery Hill and not be totally confused as to unit locations and performances. It simply, at times, leaves you needing time to digest all of the research. While this, in itself, may be off-putting to less-than-serious students of the battle, I was fascinated by Pfanz’s research and knowledge, and I gained a much more focused understanding of the second day at Gettysburg. I recommend this work for anyone that is in need of a better understanding of the battle of Gettysburg. This book, along with Pfanz’s other books on the battle, are simply must own for fans and scholars alike. I bought the set for my dad for Father’s Day and liked them so much I got myself a set, too. No serious student of the battle of Gettysburg should be without Pfanz’s essential works on July 1st and 2nd, and I only wish he would have done one on the 3rd of July as well. I guess we will never see that book, but here is to hoping Harry would consider it

Do you want a classic hour-by-hour account of what took place on Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill beginning at the end of Day 1 and ending with the Confederate withdrawal on Day 3 of the Battle of Gettysburg? If you are a serious student, historian, or follower of the battle, then this is a good book for you. If you are looking for some light reading, then choose something else. Mr. Pfanz meticulously researched this book and it is alive with minute details relating to the movements, decisions - both good and bad - of the commanders, soldiers and citizens impacted by 3 days of battle on Culp's and Cemetery Hill. It should be read with the other books by Mr. Phanz relating to the battle as it provides ancillary detail associated with the retreat by union forces back into the town of Gettysburg and how they recovered from the Day 1 defeats and took advantage of many mistakes made by Confederate decision makers during the subsequent days of the battle.

This is one of the best books I have ever read on the American Civil War. The amazing part of that statement is that Pfanz writes about actions at Gettysburg not only ignored by almost every other Civil War author but also largely ignored by the National Park Service itself. If you visit the park, these second and third day's battles are considered secondary in nature. No one really knows that the arched Cemetery entrance, just across from today's Visitor's Center, was Union headquarters the first night of the battle and a Union hospital thereafter. But Culp's Hill was a critical part of the Union army defensive line, the right flank, or "barbed" portion of what is described as the Union's "fish-hook" defesive position. Its loss would have been catastrophic to the Union army. It dominated Cemetery Hill and the Baltimore Pike, the latter being critical for keeping the Union army supplied and for blocking any Confederate advance on Baltimore or Washington, D.C. Cemetery Hill was initially occupied on the evening of July 1, 1863 by Union troops as a rallying point following their retreat from the Confederate victory north and west of town. Lee had given Ewell discretionary orders to seize the heights south of town. He believed Culp's Hill unoccupied and therefore a good target, one that would make the Union position on Cemetery Hill untenable. But this hill was not taken and unfortunately for Ewell, his failure to take Culp's Hill or Cemetery Hill the evening of the 1st is considered one of the great missed opportunities of the battle, possibly even the entire war. However, the reason for not assaulting these heights was intelligence that Slocum's entire Corps was approaching from the east on the Hanover Road. If those troops had arrived at the wrong time, Ewell's flank (and the entire Confederate Gettysburg line) would have been turned. But history has not seen fit to cut Ewell any slack. Thereafter, Culp's and Cemetery Hills were the scene of diversionary attacks by Lee on the second and third days. The second day's assault was to assist Longstreet's attack on the Confederate far right through the Wheat Field and along the Round Tops. But the Culp's Hill-Cemetery Hill attack was ill timed and the Confederate's suffered grievously during this action on both the right and left portions of their Gettysburg line. On the third day, Lee sought to coordinate attacks on Culp's Hill with Pickett's Charge against Cemetery Ridge. But again, the Army of Northern Virginia's movements were disjointed, Pickett attacking in the afternoon and the Culp's charges, three successive attacks, beginning at daybreak and ending around noon. Supplemental to Lee's overall strategy, the savage battles on days 2 and 3 at Culp's and Cemetery Hills have all but been ignored in most historians' Gettysburg analyses. In the interest of brevity, history simply does not detail these actions. But as you read Pfanz's most excellent work, you begin to understand the almost central role these actions had to Lee's overall Gettysburg campaign, and, as a result, begin to better understand the complexity and thoroughness of the Gettysburg campaign from the Confederate point of view. This is a very well written and well thought out work. I wish there were 6 stars.

I had relatives fighting for the Union VI, Onondagas, on Culp's Hill and have looked for details of their unit's performance. They only arrived for the third day's fighting. Still looking for more detail, but this book sets the stage very well. I heartily recommend it as a valuable addition to the story of the Gettysburg battle.

I am a lifelong student of the Civil War and the Battle at Gettysburg in particular. As an armchair general I have debated and discussed this battle more than any other with a whole host of others. I visit Gettysburg on a regular basis to continue my study of the ground on which it was fought. I have been there in July with identical weather to that of the time the battle was fought and still cannot comprehend how the men of both armies were able to fight so ferociously under such grueling conditions. Harry Pfanz has given the best treatment of this part of the battle I have found to date. The minute detail he presents gives life and body to what occurred during the battle. I would recommend this read to any and all who seek to learn the real story of why Ewell didn't take that "bloody hill." He didn't, because he couldn't, and not because he didn't try. The movie Gettysburg distorts the actual facts so I would recommend those who think Ewell was derelict in this matter to read this book.

Awesome book. The book goes into great detail Culp's and Cemetery Hill which will be of interest to those who want more in depth knowledge of the key portions of the battle. I do not suggest this book for the average reader who only want a broad overview of the battle.

Item delivered on time and in the condition promised. This is a classic volume on the second day at Gettysburg, and I had long ago misplaced my original copy.

Harry Pfanz does it again! Along with his previous books on the First and Second days at Gettysburg, Pfanz provides the minute details that books on the entire campaign can't include. For anyone who wants to drill down below the surface and understand all the aspects of the battle of Gettysburg, this book is a must. Whether you are adding it to the other two of his books or looking at the entire trilogy, they are well worth the price. You will find details about the people, places and action in this book, that brings the battle alive for me. The Coddington book may be the textbook on command decisions, but books like Pfanz writes make the reader feel like they could have been there.

This is a very good book for Gettysburg enthusiasts. Pfanz does justice to an important part of the Union position that is always overshadowed by stories of the assault on Little Round Top and Pickett's Charge. The casual Civil War buff may be overwhelmed. Pfanz is very detailed and much of the book is written at the regimental level. One not generally familiar with the right part of the Union line and the generals involved may find themselves getting lost. But for those who want to know the Battle of Gettysburg, this is an excellent work that gives great detail while preserving the flow of the story. I always enjoy Gettysburg works that focus on General Greene and his defense of Culps Hill against superior Confederate numbers. One could argue that he did the same service in holding the right flank that Chamberlain performed on the left with the 20th Maine. Greene, who was old, did not have the further battle opportunities Chamberlain would enjoy, and did not go on to be a Governor and become known, is unfortunately an unsung savior of the Union cause. This book does him and his men justice. I was struck by the fact that both Union and Confederate battle reports (through more Confederate) from Cemetery Hill / Culp's Hill don't seem to go into the detail that has produced fairly certain histories of other parts of the battle. Perhaps the fact that some of the fighting was at night or late evening and much of it in wooded terrain made the General less sure of their positions had something to do with it. Or perhaps Pfanz (this is the first one of his books I have read) is more diligent in writing about what is not known than other authors, but the difference is noticeable to the serious student of the battlefield. The book is almost all action. Bios of various commanders (down to the regimental level) who figure in the fight are given, but thankfully the author did a nice job of performing this background in a paragraph and not digressing from the battle progression the way some authors do. A very good and highly detailed work that is accessible and holds the reader's interest.

As a student of the Civil War, and particularly the Gettysburg campaign, I've read many accounts of the battle in preparation for seminars and tours. The Pfanz books on The First Day, The Second Day, and Culp's Hill & Cemetery Hill have proven to be the best and most comprehensive of the lot - they are the definitive reference materials for my purposes. Too often the activities on the southern end of the battlefield on the 2nd Day and the middle of the union line on the 3rd Day receive the preponderance of visitor, guide, and author attention, with the actions at Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill relegated to a cursory treatment or a late-day visit or drive-by. Pfanz has addressed the need for a detailed tactical study of the actions on the north end of the Gettysburg battlefield in readable and engrossing style - I enjoyed this book as I read it, which I can't say about much of the civil war research materials. I anticipate rereading it often in preparation for future Gettysburg tours.

Harry Pfanz is easily one of the most recognized names when it comes to knowledge on the battle of Gettysburg. Pfanz, the former Chief Historian of the National Park Service, has also written two outstanding books on the battle, Gettysburg: The First Day and Gettysburg: The Second Day. These books are simply mandatory reading for anyone trying to gain an understanding of the importance of the most definitive battle of the American Civil War, and this book offers terrific insight into why July 2nd is ultimately what decided Gettysburg. This work sets the scene perfectly for the second day, giving the reader an enormous amount of information as to why July 2nd represented the best opportunity for the South to achieve ultimate victory at the battle, as well as possibly the war. The second day of the battle of Gettysburg is easily the most impressive and important day of the three-day struggle in south-central Pennsylvania. Places like the Devil’s Den, Peach Orchard, Little Round Top, and the Wheat Field are cemented in the American psyche, and the sheer mention of their name remunerates the reader with scenes of blatant tenacity and bloodcurdling horror. However, other places like Culp’s Hill and East Cemetery Hill encompassed just about as much carnage and importance as these aforementioned locations. Pfanz does these places justice by meticulously recounting the actions on the evening of July 2nd, 1863, and the consequences they had on the battle at large. This book covers every minute aspect of the action at Culp’s Hill and East Cemetery Hill on July 2nd, 1863. Most impressively it showcases how porous the southern leadership from the top down was on July 2nd, while also showcasing the terrible performance of Pendleton’s artillery wing during the engagement. Pfanz offers a scything assessment of every southern leader’s performance during the battle, and it really made me rethink my how different the battle could have been, had July 2nd been a more concerted effort on the part of Lee and his lieutenants. Pfanz’s retelling of the intrepid assault by Harry Hays’ Louisianans and Isaac Avery’s North Carolina Brigade on the evening of July 2nd, is simply the best telling of this attack I have ever read. Why these locations remain relatively unknown is a mystery to me, and after reading this book, it has become moreso. The actions taken on the northern end of the Union defenses was as tenacious and bitter as anything at the Wheatfield or Peach Orchard, and could have reaped immense rewards for Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia, had these efforts been better exploited by men like Jubal Early and Robert Rodes. While Pfanz takes little time pointing the finger at anyone particular, the reader is made aware, and remains well aware that there were fundamental problems with southern command during the Gettysburg campaign. These issues that are brought to light by Pfanz makes the reader openly question how different this campaign could have been had the southern command structure been handled more efficiently in July of 1863. While this question will remain lost to history, Pfanz’s work does its best to answer whatever questions one may have about the action on Culp’s Hill and East Cemetery Hill. Pfanz’s work is as close to essential on Gettysburg as anything I have ever read before. The book offers immense, and sometimes inundating details about the battle and the men who waged it, but it never lets the reader forget that this battle was more of street brawl than a boxing match. I challenge anyone to read over the actions on Culp’s Hill and East Cemetery Hill and not be totally confused as to unit locations and performances. It simply, at times, leaves you needing time to digest all of the research. While this, in itself, may be off-putting to less-than-serious students of the battle, I was fascinated by Pfanz’s research and knowledge, and I gained a much more focused understanding of the second day at Gettysburg. I recommend this work for anyone that is in need of a better understanding of the battle of Gettysburg. This book, along with Pfanz’s other books on the battle, are simply must own for fans and scholars alike. I bought the set for my dad for Father’s Day and liked them so much I got myself a set, too. No serious student of the battle of Gettysburg should be without Pfanz’s essential works on July 1st and 2nd, and I only wish he would have done one on the 3rd of July as well. I guess we will never see that book, but here is to hoping Harry would consider it

Do you want a classic hour-by-hour account of what took place on Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill beginning at the end of Day 1 and ending with the Confederate withdrawal on Day 3 of the Battle of Gettysburg? If you are a serious student, historian, or follower of the battle, then this is a good book for you. If you are looking for some light reading, then choose something else. Mr. Pfanz meticulously researched this book and it is alive with minute details relating to the movements, decisions - both good and bad - of the commanders, soldiers and citizens impacted by 3 days of battle on Culp's and Cemetery Hill. It should be read with the other books by Mr. Phanz relating to the battle as it provides ancillary detail associated with the retreat by union forces back into the town of Gettysburg and how they recovered from the Day 1 defeats and took advantage of many mistakes made by Confederate decision makers during the subsequent days of the battle.

This is one of the best books I have ever read on the American Civil War. The amazing part of that statement is that Pfanz writes about actions at Gettysburg not only ignored by almost every other Civil War author but also largely ignored by the National Park Service itself. If you visit the park, these second and third day's battles are considered secondary in nature. No one really knows that the arched Cemetery entrance, just across from today's Visitor's Center, was Union headquarters the first night of the battle and a Union hospital thereafter. But Culp's Hill was a critical part of the Union army defensive line, the right flank, or "barbed" portion of what is described as the Union's "fish-hook" defesive position. Its loss would have been catastrophic to the Union army. It dominated Cemetery Hill and the Baltimore Pike, the latter being critical for keeping the Union army supplied and for blocking any Confederate advance on Baltimore or Washington, D.C. Cemetery Hill was initially occupied on the evening of July 1, 1863 by Union troops as a rallying point following their retreat from the Confederate victory north and west of town. Lee had given Ewell discretionary orders to seize the heights south of town. He believed Culp's Hill unoccupied and therefore a good target, one that would make the Union position on Cemetery Hill untenable. But this hill was not taken and unfortunately for Ewell, his failure to take Culp's Hill or Cemetery Hill the evening of the 1st is considered one of the great missed opportunities of the battle, possibly even the entire war. However, the reason for not assaulting these heights was intelligence that Slocum's entire Corps was approaching from the east on the Hanover Road. If those troops had arrived at the wrong time, Ewell's flank (and the entire Confederate Gettysburg line) would have been turned. But history has not seen fit to cut Ewell any slack. Thereafter, Culp's and Cemetery Hills were the scene of diversionary attacks by Lee on the second and third days. The second day's assault was to assist Longstreet's attack on the Confederate far right through the Wheat Field and along the Round Tops. But the Culp's Hill-Cemetery Hill attack was ill timed and the Confederate's suffered grievously during this action on both the right and left portions of their Gettysburg line. On the third day, Lee sought to coordinate attacks on Culp's Hill with Pickett's Charge against Cemetery Ridge. But again, the Army of Northern Virginia's movements were disjointed, Pickett attacking in the afternoon and the Culp's charges, three successive attacks, beginning at daybreak and ending around noon. Supplemental to Lee's overall strategy, the savage battles on days 2 and 3 at Culp's and Cemetery Hills have all but been ignored in most historians' Gettysburg analyses. In the interest of brevity, history simply does not detail these actions. But as you read Pfanz's most excellent work, you begin to understand the almost central role these actions had to Lee's overall Gettysburg campaign, and, as a result, begin to better understand the complexity and thoroughness of the Gettysburg campaign from the Confederate point of view. This is a very well written and well thought out work. I wish there were 6 stars.

I had relatives fighting for the Union VI, Onondagas, on Culp's Hill and have looked for details of their unit's performance. They only arrived for the third day's fighting. Still looking for more detail, but this book sets the stage very well. I heartily recommend it as a valuable addition to the story of the Gettysburg battle.

I am a lifelong student of the Civil War and the Battle at Gettysburg in particular. As an armchair general I have debated and discussed this battle more than any other with a whole host of others. I visit Gettysburg on a regular basis to continue my study of the ground on which it was fought. I have been there in July with identical weather to that of the time the battle was fought and still cannot comprehend how the men of both armies were able to fight so ferociously under such grueling conditions. Harry Pfanz has given the best treatment of this part of the battle I have found to date. The minute detail he presents gives life and body to what occurred during the battle. I would recommend this read to any and all who seek to learn the real story of why Ewell didn't take that "bloody hill." He didn't, because he couldn't, and not because he didn't try. The movie Gettysburg distorts the actual facts so I would recommend those who think Ewell was derelict in this matter to read this book.

Awesome book. The book goes into great detail Culp's and Cemetery Hill which will be of interest to those who want more in depth knowledge of the key portions of the battle. I do not suggest this book for the average reader who only want a broad overview of the battle.

Item delivered on time and in the condition promised. This is a classic volume on the second day at Gettysburg, and I had long ago misplaced my original copy.

Harry Pfanz does it again! Along with his previous books on the First and Second days at Gettysburg, Pfanz provides the minute details that books on the entire campaign can't include. For anyone who wants to drill down below the surface and understand all the aspects of the battle of Gettysburg, this book is a must. Whether you are adding it to the other two of his books or looking at the entire trilogy, they are well worth the price. You will find details about the people, places and action in this book, that brings the battle alive for me. The Coddington book may be the textbook on command decisions, but books like Pfanz writes make the reader feel like they could have been there.

This book gives you the insight normally given to the Union left to the Union right. It does a great job of telling you what a near run thing the Culp's Hill action was.

A fitting finale to Pfanz’s trilogy on Gettysburg. My favorite as it is the portion of the BattIe knew the least about. Probably only for serious historians and buffs but this detailed history omits nothing. Highly recommended.

Awesome book. Great condition. Informative on topic. Highly recommend for Civil war/Gettysburg enthusiasts.

Well researched and presented. This portion of the battle was as important as the Round Tops, but does not get the same attention. Love the way Pfanz mixes in personal stories and eye witness accounts.

As Advertised

Excellent and well written

As many have noted, this is THE book concerning the Confederate attacks on Culp's Hill and East Cemetery Hill on 2 and 3 July. This part of the battle is generally less well known than Longstreet's assault on the Union Left, but it was just as important to the story of the battle. The book also includes a discussion of the decision not to attack Cemetery Hill late on 1 July, the skirmishing on Brinkerhoff's ridge, skirmishing within the town, and other important, smaller engagements. Highly recommended for any Gettysburg enthusiast.

This book is not for the casual reader. There are hundreds of books about Gettysburg, covering single days, single hours, single engagements and every part of the entire battlefield. This book will be of the greatest interest to people studying the movements of specific units whose activity during the three day battle took place at Culp's and Cemetery Hill. It covers all involved units in detail and contains biographical information about leaders to the brigade commander level. IT would be of particular interest to armchair historians, serious civil war buffs and genealogists studying individuals connected with the battle.

This book is for those who want to delve deeply into one aspect of the Battle of Gettysburg. It's packed with details and was very helpful for my research

Fantastic book! Enjoyed it very much. Fast delivery and well packaged.

Great book. Highly recommend to anyone who is interested in the history of the Civil War and is very well written.

I purchased this series as a preliminary for a two day guided tour of the Gettysburg Battlefield. The series allowed me to fully utilize the extensive expertise and knowledge of guide that we hired for the tour. If you are planning a tour, or just want an extensively detailed account of the battle, this is a "must read". It allowed me to fully utilize the extensive and excellent knowledge of the guide we hired to lead our tour.

Well-written by one of the few actual experts of the Gettysburg conflict.

I wanted to learn more about this area of the battlefield which is not as "popular". This book is known as the best on the Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill areas. It did not disappoint! It includes very enlightening info on the controversy of Ewell's "failure" to take Cemetery Hill on July 1st. I read it with a highlighter in hand and there are lots of marks in it. It has great maps which show the locations of Union and Confederate troops throughout the three days of the battle. I can't wait to go back to Gettysburg and check out these spots!!

A great read. The book broke down the struggle on the Union right and how the AOTP could have had its right rolled up and lost this battle. A must read for history buffs.

Harry Pfantz is an excellent detail man. He tells the story of Culp's Hill as if he was there and misses few, if any, details. I appreciate a writer like this. One can almost feel the action.

There is no one better in telling the story of the Battle of Gettysburg and the best historian of the Battle does an excellent job in explaining all of it in his books. Easy to read and follow with a perfect balance of tactics, troop movements, thought processes, and human interest vignettes intermingled in the text. After reading his books you will understand the Battle with ease.

Excellent ,if like minute details of this part of the battle,this is for you.I'm somewhat of an historian,and have referred to this on many occasions.

Pfanz is meticulous, almost to a fault. A former guide, he knows exactly what he is talking about. These books are not for the casual fan. They are intended, I believe, for Gettysburg fanatics like myself.

Harry Pfanz detail to the Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill are fantastic.

My great-grandfather was at Culp's Hill on July 3rd 1864. This was a good description of what he went through and why all of descendantys are a little nuts.

Virtually all Gettysburg buffs are knowledgeable about the fighting on the Union left, especially around Little Round Top on July 2nd, and the attacks on the Union center, especially Pickett's Charge on July 3rd. And most tours of the Gettysburg Battlefield focus on Little Round Top and the Copse of Trees. In contrast, the repeated Confederate assaults on the Union right, directed at Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill, receive relatively short shrift. On my last trip to Gettysburg, I took steps to address that imbalance in my own understanding of the battle by taking a tour of Culp's Hill and by purchasing this fine book. Harry W. Pfanz (b. 1921, d. 2015) served for ten years as historian at Gettysburg National Military Park, before becoming chief historian of the National Park Service. After retiring from the Park Service in 1981, he spent twenty years researching and writing his Gettysburg trilogy, of which GETTYSBURG -- CULP'S HILL & CEMETERY HILL is one installment. The book is limited to "the operations and people directly associated with the attack and defense of these hills to the exclusion of definitive discussions of the battle on other parts of the field." Warning: it is not for the beginning student of the battle. It is, however, a very good, in-depth account of a vitally important and too-often overlooked area of the battlefield, where fighting occurred on all three days. Among the aspects of the battle that Pfanz discusses in some detail are the following: The Union retreat through the town of Gettysburg on the afternoon of July 1; Confederate General Richard S. Ewell's decision not to attack Cemetery Hill the evening of July 1 (Pfanz tends to defend Ewell); General Meade's order on July 2 to strip forces from Culp's Hill in order to plug the weakness in the Union line caused by Dan Sickles's insubordinate placement of the Third Corps; the Confederate attack against the perilously weakened Union defenses at Culp's Hill at dusk on July 2; General Rodes's delay in joining the attacks of Early's brigades on Cemetery Hill the night of July 2; the confused night-time fighting in the woods on both hills; and the myth of peaceful, fraternal filling of canteens by exhausted Union and Confederate soldiers in the darkness at Spangler's Spring. Pfanz draws heavily on regimental histories and soldiers' letters and remembrances. He does a good job of assessing credibility. Considering the amount of detail that Pfanz packs into his account, the book is very well written. In addition to descriptions of the action and occasional analysis, Pfanz also includes background profiles of dozens of the more significant officers, both Union and Confederate. There are over seventy illustrations as well as fifteen useful maps, many of which include critical topographical information.

As he did in his other volumes on the Gettysburg battle, Harry Pfanz provides a definitive account of the action on, and related to, Culp's and Cemetery Hills. In reading his work, one gets the impression that the narrative includes only that which the existing documentation will support. This approach is a refreshing contrast to the more routine practice of writing Civil War battle history to fit one of the common contemporary interpretive frameworks, describing the actions of units and officers based on their 21st century reputation or attribution of emotional responses for example. In addition, the parts of the action for which little or no documentation is available are noted, which is also a relatively rare practice. The description and analysis in the book of the situation and actions on July 1 and on how the Army of Northern Virginia ended up continuing to attack these hills on July 2 and 3 deserve special mention. The situation facing Ewell's Corps after it took possession of the town is a model of clarity and thoroughness; Chapter 6 ("Ewell Hesitates") alone is worth the price of the book. Union troops were not nearly as `broken' as is commonly assumed now, and Ewell's and Lee's lack of knowledge about the disposition of remainder of the Army of the Potomac induced caution, causing them to withhold brigades as reserves that could have been used to exploit the victory won north and west of town. On July 2, Lee's overall concept for his attack seems sound, as it had the desired effect. Meade did seriously weaken his right to support his left, but Ewell was not able to generate enough combat power to exploit it.

This is a fantastic book for many historians - detailing a somewhat neglected area of the Gettysburg battle. It is detailed in the extreme focusing on the movement of troops down to very small but important placement of various regiments throughout the fight. It is a goldmine of information, wonderfully researched and for any SERIOUS historian a valuable research tool. That is what it is. What it is not is an interesting read. The few anecdotes that bring the battle from dry troops movements into the realm of bringing the battle to life are few and far between. The brief bios of many of the leaders are welcome but almost universally dry recitations of fact and do little, with a few noteable exceptions, to bring these people to life. This is a great tool, and a tremendous aid to understanding the battle. Combined with another book that can bring the feel of battle and the lives of men to life - it would be excellent. For the Gettysburg enthusiast - it's a must have ....... just do not expect to be moved or drawn into the feel of battle, the lives of the leaders or the common soldier in any meaningful way. It deserves a 5 star review if you are looking for reference........if you are looking for the broader history with setting, emotion and a feel for the time - a 2 star review would be appropriate.

Pfanz' final book in his trilogy of Gettysburg covers a relatively forgotten area of the Battle of Gettysburg. Granted, while I have visited Culp's and Cemetery Hill during each of my Gettysburg visits, I tended to spend most of my time around the second day's fighting (Little Round Top, Devil's Den, Wheatfield, Rose Farm and Woods, Peach Orchard, Trostle Farm) and Pickett's Charge. Pfanz has done the public a great service by providing a book of the actions around Culp's and Cemetery Hill. Indeed, no one probably knows more about Gettysburg than Pfanz. As usual, he provides sometimes overwhelming details of the actions. His narrative is interesting and I enjoyed reading anecdotes of the main characters (Greene, Steuart, Howard, Meade, Ewell, Early, etc.). Pfanz describes terrain features, battle participants, battle actions, and other details like only he can. However, there is one sticking point that I have noticed in other Civil War books and have noted in other reviews - there simply are not enough maps. While the maps provided are of excellent detail and contain helpful summaries of the actions represented in the maps, there could have been at least 10 more. I believe there are about 15 maps in the book - there easily could have been 25. I say this because of Pfanz' attention to detail - having more maps to support the battle actions would have made it easier for me to follow the actions. On more than one occasion I was bug-eyed trying to follow what Pfanz was describing! I am certainly not a military expert (although I am an ex-Air Force Officer) nor an armchair general. I simply enjoy reading more about the heroic actions of soldiers on both sides during a tragic period of our great nation's history. Complaint aside, I highly recommend Pfanz' title as the definitive account of Culp's and Cemetery Hill. Read, enjoy, and be prepared to follow the large amount of detail - you will need to put on your thinking cap for this and the other Pfanz titles!

If you don't like detail than this is not your book . This book pinpoints all the key occurrences and strategies and major participants and their units. Without being judgmental, Pfanz lays all the facts before Ewell at the time he received Lee's order to take Culp's Hill. It's more plausible to understand why he didn't particularly with a phantom enemy on his northeastern front. Keys well on the Generals involved, who was really the smart General who choose Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill to make a stand, Howard vs. Hancock. A wonderful description of the retreat through the town, the combat around the town, the valiant attacks by Johnson's corp and near success and all the skirmishing that occurred in front of the key hills and to the north and east. After reading about the stoic charges by the confederates uphill, across open fields and the strong defense by the Union it is a wonder that the Confederates could limp away the evening of July 4. Pfanz also brings out how frustrated Lee was in attempting to consolidate his line and move Ewell's corps further south/west without success. The role of Ewell and Early in this failed attempt is discussed. Also, notable that Rode's attack with Johnson on the second day was difficult to coordinate due to the town and geography. This failure looms very large and demonstrated how difficult it was to move large forces of men around terrain with impediments (lots of fences) and moving against artillery. If Lee's left wing could not coordinate it's own attack with success on the second day across fields and into artillery on Rode's side of the field, it seems too impossible for Longstreet's attempt the next day. The controversies of Longstreet's Charge (misnamed Picket's) have often over shadowed the great controversy of the Ewell and his generals problems taking the hill's the first day and Rode's disaster and poor timing of the second. The timely union movements that won the battle of the hills told together with accidental movements that almost lost the hills is told so well had you not known the outcome, you would be on the edge of your seat. By identifying the units on the field, Pfanz demonstrates that north and south maryland units actually fought each other. Pfanz's telling demonstrates how hard the war was, the advantages of concentration, the geography of the land and tremendous courage on both sides. P.S., any CW book that Gary Gallagher (editor) is involved with is a collectable.

Gettysburg: Culp's Hill & Cemetery Hill is the second of a three volume set by Harry Pfanz former Chief Historian of the NPS. This volume in my opinion is the best of the three in that the writing, while formal in style, is much clearer and easier to understand. The book deals basically with the largely forgotten aspects of the battle, the combat for Cemetery and Culp's Hill and contains an extensive account of the operational thinking of Generals Lee and Ewell as to whether to not to assault Cemetery Hill at the conclusion of the first day's combat. I have read many books on Gettysburg and this is the only one to deal with the events following the collapse of the 11th corps and the capture of the town in detail along with the preparations leading up to events of July 2nd. Why this material was not included in the final volume, Gettysburg the First Day, is unknown but as an historian I am glad to see it finally come to light. From this point we begin the story of July 2nd and the assaults that were made late in the afternoon and early evening on both hills. This is not a book for the casual Gettysburg reader as it can be, at times, a difficult read. The maps, while excellent, are too few in number and one often finds himself flipping back and forth to view a situational map, which leads to a loss of though. It is well documented and leaves no question as to what is happening. It is a serious study for the serious reader and the best of the three volume set.

It wasn't until reading this book by Harry Pfanz, that I came to better appreciate just how pivotal the areas of Culp's and Cemetery Hills were to the outcome at Gettysburg. I've read MANY accounts of the battles of the 1st day (west of town), and the second day's contests at Little Round Top, Devil's Den, Cemetery Ridge, etc.... and, of course, Pickett's Charge on July 3rd. But, all too often, the two hills south east of Gettysburg have been over-shadowed by the afore-mentioned arenas. Phanz shows clearly how the two hills effected the outcome of the battle, and how the fighting in these sectors directly effected what happened on the ridges and hills to its south and west during the three days. I enjoyed reading this book immensely. It was one of those books on the battle that I just could not put down once I started. Phanz combines historical accuracy and fact along with many human interest vignetts, and bio's on the leaders and their roles during the actions that their respective commands took part in. What I truly appreciate most about this book is how Phanz helps dispells two myths: 1.) The Union 11th Corps has received a bum rap throughout history - that many 11th Corps units fought heroically and tenaciously both on the second day as well as the first day. And... 2.) That the commanders and enlisted men of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia were not invincible warriors who could take any situation and turn it into glorious victory. They were men who, when faced with overwhelming odds, could fail. As I read this book, I aquired a much clearer view of just what happened at Gettysburg: The Confederate chain of command broke down - and with disasterous results. Much in the same way that their beleagured counterparts in the Army of the Potomac had done nearly every time prior to the great showdown in Pennsylvania. For some, this book will undoubtedly raise that never-ending question: Had Stonewall Jackson been there, would the Confederate Army have met with greater success on July 1st? Perhaps. But, Phanz clearly shows with facts and accounts how the Confederates of Ewells's corps were just as exhausted and disorganized as the Union defenders on Cemetery Hill were at the end of July 1st. At any rate, I don't pay too much heed to the "what if-ers" of Civil War speculation. What I say to those people is that "if only General Grant been commander of the Union forces at Antietam - if HE was the one with Lee's plans in his hands - the war would have ended in Maryland a year earlier." But, reality is reality - and what made Stonewall Jackson a great commander is also what got himself killed at Chancellorsville. There's a reason for everything. If not at Gettysburg, the Union would have prevailed somewhere else. And, in this book, Phanz relates how the Commanders and the rank and file of Army of the Potomac rose to meet the crisis... and how they were always worthy opponenets of their southern adversaries. So, with that being said... Buy this book if you want a thorough, exciting, and reality-based account of the struggles that ocurred on Culp's and Cemetery Hills at Gettysburg. I will be so much more informed, and I will have such a better grasp of history as I walk along the slopes of Culp's and Cemetery Hills on my next visit to the battlefield.

Harry Pfanz, a former Chief Historian of the National Park Service, has written a three-volume narrative of the Battle of Gettysburg. This volume, "Gettysburg, Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill" (1993) covers the fighting on the Union right -- Confederate left part of the line. This aspect of the Battle has not received the attention that has been accorded to Pickett's charge or to Longstreet's assault on the Union left on July 2. But it is an important and interesting component of the Battle nonetheless. Further, Culp and Cemetery Hills were the only parts of the battlefield that saw sustained action during all three days of the fighting. Pfanz begins, as the story must, with several chapters on the first day of the battle, July 1, 1863. The first day reached its climax with a Confederate victory north and west of Gettysburg which pushed two Union Corps, the first and the eleventh, through the town and unto Cemetery Hill south of town. Cemetery Hill and the adjacent Culp's Hill were crucial to the defense of the entire Union line on Cemetery Ridge. Pfanz' book discusses at length the Confederate failure to pursue the attack on day 1 and to attempt to take these two hills. Pfanz concludes that the Confederate corps commander, Lietenant General Richard Ewell, was probably not at fault by failing to attack and try to take these hills on July 1. This pivotal moment of the Battle is a subject of endless debate among students of Gettysburg. Pfanz also describes in detail the fighting for Cemetery and Culp's Hills during the evening of July 2, after the Union had heavily occupied and fortified them. Pfanz also offers a good discussion of skirmishing and of fighting in the town of Gettysburg itself -- again a matter that sometimes receives too little attention in other studies. Pfanz' account of the fighting for the hills focuses on the vagaries of battle and of the tremendous cost in human lives and suffering of the war. He points out that the Union basically committed errors involving both Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill that made the positions highly vulnerable. The Confederates fought valiantly but were unable to capture either hill due to the inherent strength of the defensive positions, lack of coordination, mistakes of their own, and fierce Union defense. The Confederates did capture some fortifications on Culp's hill, but were forced to abandon them on July 3. This leads to the third part of Pfanz' story. On July 3, General Robert E. Lee wanted to coordinate a resumption of the attack on the Union right with a new attack on the Union center and left -- which ultimately became Pickett's charge. But the fighting on the Union right came and went before the action in the center of the line began. There was fierce fighting on Culp's Hill beginning with a Union artillery bombardment at dawn and continuing until 11:00 that morning. The Confederates attacked the Union defenses repeatedly but were repulsed each time with heavy losses. Pfanz tells his story well and the book is full of detail about the participants, from the generals to the foot soldiers. His account strives to be full and objective and probably could have used more in the way of commentary and analysis. The book is not suitable for the reader with a casual interest in the Battle of Gettysburg or for someone coming to the Battle for the first time. For such readers, a good general account of the Battle would be more suitable. But for those wanting to study the Battle of Gettysburg in detail, Pfanz' work is essential. Robin Friedman

In Gettysburg: Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill, Harry Pfanz sheds light on one of the lesser known aspects of the Battle of Gettysburg. In the common history of the battle, much attention is paid to actions like Buford's stand, the attack on Little Round Top, and Longstreet's Second Assault (Pickett's Charge). In the shadows of these momentous events is the action on Cemetery and Culp's Hills. Ironically, these two hills formed the anchor of the Union line-the reason for fighting at Gettysburg in fact-yet the battles for them are nearly forgotten. Pfanz reminds us of their importance in this informative but somewhat lengthy tome. There can be no argument; Pfanz knows what he is talking about. His attention to detail, and the extent of his knowledge is truly impressive. However, when the entire Gettysburg Campaign can be explained thoroughly in 575 pages as Codington did, it can be somewhat tedious to read a 375-page book on two days of that campaign, and which only involved between fifteen and twenty percent of the combined armies. This is really the only shortcoming of the book. The story could have been better presented in fewer pages with less mind-boggling details. One is often confused when Pfanz shifts between brigades, regiments, and companies, while trying to remember the names of all their commanders. It appears that Pfanz was trying to please too many people with this work, and did not have the same skill of weaving the common soldier's story into the battle history that someone like Stephen Ambrose has. Aside from those technical complaints, the book is very informative and enjoyable to read if you take your time. There is nothing very controversial, as this is primarily a narrative. Pfanz does a good job of presenting all the facts available, allowing the reader to make their own decisions for the most part. On the whole, Pfanz' book is nothing spectacular, just good, informative history-a stepping-stone for further study and analysis.

The men who fought on Cemetery Hill had Pickett's Charge to boast about. This put them on an equal footing with the men fighting on Cemetery Ridge when swapping stories in the GAR hall. However, the men on Culp's Hill never seemed to be noticed. They spent two days in very close contact fighting several nasty engagements but who knew? Only the cavalry on July third has as little written about them as these men. A quick search will show this is one of two books that deal with this fighting. The other is a battlefield guide more than a history. That brings us to a second question: what did the men on Cemetery Hill do until Pickett's Charge? Harry W. Pfanz worked at Gettysburg as a historian from 1956 to 1966 and was Chief Historian of the National Park Service. His grasp of the details of the battle are excellent. However, he never allows the details to prevent us from seeing the operational picture at the same time. This combination of knowledge and ability to see beyond the trees is coupled with an outstanding writing ability. He is able to put the reader into the action without losing good historical content. This had to be a hard book to write. He could not expect reader to know about this area of the field nor could he ignore the impact those events have here. Walking a careful tightrope, he keeps us concentrated here while aware of the larger battle. The result is exciting, readable and informative all at once. This may not be his most accepted book but it is a very important contribution to our knowledge of Gettysburg.

I found Harry W. Pfanz's book to be well written, well researched and highly informative on the events that took in and around Culp's Hill and Cemetary Hill during the Battle of Gettysburg. Its pretty obvious to anyone who read this book that the author have great deal of understanding and knowledge of this part of Gettysburg and he spared no expense in writing about it. However, its pretty clear that this book was not written for novice reader on the battle. Its highly detail, at time almost tedious in some areas, so much information that someone who may not be familiar with Gettysburg may have some sort of an information overload. I would recommend that anyone who's starting out on this battle, should skip this book until later on. But on the other hand, if you're a experience Gettysburg reader, then this book is for you. I think its probably the best book written on the subject matter at hand, which was the actions around Culp's Hill and Cemetary Hill. The book comes well illstrated with black and white paintings and photos of leaders. The maps are very useful and detail but I agreed with one previous reviewer, we could use more maps. The book is thick and but I would recommended it highly to any experenced Gettysburg reader who wishes to know more about this battle.

My master's thesis was on George Sears Greene and his defense of Culps Hill, so as one can guess this was a very valuable source for information. Pfanz's book is a continuation of his studies on the various areas of the Gettysburg battlefield. Culp's Hill and East Cemetery Hill are not considered "hotspots" of the national park and therefore have not received the same attention as "The Angle" and Little Round Top. Pfanz's book has and will change that outlook. Pfanz's look at Culps Hill was both well researched and well written. He argues that the battle itself was determined on its flanks, both on Little Round Top and Culps Hill. The fighting on Culps Hill was not as destructive as the other areas of the battlefield, mostly due to the relatively low casualty figures from the breastworks constructed earlier on July 2nd, but its importance in the overall scheme has been unfairly overlooked. This book boasts an impressive bibliography that includes various primary accounts that were largely unheard of until this book's publication. In short, it opened my eyes to the real story of Gettysburg.

Like his other outstanding books Pfanz continues the superior details backed by biographies and personal accounts. Pfanz briefly explains the 1st Day battle and how it basically shaped Union and Confederate positions around Cemetary and Culp's Hill. After bringing the reader into position Pfanz brings you to the frontlines as General Ewell and General Howard collide. Ewell and the Confederates seize the town and sharpshooters abound on roof tops while artillery battles take place between Cemetary Hill and Benner's Hill. Pfanz then captures General Johnson's attack and the Confederate repulse as the Confederates struggle to take Culp's and Cemetary Hill and the final attacks fail and continue to cause extreme bloodshed. Maps are also included to assist the reader with positions and movements which completes this fine book. As with all of Pfanz's work, be prepared for a huge amount of detail followed by descriptive action!