Many Harvard men died at the Battle of Gettysburg as part of the valiant 2nd Massachusetts Volunteers and in fact the university honors these heroes with a memorial hall listing them. However, not everyone behaved courageously as Mary Kelly tells her husband, Homer, a professor at the school. Her great-great grandfather Seth Morgan apparently deserted, but though her family refuses to talk about his cowardly behavior, Mary needs to know the truth about Seth.

Mary and Homer begin their investigation into her roots by visiting her sister Gwen, who lives in the ancestral home where family items have been stored for years in the attic. They learn that third cousin removed Ebenezer Flint took everything while Gwen and her husband was away. Deciding to continue their quest, Mary and Homer visit the college archives and follow that up with a trip to Gettysburg. From there they go to DC to visit Ebenezer as a story unfolds of cowardice, treachery, and murder on the eve of the pivotal Civil War battle.

Though the prime plot is the modern day inquiries into the Morgan family roots, intermingling throughout the tale is a superb subplot focusing on the key characters involving what happened to Seth. Thus, readers, once adjusted to the flashbacks, receive two delightful tales, of which either could have stand-alone. The prime protagonists, past and present, come through as genuine so that the audience receives a wonderful historical tale inside a fun contemporary investigation into that past.

Harriet Klausner

The Deserter is the best plotted Jane Langton mystery in the whole Homer Kelly series. People who normally avoid her novels because there isn't enough mystery should give Ms. Langton another chance. You'll be following the developments with interest up to the last pages of the book.

A typical Homer Kelly novel pretty much gives the mystery away in the first few pages, and the focus is on how Homer or his wife Mary will find out what really happened. They usually bumble around quite a bit, and their efforts are more amusing than brilliant. What makes most of the novels appealing is their rich intellectual development of an interesting thinker and period in time.

In The Deserter, the excellent aspects of that approach are retained while interesting new aspects are added. I was very much impressed with these changes.

In the Deserter, the reader is presented with the same mystery that Mary Kelly has: What shameful thing happened to her great great grandfather, Seth Morgan that no one in the family wants to talk about? In the course of pursuing that mystery, Ms. Langton adds a second one for Ida Morgan, Seth's pregnant wife, during the Civil War. Where and how is he? Ida reads that he's listed as missing in action at Gettysburg, and wants to find out what happened.

The story has several narrators including Homer, Mary and Ida. In addition, you'll meet and listen to the story of Private Otis Pike, a member of the Harvard Class of 1860 and fellow Hasty Pudding Club member along with Seth and several of the other officers in the Second Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry at Gettysburg.

The book is filled with fascinating details of how the fallen Harvard men were remembered and honored by their school, the conduct at Gettysburg for this infantry unit, how the dead and wounded were handled, and the records involving the unit. Much of the details involving Gettysburg will evoke The Red Badge of Courage for you. The details are enriched by period photographs, reproductions of period documents and quotes from famous people involved in the Civil War. In a final note, Ms. Langton tells you where all of these people and details were derived.

As a story telling device, Ida's search for Seth is marvelous and provides many interesting insights into war's aftermath.

The book will have special appeal to those whose relatives died in the Civil War as well as to Harvard people who have stared up at those stone tablets in Memorial Hall.

After you finish this outstanding book, I suggest that you take the time to find out more about one of your relatives who is no longer with us. Naturally, if you have one about whom the family tries to avoid talking, you may bump into a fascinating story. But feel free to pick someone whom the family is proud of. Undoubtedly, you'll learn something important. Good luck in the archives and scrapbooks!

I don't read a great many mystery novels, although there are a few authors for whom I keep an eye open. Jane Langton is one of that small group. Her mysteries are far from any stereotype of hard-bitten private eye or police detective tales. Langton's books are quirky and literate, peopled by eccentric characters and, more often than not, deeply linked to some aspect of history. All involve Homer and Mary Kelly (both are Harvard professors, although Homer is also a former policeman) but usually the Kellys are less the center of the story than the means through which it is told. Mary Kelly, it turns out, has an ancestor who evidently did something terribly shameful during the Civil War, the details lost in family silence. Sparked by contemplation of Harvard's grand Memorial Hall, dedicated to the memory of those Harvard men who died fighting for the Union in the Civil War, the Kellys begin researching why great-great-grandfather Seth Morgan's name became shrouded in such disgrace. And it soon becomes apparent that the heart of the mystery lies at Gettysburg where Morgan's regiment, the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry, made a futile, bloody attack on Confederate works near Culp's Hill on the morning of the third day of battle. The novel's narrative switches back and forth from the present, with Homer and Mary delving into libraries and records depositories and family attics, to 1863 where we see the battle through the eyes of a scapegrace soldier and then the battle's dreadful aftermath of pain and suffering as Morgan's pregnant wife searches through hospitals for her vanished husband. For those of us who are students of that Civil War battle, the fictional detectives' excursion to Gettysburg will bring nods of recognition when they make the long walk from Lee's statue across the wide fields to that low stone wall on the other side of the Emmitsburg Road, marveling at the odd beauty of lines of cannons, and later when they encounter the less than scrupulous proprietor of Bart's Battle Flag Books where not all artifacts may be quite what Bart claims they are (and where Mary is astonished that so many books could be written about the Civil War).

Jane Langton is a gifted, somewhat unconventional writer who here has created strong images of the terror of the battlefield and the horror of the hospitals. And late in the book she crafts an extraordinary interlude when Homer Kelly returns to Harvard's Memorial Hall, today doing service as the freshmen dining hall, and envisions a magical dissolution of the gulf in time separating the current generation of heedless students eating sloppy joes there from the men commemorated about them in stone and stained glass, like Strong Vincent at Little Round Top and Robert Gould Shaw of Fort Wagner and Charles Russell Lowell at Cedar Creek, torn and bleeding bodies suddenly hoisted on to the tables amidst chicken fingers and Diet Coke. It is a powerful, eloquent moment, calling upon all of us to remember and understand.

Our family toured the Gettysburg Battlefield last summer for the first time. Although I'd been told that great effort has been made to preserve/return the battlefield to as close to its original appearance as possible, it was very hard to imagine what it looked like in 1863 because today it is so peppered with monuments, roads and tourists. I've seen a few pictures of Gettysburg from the 19th century with comparison modern photographs, but this book is by far the most comprehensive using this approach. I would have loved to have had this book along with us on our trip. It has a very clear map that shows not only the most popular sites on the standard driving tour but also the location of where each photograph in this book was taken and in which direction the camera was pointing. Six months later, it's been fun to reimagine our tour while looking at the photographs. Frassanito's book will definitely be in our backpack the next time we visit the battlefield. Without doubt, it will increase our imaginative powers as we try to envision what Gettysburg was like during those fateful days in July, 1863.

Great book. So is the Then and Now Companion book. Agree totally with the other reviews here.

No doubt you will have seen a few reprints of Mr. Frassanito's photo collections in other Gettysburg books. This 8 1/2 X 11 inch paperback guide has 49 very clear old and modern comparison view photos of the battlefield and town area and one etching. A splendid skematic/map is included that follows the park's official Battlefield Auto Tour Stops and spots the location of where the photo was taken (aligned with the battlefield auto tour), it's number in the book, and the direction of the photo.

18 of the photos are dated 1863, 8 are 1867, 6 are from the 1870's and the remaining come from the 1880 to 1890 period. Highlights include an 1882 photo of the "copse of trees" (High Water Mark) and two other old photos of Union view of Pickets charge (although a bit angled/limited). A caution for those with kids: 7 photos containing dead bodies. There are about 10 photos of the Wheatfield/Devils Den/Rose Farm-Woods area, 3 of Little Round top area, 9 of the town & close vicinity of Gettysburg, and 8 of the East Cemetary/Culps Hill area.

The COMPANION BOOK rates 4-stars, has the same great auto tour map location/direction of the photos but has both darker and less dated photos. 14 photos are dated 1863, 3 from 1866-69, and the rest are from the 1880's to late 1890's. There is a somewhat macabre photo of General John Reynold's family posing at the Slaughter Pen in November 1863 (outside Devils Den). Some good shots include Zieglers Grove and the Jenny Wade house. Kids caution: 5 photos showing dead bodies.

The short write-ups contained with the photos are pretty well constructed. You could take these books out with you and easily glance at the photos and write-up quickly for some quick perspective. All in all I think both of these paperback books would make an excellent reference. If you have to choose only one choose the original Then & Now over the "Companion", but I'd advise that you get both.

I generally agree with the other reviewers that this guide book is informative and useful. I have had it in had twice when I visited Gettysburg. A solid resource with some very interesting historical exerpts from after action reports etc.

I would also encourge people considering this book to take a look at Gettysburg: A Battlefield Guide by Mark Grimsley. (ISBN 0803270771) In my opinion the Grimsley book is a bit clearer on some of the more confusing parts of the battle - the fighting in the Wheatfield for example.

All things considered both books are quite good.

I just returned from my first Antietam visit after reading many books about the battle. The Staff Ride Guide gave me a thoroughly detailed, comprehensive, fascinating look at the battle. I brought along my father, not a Civil War buff, and he got a lot out of it as well. Good clear driving directions, great choices of accounts from both the O.R. and individual letters and diaries. Superb. I can't wait to use the other battlefield guides.

These series of books from the U. S. Army War College are the best available resource for conducting ACW battlefield tours - assuming that your purpose in touring battlefields is to study and understand the applicable tactics, strategy and terrain and to develop an appreciation for the objectives and efforts of the participants. If you go to ACW battlefields to gawk and gossip as an everyday tourist then an investment in these guides is unnecessary. If you have an active interest in ACW history, military history in general or fascinating chapters in human history, then these guides are remarkable values, "Best Buys". Helpful maps illustrate troop engagements and key terrain features, excerpts from the Official Records provide first person commentary from the participants at each "Stop" on your tour and concise analysis is provided to tie the story together. Thorough but not intimidating, insightful and objective, with no deficiencies noted.

This book focuses entirely on the actions at the Battle of Gettysburg preceding the arrival of the Union 11th Corps. The main focus is the encounter between the Union divisions of John Buford and James Wadsworth and the Confederate division of Harry Heth. The book gives a regiment by regiment account of the fighting on the morning of July 1st, but manages to stay fairly confusion free by using many maps (which, while being very simple, are quite good) and not jumping from action to action too quickly.
There is no overall weakness of the book that substantially detracts from it. The only real problem is a few instances of carelessness in which Shue called people by the wrong name or messed up other small facts. These mistakes are fairly insignificant, and do not detract substantially from the book.
The real strength of the book is in the last chapter. Much as Harry Pfanz did with his appendices in Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill, Shue uses this final chapter to discuss the various controversies of the mornings fighting and discuss his conclusions. In this part of the book Shue calls upon various firsthand accounts (all of which he cite, making it even more valuable) to weigh the various sides of the controversial issues and eventually come to a conclusion. These controversies include who fired the first shots for each side, evaluations of the performances of all the generals on both sides, and various other little tidbits.
This book provides a clear story of the mornings action on July 1st at Gettysburg in both narrative and analytical form, making it a worthwhile read.

In Morning at Willoughby Run, Richard Shue provides an in-depth look at the opening combat of the battle that came to be known as Gettysburg. With energetic prose, Shue leads the reader from the banks of the Rappahanock River to the meandering rivulet of Willoughby Run, just west of Gettysburg. His story, while very focused, flows very well, and keeps the reader's attention despite his attention to detail, which in other works has led to monotony. It seems that most treatises on the battle of Gettysburg glaze over the first day's fight, especially the opening action. Yet this action was critical in determining where the great contest would occur. Shue brings to light this importance in an intriguing way by showing the inaugural action to be the result of particular personalities, rather than great, uncontrollable events. The main characters in the developing drama are Buford, Reynolds, and Heth. To some degree, the aggressive spirit of all three men led directly to the conflict west of Gettysburg. Showing that personality shapes warfare, particularly here at Gettysburg was refreshing, and differentiates Shue's volume from other accounts of the first day, such as Coddington's, which takes a Risk-like* view of war. While the entire book was very readable, the most interesting part came at the end when Shue discusses some of the major controversies surrounding the opening engagements. Somewhat separated from the rest of the book, this one chapter allowed Shue to express his opinions, outside of the regular narrative. This was a pleasant surprise as he provides strong evidence for his assertions, and makes the reader believe his point of view-something that only analytical writing can accomplish-a very nice addition to the book. On the whole, this was a very good book, one that illuminates an aspect of the battle that is largely forgotten, but was vitally important. Shue brings to life the characters, both large and small, in order to relate a story of men and action instead of maps and numbers.

Richard S. Shue has given me the exact information I was looking for. I have studied the Civil War for some time now and continually get duped into buying books that I could write myself. This book explains Bufords actions to the letter, and gives a great description of the Iron Brigade, Archer, Doubleday, and Heth. If you are tired of hearing the name Chamberlain get this book.

The Gettysburg Address is one of the two most famous speeches in American history, the other being Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream Speech." But Lincoln's speech is the most important oration in our nation's history because before these 271 words were uttered at Gettysburg the United States did not really pay attention to the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence and the idea that "all men are created equal." At the dedication of the National Cemetary at Gettysburg Lincoln declared that those who died did so in defense of that proposition. From that point on, all of the advances in civil rights in this country can be tied to the Gettysburg Address. When the nation was founded "men" meant free, adult, white, male, property owners. Consider today what is meant by "men" when we talk about equality in this country and you have an idea of what Lincoln set in motion. Without Lincoln's speech and the Union winning the Civil War, King would never have given his speech.

The only real shortcoming of "Just a Few Words, Mr. Lincoln: The Story of the Gettysbug Address" by Jean Fritz is that it fails to address the significance of the oration beyond the idea that it was a speech to remember. Fritz focuses on the story, both in general terms of the Civil War and the importance of the Battle of Gettysburg, and the specifics of the occasion for the speech, including the sickness of Lincoln's son Tad and the lengthy oration by Edward Everett. The complete text of the speech is provided at the back of the book, which is a Level 3 All Aboard Reading book aimed at grades 2-3. The illustrations are mostly watercolors by Charles Robinson although there are also some historic photographs of Lincoln and his son. The important thing is that here is a book that tells the story of a great American speech and at least introduces to young students the idea that words can make a difference in the history of a nation.

This is a fun book that should help your youngster develop an interest in American History. It is easy to read an has great illustratiions. You will not be disappointed with this purchase. Look for others by the same author.

This was a very good book. I think that it teaches you important history you needd to know.

THIS BOOK IS A GOOD READ FOR ALL AGES. TAKES YOU THROUGH ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CONFLICTS IN THE MOST IMPORTANT BATTLE IN U.S. HISTORY. EASY TO READ.

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain did history a great favor by recording the events that happened on Little Round Top during the second day of the battle of Gettysburg. Thanks to him we have an eyewitness account of the 20th Maine's valiant defense of the left flank of the Union army. Rich with rhetoric, this account is packed with emotion and feeling.

The narrative is very short, only 29 pages, but there are many pictures and an appendix that make it well worth the money. Many well-known histories have drawn on Chamberlain's account of this part of the battle, and Michael Shaara's novel even quotes some of Chamberlain's lines. This primary source is highly recommended for anyone interested in the civil war, not just the die-hard historian.

Though at times difficult to read due to the flowery style of Chamberlain's rhetoric, this book is an exciting insight into the thoughts, feelings and experiences of someone who lived through the Battle of Gettysburg. This is more than an account of the battle, this is a window into the emotions and motives of why these men were willing to risk their lives for an ideal.

A great read of the historical turning point of the U. S. Civil War. Haskell describes the three days of battle and the aftermath. Haskell was subsequently killed in one of the latter battles of the Civil War. Although inaccurate at places, it gives a first hand account of this battle, and the subsequent suffering of the soldiers. This is a good account of the life of a soldier.

Colonel Haskell's perspective on the Battle of Gettysburg provides intriguing detail and insight omitted by secondary sources.

This book is a very good introduction to those who want to learn a little about the battle of gettysburg. Written in an easy to read style,it covers just enough detail to whet your appetite for more, or give you confidence to talk a little on the subject: there are 20 or so short digressions intersersed throughout the text which provide a little more biographical detail on key participants, or information about notable incidents. Recommended .

A wholly satisfying and occasionally inspired account of one of the pivotal events in American history. Veteran military historian Al Nofi constructs a clear, thoughtful narrative of the entire campaign (concentrating, of course, on the three days of the battle itself). Solidly researched, and the orders of battle are noteworthy for their detail. Also of especial interest are the modules interspersed throughout the book, dealing with individual figures and interesting sidelights (including a speculation on what the battlefield must have smelled like after three days of carnage and camping out!). Nofi's assessments of individual commanders are almost always judicious, although he's rather more charitable to Dan Sickles than most historians. All in all, this is an essential addition to any Civil War historian's bookshelf.

Want to learn what took place at Gettysburg? Get your hands on this little gem, you won't be dissapointed. Well researched and put together, it contains several footnotes detailing the battle, the Generals, and the soldiers. A must read

The Osprey Order of Battle series presents the military enthusiast with a microanalysis of famous battles, in this case devoting six volumes to the pivotal Civil War Battle of Gettysburg. This sixth volume (the Gettysburg books do not appear sequentially in the series) is devoted to the disposition of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia on July 2, 1863, while the seventh volume does the same for the Union Army of the Potomac. This book provides comprehensive organization diagrams, an analysis of operational objectives, and most importantly where each unit was at what point during the second day of the battle, including both the "tooth" combat elements and the vital "tail" support troops. The operational analysis is quite excellent and surprisingly concise. There are dozens of detailed maps, charts and photographs, providing a greater depth of coverage on this most analyzed Civil War battle.

Clearly this material will be on interest to those who want to study what happened in Gettysburg in minute detail, but I think the chief utility of this volume is for war gamming enthusiasts, who want to be able to position troops accurately for recreating the situation and trying to achieve a different objective; I have used the information to generate a brigade level version of the Battle of Gettysburg with the Civil War 2 computer game and I suspect it would be of even greater use to those who have the massive Gettysburg board game and want to give Lee another chance at taking the Union flanks on Day 2. Of course, given the advantage of hindsight, I have found that Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and the 20th Maine fail to hold Little Round Top and the Confederates turn the Union left flank. The Order of Battle books meet their objective in providing the most detailed information ever published about the great battles of history. In addition to Gettysburg this series has also covered the 1759 Battle of Quebec (interesting choice) and the WWII Battle of the Ardennes in 1944 (i.e., the Battle of the Bulge).

This is another excellent entry in Osprey's "Order of Battle" series. This book covers the Confederate operations at Gettysburg on the 2nd day.It lists commanders,units,and companies of the Army of Northern Virginia engaged that day. While books by giants like Coddington and Pfanz are for serious students of the battle ,I found this thin volume a refreshing,enlightening,and fun read.The author's frank language at interperting the dozens(it seems) of Confederate mistakes are refreshing as well. In one case critisizing the 15th Alabama's Oates post war contention about making Big round-top a fortress against attack as ridiculous,because Hood's division was trying to destroy the Union left,not get attacked.I never thought of it that way before! I only wish the authors had more company names listed. They might had researched the Internet as many detailed unit histories are found there,thanks to grass-root efforts by CS enthusiasts. However,this book is more than worthwhile for all interested in Lee's unforgetable Army and the South's great struggle for independence.

Gettyburg July 2 Confederate is a worthy successor to Gettysburg July 1 Confederate. The book is an improvement over the July 1 volumes,in part because, the July 2 volumes provide a more detailed map of the battlefield. Jim Arnold and Rebecca Weiner have put together a book historians, reenactors, and military enthusiasts can enjoy. The book show the second day of Gettysburg from the Confederate perspective, and effectively demonstrates the limited intelligence Lee had of the Federal positions and units. The Book starts off with a look at the strategy of the battle from the army of Northern Virginia's perspective. Then each of the three corps and it divisions are studied operationally. Within the divisional studies, units are further broken down by brigade, regiment, and company. Many of the companies are named. Unfortunately, some detached units, such as the 13 Virginia Infantry Regiment and the 21 Virginia Infantry Regiment Company "F" are not even acknowleged.

The only other errors appear to be the result of mistakes on part of the layout editor and not the authors. These are trivial, and should not besmirch such a splendid work. This work is important for it encapsulates the grand strategy of the campaign, the strategy of the army and corps, the tactics used by the divisions, brigades and regiments in an attmpt to effectuate this strategy, and finally, the role of logistics in suppying the army. The authors deserve to be commended for this work and I look forward to the future volumes covering July 3.

This is a book for Civil War buffs. The first half is interesting because it focuses on the raising and training of soldiers -- something not usually covered in other books of the genre. However, the author presents this material as a compendium of research tidbits rather than a story. The tale turns compelling and the writing more interesting when the Brigade meets its appointment with destiny at Gettysburg.

I read this book because I discovered that my great great grandfather fought with "A Co." 13th Reg. 2nd Brigade. A frenchman in the "Irish" company. Great detail on the volunteers who signed on for a quick nine month adventure and found eight months and two weeks of boredom and in the last weeks of their enlistment had a heroic march to get to Gettysburg and then to meet Picketts Charge, great story, even better knowing it is true.

Excellently written account of the day to day lives of the volunteer soldiers of the 2nd Vermont Brigade and of particular interest to me in that my great great grandfather was Freeman Sunderland, a member of CO.K, 13th Reg. and mentioned in the book. Thank you Mr. Coffin!