This is the classic, Pulitzer Prize winning retelling of the Battle of Gettysburg, using primarily the words of the men who fought in the battle. It's mostly told through the eyes of Robert E. Lee and James Longstreet, Lee's most trusted General, as well as others, both Confederate and Union. The most interesting and impressive Union voice was that of Joshua Chamberlain, a professor from Maine, turned soldier. He was wounded six times, a Medal of Honor winner, and later, is elected President of Bowdoin College, in Maine. We get realistic pictures of the strategies behind the battle, the agonies of decision making, for both Lee and Meade. The union holds an almost insurmountable position on a couple of hills just outside of Gettysburg, but for some reason, Lee, against the strong arguments from Longstreet, sends his men up the hill. Thousands die though they seem either heroic or crazy, as they scream the Rebel battle cry as they scramble up the hill. The Union finally turns them back, a victory of sorts. The next day, Lee again sends his men up the hill, only to be turned back even more forcibly. In a sense, this was the beginning of the end of for the Confederacy. Up to this time, the Southern armies under Lee seemed unbeatable, the Union disorganized, lacking the will. After this defeat, Grant takes over command and the Union finally has a general to match Lee. This is a good read, moving and interesting, filled with individuals who actually fought in the battle or made decisions. I can see why it won a Pulitzer Prize.
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