"Best Gettysburg Book???????" Topic

Once again I ask what everyone recommends for a good HISTORICALLY ACCURATE book on the battle of Gettysburg. My previous post had many recommending a book that apparently has some pretty bad historical flaws, but makes a good coffee table book… I'm not interested. Looking for comprehensive, easy read that is accurate!
Thanks!

I have read tons of general histories, single day histories, specialised and gigantic. Hands down I would recommend Sears' Gettysburg. Comprehensive, very well written and full of insights. Well worth it. I would even say that if you read only one book on Gettysburg, this should be it.

Sears is excellent, though I would also recommend Coddington's, Gettysburg Campaign, a Study in Command. Here is a review from ehistory,

link

Coddington is way up there.

I'd have to go with Sears as well. Well worth it.

I'll give another endorsement to Sears. Also, "The Maps of Gettysburg" by Bradley M. Gottfried is very good. It has tons of detailed maps showing terrain features and troop positions, many at the regimental level. It is an excellent resource for planning gaming scenarios.

Isn't historical, but one of the best reads ever -- Michael Shaara's "Killer Angels".

Nothing tops Harry Pfanz's three books on Gettysburg covering the first day, the second day, and Cemetary Ridge & Culps hill. The level of detail down to the regimental level in each area of the battle is first rate. Even the Park Rangers and Guides recommend Pfanz and carry copies with them on their "walking tours".

I gotta go with Pfanz too.

Sears cannot be beaten.

I might have to give Sears a try. I've just finished reading his Chancellorsville , To The Gates of Richmond, and The Landscape Turned Red over the past couple of months and have enjoyed them. I guess that I figured that after Pfanz, nobody else could add anything new to the Gettysburg story. Sears doesn't seem to drill down into the brigade and regimental level, but rather provides a view from 10,000 feet, which is still helpful.

Sears is perfect as starting point. Well written and researched.

Then you can move on Pfanz's more detailed narrative, if you really want to have an in-depth knowledge of the battle.

Coddington is great on the analysis of the campaign and a good unbiased study of the mistakes made on both sides.

Pfanz whote three books on Gettysburg.

Gettysburg – the First Day
Gettysburg – the Second Day
Gettysburg – Culp' Hill & Cemetary Hill

He's not gotten around to writing a book on day three

Wertz has Gettysburg – the Third Day

They are great on detail but tend to fall into that style of writing summed up as "The hottest fire I ever saw" – lots of personal recollections.

Pfanz' 3 titles on the first and second days would be my choice. Followed by Hess' Pickett's Charge. All combined make a very excellent microtactical study of the battle.

For a single-volume coverage of the whole battle, you can't beat Sears', tho Andre Trudeau's is good also. Coddington's is a classic, but perhaps dated. Hall's The Stand of the U.S. Army at Gettysburg is excellent, with many good maps. Or if you want lots of maps, try The Maps of Gettyburg by Gottfried. Pfanz and Wertz together give a very thorough account, but, of course, involves 4 volumes.

Sears for one book. Pfanz for multi-volume. I wish he'd write something on Pickett's Charge to complete the battle.

Adkins' Gettysburg Companion – after reading Sears and Pfanz.

For a single volume, Trudeau is excellent and very readable!
Pfanz can't be beat for level of detail in each of his books, but is not as easily readable and I struggled at times. Though my favorite was "Gettysburg, the first day" by pfanz. I think his writing got better by the third book.

I'm writing one myself, but it won't be finished for a while. It'll be the third volume in a Chancellorsville-Vicksburg-Gettysburg trilogy, and will include Lee's retreat to Virginia.

I would also vote for Pfanz. I've read all three of his books twice and I seldom read books more than once. I consider his book on the second day, to be the best description of Civil War combat I've ever read. Sears and Trudeau are also good. I remember commenting after reading Trudeau, that is one one of the most enjoyable books that I've read.

For an overview I'd go with both Trudeau & Coddington. For more detail which I always want I'd go with Pfanz. I love Maps of Gettyburg by Gottfried. I adore super detailed maps. Adkins' Gettysburg Companion has too many mistakes and typos but if you know your stuff (so you won't care) it is rather a fun book. It's a coffee table book.

Ah someone forgot to list the ORs on Gettysburg! You can buy the Gettysburg Campaign volume, and it is also available on line for free. Let's not discount first hand reports despite the tendency of some to self-promote.
VR
James Mattes