The BEST Battle of Gettysburg Books You Should Read

ACHS historian Tim Smith provides his favorite books on the Battle of Gettysburg. He also discusses the different types of books on the battle and how you can use them to better understand the fighting at Gettysburg.
Tim is also a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park. He provides some tips on how to approach learning about the battle. Some of his book selections might surprise you!

[@NJcruiser]

When I became a Park Ranger at Gettysburg back in May 1977 the reading list we were given was for the entire battle Glenn Tucker's "High Tide At Gettysburg". For the first day if was Warren Hassler's "Crisis At The Crossroads". For the second day it was Oliver Norton's "The Attack And Defense Of Little Round Top". For the third day it was George Stewart's "Pickett's Charge". For soldier life it was Bell I Wiley's "The Life Of Johnny Reb", and the sister volume "The Life Of Billy Yank". At that time Coddington's book had not been reprinted so was very hard to get. Eventually Morningside did reprint it.

[@Stevenp1863]

I was given almost the exact list to study to be a guide.

[@pattube]

00:00 Intro 01:37 The Gettysburg Campaign (Coddington). But NOT recommended for everyone 03:02 High Tide at Gettysburg (Tucker) 03:30 They Met at Gettysburg (Stackpole) 04:50 Gettysburg: The Pivotal Battle of the Civil War (Beecham) 05:10 The Story of the Battles at Gettysburg (Scott) TBC...

[@The_Iowegian]

Stephen Sears books reignited my interest in the civil war back in 2017. The more overarching accounts helped drive my interest. I really enjoy now studying campaign level books from the Civil war and the French Revolutionary wars.

[@jimmypowell7508]

Would it be possible to get a list of the books you mentioned, title and author

[@davidwilhelm3431]

Tim Smith is such a credit to Gettysburg and the people who love to study about the battle. His knowledge is truly unbelievable about all things related to Gettysburg, whether it be the town's history, its people or anything battle-related. I would venture to say that no one knows more about the history of Gettysburg than Tim.

[@Toolaholic7]

I am into reading The Killer Angels right now.Watched Gettysburg and is right on with the book

[@plkangus]

The best one for me is "Gettysburg, A Journey in Time" by William Frassanito, which, along with his book, "Antietam, the Photographic Legacy of America's Bloodiest Day" sparked my lifelong interest in the American Civil War.

[@joycefranklin8981]

The very first book I read (many years ago) on the Battle of Gettysburg was "They Met at Gettysburg". Also, shortly after was 'High Tide at Gettysburg"' I was hooked! Have read many more, have a small library of books on the battle and others in the war. Also a long time member of the Civil War Trust, now the American Battlefield Trust. Keep up the good work!

[@scottrmckinley]

Very informative! I’d love to see a series of more videos on ‘Books of the Battle’. Perhaps a selection of books to hold up with their dust jackets on in aide of making them easier to find or remember. I’d also like to shout out Tim for doing this in one take to camera!

[@GhostofSicklesleg]

The video I didn’t think I needed, yet it is the exact video I needed! I have a rather large Civil War library, but this video has focused me on what I need. Thanks

[@MorgansRaiders23]

I agree Tim, my favorite book on Gettysburg is Tucker's "High Tide at Gettysburg". I've re-read it a couple times. It's a great comprehensive book without getting too buried in the details.

[@jumpmaster82nd.]

The ORs, Batchelder Papers and Phil Lainos "Gettysburg Campaign Atlas" is the triple crown for me. Fill in with the other books...

[@kathywolcott5157]

Tim, great video. Love to talk books! Have a pretty good library here between myself, our son & books my father left us. My favorite though is Frassanito's Gettysburg: A Journey in Time. Reading that opened up such a connection for me in understanding the Battle.

[@danawildman8766]

This video is great!! I have an ever growing Civil War Library, and I thank you for your recommendations. 📚

[@GabrielJurgaitis]

Gettysburg by Mackinlay Kantor was the first book I had read about the battle.

[@tedbrudzinski4180]

Does a pdf document exist that contains Tim Smith's book recommendations?

[@wayneallen67]

I've read Bruce Catton's Army of the Potomac trilogy, and that had a good section about Gettysburg. The best Civil War book I've ever read was Andersonville: A Story of Rebel Military Prisons. By John McElroy - The most moving and shocking book, in my opinion. The author survived months at Andersonville and then some time at other rebel prisons after that.

[@RobertPaskulovich-fz1th]

There are 6,000+ books about the Battlevof Gettysburg.

[@davidhanson8826]

Awesome. Just awesome.

[@patrickreynolds6861]

I have all the first three books that he mentioned. First additions. Thanks dad for the books!

[@edouardrobert160]

Really enjoy your work

[@Baskerville22]

Stephen Sears is the most readable present-day writer on the Civil War.

[@peabody2884]

Buford's Cavalry was armed with breechloading carbines, not repeaters.

[@tiftonseminole3840]

This was really a good idea for a video.

[@Historyteacheraz]

Great book list! A Teenager’s Guide to the Civil War: A History Book for Teens gives a nice overview of the war specifically for teens.

[@davidbourland8080]

I visited as a kid in the 70s. My Dad bought me a copy of Frederic Ray’s Gettysburg sketches. I recently read it again. While aimed at kids I have to say every illustration was brought back to me and it is a good basic outline of the battle.

[@Sheilamarie2]

My love of the Civil War first came about as a little girl reading about President Abraham Lincoln, then came my love for Civil War/US History. Then it blossomed out to Grant, Sherman, Longstreet, Lee, Custer, etc. Now I cannot read/get enough, my favorite topic being Gettysburg. Very good suggestions, Tim, I have several of those you mentioned. I even have my own idea for a Civil War book, and when I get to relocate to Gettysburg (soon, my dream), I plan on working on it. Very happy that you shared your reading suggestions with us! Thank you for keeping us informed and facilitating our learning.

[@brianb8060]

The first Gettysburg book I read, I think was, Witness To Gettysburg by Richard Wheeler.

[@bonnieheckman5049]

I always very much appreciate Book Recommendations. Thank you for this video

[@AdamsCountyHistoricalSociety]

You are so welcome!

[@michaelwright8748]

I'm still a Stackpole guy

[@tooter1able]

Always enjoy your informative videos.

[@carolcraig2580]

Wonderful video!

[@timm1894]

Thanks, Tim.

[@stantheman9072]

Elitist historians generally don’t have much respect for popular works like The Killer Angels, but if you’re looking for an accessible narrative overview of the battle and significance of Gettysburg, it’s a great starting point for the average reader. Shelby Foote’s section on Gettysburg in his three-volume set really gives one clarity as to how, in so many ways, it was ultimately the key battle of the Civil War.

[@AdamsCountyHistoricalSociety]

We agree - the Killer Angels is great!

[@stantheman9072]

@@AdamsCountyHistoricalSociety …interesting though, what you didn’t say.

[@timothysmith7742]

@@stantheman9072 I was not talking about fiction. And Shelby Foote's books are horribly inaccurate.

[@stantheman9072]

@@timothysmith7742 yet another snobbish opinion beloved of Northern elitist sympathy

[@tylerjerabek5204]

@@stantheman9072and Shaara barely acknowledges that Cemetery and Culps Hills are there. Shaara studied the ground and read Chamberlain’s books thus he wrote a fascinating but incomplete history of the battle

[@georgedoolittle9015]

Hard to imagine the Germans all being wound up over the Battle of Cannae in World War 2 but not this.

[@michaeldouglas1243]

Picketts charge by Richard Rollins is terrific book as well.

[@jeanhutchinson6198]

Thank you for these great suggestions!

[@stevenmay2937]

ive always loved last. hance for victory... its from the souths side but very eye opening..... best for me on the battle. but then again my family was in the 37th nc.. thanks tim !!!!!!

[@generalposter4792]

This is great. Are there any books that summarize how the media covered the war? Just very curious about how that went back then, and wondered if anyone took any time to analyze that. Thanks!

[@midnitemike]

High Tide at Gettysburg was the first book I read on the battle. Bought it at Gettysburg because it was recommended. That was 40 years or so ago. Excellent video

[@JJDSports2012]

Great idea and content

[@bobrockefeller1348]

Good video! What more recent books would you recommend? I’m particularly interested in those that take new angles not influenced by the older assumptions.

[@berenke11]

This was excellent! Some really good reviews and recommendations. So much so I went online and bought the official reports based purely on your recommendation. Many thanks for this valuable content.

[@Frank_nwobhm]

As you said, Tim, and as mentioned in the comments below, Harry Phanz's books are perhaps as good as it gets. They're both scholarly and highly entertaining. Written with great detail and respect for all the combatants from both sides of the conflict. Also, William Frassanitto's series on photographic and battlefield investigation are indispensable. "Gettysburg: A Journey In Time" was the first Gettysburg related book I ever read back in 1977 when I was 16.

[@TheU-hv8qj]

I was just in the park visitors center a few days ago after a long absence due to the virus. I couldn't stay long as I was told it was closing in 15 minutes. I was somewhat surprised to see a large display of professor Coddingtons book near the entrance to the gift shop. I don't recall seeing such in the past. Thanks for your video and advice.

[@Alex-ej4wm]

I started watching battle walks first about a couple years ago then started reading. It helped visualize what I was reading about.

[@davidwilhelm3431]

The Edward Stackpole book is tremendous. It's a great book to start with when studying Gettysburg. I love all the Harry Pfanz books, too.

[@Jess-bs2jw]

Thanks for this helpful video. Cheers

[@2011Matz]

The best things worth reading are the reports and recollections of those who were there. Later opinions had better be based closely on the former to have any validity.

[@arsenalfan1776]

Just started High Tide at Gettysburg. I've had it in my library for over ten years. I had totally forgotten about it.

[@shealey9763]

Thank you for this, very useful.

[@MegaWillieo]

e Tucker is my favorite book. I have most of the regimental histories mentioned

[@CrossTrain]

You have me very intrigued to buy Harry Pfanz' trilogy on the battle. While I have a decently large civil war library and a growing Gettysburg library, I enjoy the personal/tactical accounts more than the overarching accounts (I've read lots of those). In perusing some Pfanz trilogy reviews, it appears that I would be getting the "drilled down to the soldier and company level detail. That sounds extremely appealing. Can anyone confirm that for me? The reviews all talk about the amazing detail (even brain-scrambling detailed at times, which I would enjoy). Sounds intriguing. Thanks for the video Tim & ACHS!

[@runtoth3abyss]

The Pfanz books I think are the gold standard. They do have some personal accounts but I think it's the best set of books to provide a bird's eye view of the battle as well. I'd only recommend having a map. The book has some maps printed as reference but it would help to reference more detailed maps. Which now exist in the internet age and are easy to access

[@mjciavola]

I read all of the Pfanz books and I wouldn't necessarily say that the author details a lot of company and individual accounts. Some, yes, but they are classic books about the battle in any case.

[@CrossTrain]

@@runtoth3abyss - Thank you! I appreciate that.

[@CrossTrain]

@@mjciavola - Thank you for that! Much appreciated!

[@jumpmaster82nd.]

His day one is good enough. Day two was my first one and is fabulous. Culps Hill and Cemetery Hill is just phenomenal! All are decently priced in paperback and canbe found lightly used for a great price! Highly recommended them also!

[@GeorgiaBuckeye1]

Longstreet one of the most unfairly maligned historical figured ever.

[@shiloh6519]

Because Lee never lost a battle. So a scapegoat had to be invented.

[@adampender2482]

He pouted and drug his feet at Gettysburg. He conspired and was derelect during the Chickamauga campaign, his Knoxville campaign was a disaster

[@davidbowman4259]

My favorite Rebel general. Possibly because he wasn't part of the "Lost Cause" bullshit after the war. And he was a friend of Grant, the greatest general of all.

[@shiloh6519]

@@adampender2482 Cause he knew what a disaster Lee was heading for. Also Old pete won the battle of second Manassas, saved Lee's ass at the wilderness and was there at the end right by Lee's side at Appomattox. Lee's old warhorse. :)

[@adampender2482]

@@davidbowman4259 yeah it's real wise to be friends with your enemy right after a war especially in front of the men and families you led.

[@chuckoffcampus9738]

Fantastic review of books done here.

[@jimn1698]

Excellent commentary and thanks for bringing up some of the older, more valuable books and especially the regimentals. I think too many people rely on the pop historians James McPherson and Bruce Catton which might be good books for a beginner but have many shortcomings.

[@donb1183]

I would not consider Bruce Catton a "pop historian"

[@EstellaBeard]

What book would be a good suggestions for maps, that include the battlefield and the town?

[@jumpmaster82nd.]

Look at Phil Lainos "Gettysburg Campaign Atlas". All maps with a decent deal of writings. Pretty serious stuff so you may want to research it. Its study guide material and not so much a pleasure read.

[@stephenhenion8304]

"They met at Gettysburg ".... I think I have read it 25 times in the last 35 years..." The Iron Brigade " is also a great read! Love your channel!🇺🇸🎩🇺🇸🎩🇺🇸

[@XJSSBill]

Outstanding Video.

[@Imxjaylee]

I have that book

[@Gitarzan66]

I read a book once.

[@maryclarke3814]

Thanks Tim. Great video.

[@rjohnson611]

There has been so much recent scholarship on the battle and the campaign. To see this dismissed by the presenter and his emphasis on older works, many now superseded, is disappointing.

[@timothysmith7742]

Most of the new books are simply rehashing of old information, with little or no new scholarship. And that is my point.