"Armies at Gettysburg?" Topic

Hello everyone,

Yesterday I received the little book "ARMIES OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR RESEARCH SERIES – ARMIES AT GETTYSBURG- BY SCOT BOWDEN – EMPIRE GAMES PRESS. Published in 1988.

Are there any better books to find out more precisely the numbers of the armies at Gettysburg? Units by units?

The Union side: link
The Army of Northern Virginia: link

Will that do?

Regimental Strengths and Losses at Gettysburg JW Busey and DG Martin 2nd Edition 1994 Longstreet House is an exhaustive study of all units that participated.

I second alan in canberra's suggestion. If you are a serious researcher on the subject, this book is a MUST. Not only who was there but how many in the unit, what they were armed with, who the leader was, losses there, etc.

Alan is correct
Busey and Martin is the absolute authority.

If you want what I consider the single best book on Gettysburg it is Mark Adkin's book:

link

The order of battle in it is taken from Busey and Martin. In addition there is significant detail on arms and equipment, plenty of maps and actual battlefield photos as well as deployment illustrations of regiments and brigades.

You may think it is a bit expensive, but it is better than several books combined, and if you are a student of the battle it is an absolute must have for you library.

Kim

For a thorough study of the battle, you should look at Bradley M. Gottfried's books:

The Maps of Gettysburg
Brigades of Gettysburg
The Artillery of Gettysburg

For a wargamer, these books are also a must

Kim

Another vote for Busey and Martin. Not familiar with the Gottfried books but sound interesting.

Not familiar with any of them, but I do know that Scot Bowden is/was a wargamer himself and also wrote p pretty good book on Gettysburg from Lee's perspective: Last Chance For Victory.

I just purchased "Regimental Strengths and Losses at Gettysburg JW Busey and DG Martin 2nd Edition 1994 Longstreet House" but none of you have seen the little book "ARMIES OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR RESEARCH SERIES – ARMIES AT GETTYSBURG- BY SCOT BOWDEN – EMPIRE GAMES PRESS. Published in 1988?

Though Scott was a competitor back in the 1980-90s, his research produced several good books on ACW and Napoleonic history.
In reference to the ACW it was a good book for the gamer back then who wanted something easy to read.
He also did a set for the ACW and a big advocate or the ACW 15mm range by Heritage which later became part of the Empire company.
I sold much of his books and minis in my store.

Now I will have fun comparing the two, because as everyone knows how to give the same day, the same subject of research to 10 different authors and you will have 10 different opinions…

Now we would have to find out if there were any regiments at Gettysburg with special uniforms.

Special uniforms? Well, there were a number of Union units which were considered to be 'zouaves'. These include:
84th NY (14th Brooklyn)
74th NY
62nd PA
44th NY
83rd PA
95th PA
23rd PA
62nd NY

Then there was Weed's Brigade which supposedly were all issued chasseur uniforms (made in France!) as a reward for their excellence in drill. There is debate about whether they were actually wearing these at Gettysburg. They were:
140th NY
146th NY
91st PA
155th PA

Again, I do not know which of these regiments would have still been wearing zouave uniforms at Gettysburg.

And, of course there is the Iron Brigade.

Final note: the US Regular regiments at Gettysburg were all wearing standard sack coats and forage caps. The Hardee Hats and frock coats were not worn in the field in the east after 1861.

Adkin is superb in my opinion.

Best wishes,

Chris

14th Brooklyn were not Zouaves, they wore the French chasseur uniform, although by Gettysburg they had probably lost most of the white leggings, but they still wore the red pants and red kepis.

@ScottWashburn
So just reread this topic if no discoveries have been made since October 2023?

TMP link

@CHRIS DODSON
Mark Adkin's book is better than "Regimental Strengths and Losses at Gettysburg JW Busey and DG Martin 2nd Edition 1994 Longstreet House" which I just bought and you don't know the little book "ARMIES OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR RESEARCH SERIES – ARMIES AT GETTYSBURG- BY SCOT BOWDEN – EMPIRE GAMES PRESS Published in 1988?

@donlowry
Was there no question of this regiment in October 2023?

TMP link

@All
Please if someone responds to one of my old or very old topics as happened recently, it will be nice to notify me by pm by putting a link on the topic concerned, so that I can resume the thread of the conversation because on TMP, alas, there is no automatic system to notify members that a response has been posted on a topic.

@donlowry
Was there no question of this regiment in October 2023?

I don't know what you mean.

@donlowry
October 2023 is this, read it you will see:

TMP link

Final note: the US Regular regiments at Gettysburg were all wearing standard sack coats and forage caps. The Hardee Hats and frock coats were not worn in the field in the east after 1861.

That seems to be the consensus view but I can't find any source material to confirm this. Any suggestions? I have Timothy Reese's book on the regulars but he doesn't spend any time reviewing battle dress. One interesting difference between the Regulars and state troops would be that US troops wouldn't go into battle with a state regimental flag.

@ Marcus Brutus – I can't actually cite a specific source, but ages ago I belonged to a reenactment group who portrayed US Regulars. I remember one of the guys did some very serious research and did find some sources confirming that after 1st Bull Run, the Regulars' frock coats and Hardee hats went into storage for the remainder of the war.

@Marcus Brutus
Did the American regular regiments at Gettysburg no longer wear Hardee hats and frock coats in the field in the East after 1861?

I hope not !

But if ScottWashburn says it let's believe it but out of esprit de corps, is it strange that these regiments did not want to distinguish themselves on the uniformological level?

Well, don't forget that the Regular Army had a long tradition of penny-pinching and tiny budgets. The commanders probably didn't want the more expensive dress uniforms worn out by a lot of field service.

@ScottWashburn

Yes, a question of tradition.

Bradley M. Gottfried's books, as mentioned above, are all excellent.

From his "The Artillery of Gettysburg" You get a whole new appreciation of artillery use and placement that makes these units so much more than map symbols and a by-line in narratives about infantry activity.

@Trajanus
Thanks, we'll see.