There are many wonderful facets to this story about a young boy who joins his family for an annual reenactment of the battle at Gettysburg. A pictoral essay provides an authentic look at the preparation and event providing an excellent forum for discussion among readers. The story, however, told from the perspective of this proud, young boy, shares a spirit of patriotism and historical empathy this is often difficult to relay to children as well as adults. Charley's experiences interpreting history as a reenactor emphasize the power of experiential learning. Every Social Studies teacher should read, learn from and share this beautiful story with students making note of the many history teachers in our students' lives -- parents, siblings, community members, museums and organizations!

Hassler manages to bring the reader to the front without much delay and the action gets right to the point. Common among other 1st Day books in regards to Gettysburg are sometimes boring biographies of people involved. This book simply skips the biography and states the incident quite quickly. From AP Hill's movements, Buford's defense, the 1st and 11th Corps retreat and the mad dash through town to Cemetary Hill this book quickly defines what happened. It was refreshing reading the regiment movements and actions along with the officers' guidance in these chapters. This book is not of the huge detail that is common in Harry Pfanz's book on the 1st Day, though it is a rather quick study of the general events that played out on July 1st 1863.

One thing that I wished were more prevalent were the use of maps. Hassler's regiment movements were sometimes a bit hard too follow. This book is one you would want to take to the battlefield and read as you could use the markers and monuments to get a better understanding. Some maps are used though I found them not as helpful as in other books on the subject.

Overall I think this book deserves the 5 stars as it captures the important aspects of Day #1 without lengthy trivial details. It reads well and focusses on just one thing- Day #1!

One of the best books covering the civilians, the town, and
significant buildings involved in the Battle of Gettysburg.
The main body of the book covers many personal accounts,
in detail, and includes source references. From my point
of view, the maps and descriptions of the town and structures
really are a valuable asset for people interested in a
point of view not readily availible from other sources.

This book reads easily, and manages to give the reader not only a clear picture of the three days at Gettysburg, but also probes into the commanders and their personalities and decisions. The book not only tells of what happened during the battle, but also what was "supposed" to happen and didn't. It goes into the personalities of such generals as Ewell and Longstreet and how they affected the outcome of key engagements and eventually the entire battle itself. Lee's abilities, and short-comings, is shown, and also his frustrations with the shrinking numbers of good Confederate commanders. All in all, if you've never read about Gettysburg, or if you've read extensively about it, this book is as enjoyable as it is informative.

A fantastic read. Visually stimulating!! Garry Adelman is a name to remember. He brings the Civil War alive. I've read ALL of his books.

This is an excellent book providing rich, orderly detailed narratives (i.e. easy to read), old & new photos to aid your tour and good graphic/maps. It cites quotations of battle participants in the context of the markers and photos. The author has done a very fine, interesting job in 90 pages. The book/guide is billed by the Tourist bureau net web site as a must read, and it is. It delivers. I'd suggest that this guide would be most appreciated by "return visitors" to the park, but first timers spending more than one day at the park could clearly get some very good value out of this finely detailed book also. I would further suggest that if one obtained the paperback gettysburg "Souvenir Guide to the National Military Park" (Gross & Collins) along with the Archer book they could greatly enrich their tour quality and efficiency. Hats off to John Archer, great work.

Mr. Riggs does an excellent job of putting the battle of Gettysburg in its proper light. The battle was won on the East Cavalry Field by Custer. Had he not held off Stuart,with Fitzhugh Lee and Wade Hamptons cavalry, Pickett's charge would have broken through the Union defenses and the South could have won the war. It was Custer that stopped the Confederate forces from coming behind the northern troops and causing a panic as Pickett's men were charging.

This is a wonderful book that originated from the idea of the Wall of Faces at the Gettysburg Visitors Center. The Gettysburg Nat. Mil. Park Library has received over 500 images donated from families and private collectors. This book(album) contains 200 of these images. Some of the images arrive with a bit of history or family lore. The book is divided into three parts: July 1, July 2, and July 3. The images are arranged into alphabetical order and display the soldiers name, rank, unit, age(some)and the final result of the individual)survived,killed,wounded or captured.) Most of the images show amazing detail and I enjoyed studying the uniforms, weapons and gear that the soldiers actually carried onto the battlefield. Also on page 52 is my distant cousin,Capt.Charles A. Phillips from Salem, MA. who suvived to become an attorney after the war.

The National Tribune was a post-war newspaper that catered to Civil War veterans. Former soldiers were encouraged to submit articles describing their wartime experiences and thousands of these personal accounts were published. Contributors, primarily Union veterans, ranged in rank from privates to generals, and their material covered a wide array of topics. Gettysburg was an especially popular theme. Scores of men who saw action in that epic battle used the National Tribune as a forum to explain their parts in the battle or the roles of their regiments. These writings were often detailed accounts and included material not found elsewhere. Frequently, debates erupted that ran their course through several issues of the paper. Included in this compilation are 142 of the best articles that appeared in the National Tribune. They encompass the entire campaign, from Ewell's success at Winchester to Lee's recrossing of the Potomac. This book presents the battle of Gettysburg through the eyes of the men who were there. From the accounts of these participants, today's readers can more fully appreciate and understand the men who fought and the events that transpired during those three, crucial, deadly days in July 1863.

Bowen's letters are wonderful to read. In an age when posturing and gallantly posing was openly admired, Bowen shows a remarkably unvarnished and very human side of his life in the 15th MVI. The editor, G. Coco, has added tremendous amounts of research and filled in the background of many of the people, places and incidents with which Bowen was so familiar. An absolute must for anyone with an interest in the history and genealogical aspects of 15th MVI.