Pickett's Charge

A New Look at Gettysburg's Final Attack

By: Phillip Thomas Tucker PhD

Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin

Length: 19 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Main Selection of the History Book Club

The Battle of Gettysburg, the Civil War's turning point, produced over 57,000 casualties, the largest number from the entire war that was itself America's bloodiest conflict. On the third day of fierce fighting, Robert E. Lee's attempt to invade the North came to a head in Pickett's Charge. The infantry assault, consisting of nine brigades of soldiers in a line that stretched for over a mile, resulted in casualties of over 50 percent for the Confederates and a huge psychological blow to Southern morale.

Pickett's Charge is a detailed analysis of one of the most iconic and defining events in American history. This book presents a much-needed fresh look, including the unvarnished truths and ugly realities, about the unforgettable story. With the luxury of hindsight, historians have long denounced the folly of Lee's attack, but this work reveals the tactical brilliance of a master plan that went awry. Special emphasis is placed on the common soldiers on both sides, especially the non-Virginia attackers outside of Pickett's Virginia Division. These fighters' moments of cowardice, failure, and triumph are explored using their own words from primary and unpublished sources. Without romance and glorification, the complexities and contradictions of the dramatic story of Pickett's Charge have been revealed in full to reveal this most pivotal moment in the nation's life.

Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for listeners interested in history - books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times best seller or a national best seller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2016 Phillip Thomas Tucker (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Excellent Book

This was an interesting, informative, and entertaining book all-around. Compelling case for Lee’s judgement. It sure makes sense. Writing was excellent, narration superb, one of my favorites for sure.

Insightful, but perhaps too detailed.

Author provides a thoughtful examination of the shortcomings of Pickett’s Charge and what might have been. Unfortunately, the work includes many detailed bios of the participants, from privates to generals, but the placement of these vignettes distract from the flow of the battle narrative in an audiobook.

Alternate viewpoint makes for a great read

Probably one of the better books I have ever read on the battle of Gettysburg and particularly Picketts charge. What makes this book so referable is that he uses accounts from soldiers very shortly after the battle and not several years later as in other books that I have read. Very easy to get wrapped up in.

Too much VMI and Irish

I listened to the entire book. The author did convince me that the confederates could have prevailed at Gettysburg on day 3. It was a close call, indeed. However, I’m not convinced - hands down - that such a victory would have led to southern independence. If his plan had come to pass, Lee would have lost a few thousand fewer troops perhaps and Meade a few thousand more. Mead would have regrouped and Lee would still retreat south. The author was too dismissive of Longstreet’s alternative, make a Beeline for DC, choose the ground, make Mead attack him. Also, too much enumeration of VMI grads and Irish troops - enough already. The author paints Lee as a genius, Longstreet as a moron, others as incompetent. Only as a postscript of this overly long book does the author mention that perhaps slavery was an evil and perhaps it was a fortunate thing that Lee’s army did not prevail.

Too much repetition

The author made the same point repeatedly throughout the chapters. To the point it became overbearing.

Amazing

So many facts not known by me, nor taught in school. So much sadness. So many opportunities missed. This was well worth the time.

GREAT ACCOUNT OF PICKETT'S CHARGE

I have read and listened to many books on the battle of Gettysburg, this is one of my top books.

A Different Perspective

This was a good look at Pickett's Charge. The narration was excellent. The author bucks what is traditionally believed that the charge was doomed and that it was folly to try. Tucker clearly details why it was not folly to launch the charge. The narration was excellent. The key was to have the infantry, cavalry, and artillery work together to achieve success. Unfortunately, two of these three keys failed their mission. The artillery wasted their ammunition on the initial attack intended to soften up the Union positions. When supporting fire was needed during the charge there was little to be able to support the charge. The calvary never made it into the fight. The author really never gave an account of why J.E.B. Stuart didn't carry out his orders. It seems he met resistance from newly minted General George Armstrong Custer. The author notes that General Robert E. Lee was a student of Napoleonic tactics. His plan was to use his forces in unison. However, as we know from history it didn't work out that way. As noted above, it would have been helpful to know why Stuart failed in his mission. Perhaps that's a book for another day. The author also took other historians to task for claiming the charge was a bad decision that should never have been attempted. While history does prove that it didn't work as planned, it was not doomed from the outset. As with many battle plans that look good on paper. They don't always work out in practice. This book demonstrates that and more!

Paid by the word?

It just felt like anything worth saying was worth repeating, over and over, and over. And while everyone's middle name might be nice for someone doing genealogy, it made for a long, boring, listen.

Very detailed

The author presents a very detailed examination of the battle and the people involved. He does tend to repeat himself frequently. But he also provides an interesting insight into the lives and personalities of not only the usual generals, but also many unknown or forgotten soldiers. The personal letters and papers quoted reflect the attitudes and opinions at the time of the battle as well as later reassessment and conclusions. At first the book appears to be too long and drawn-out , but the amount of detailed facts make for a better overall understanding of the people and situation.