Gettysburg, 1863 offers readers an account of the great battle, as well as a succinct discussion of Gen. Robert E. Lee's offensive in June 1863 and the battle's aftermath as the Confederates made their way across the Potomac River some ten days later. Brooks D. Simpson outlines the decisions that the commanders on the field made and details how the action unfolded. He explores many aspects of the battle: the weaponry, the medical care administered, the terrain, the tactics, the art of command, and the experiences of civilians. His description of the preparations for the Confederate cannonade preceding the July 3 assault against the Union center also highlights the artillery and ammunition involved.

More than a traditional military history chronicle, Gettysburg, 1863 serves as a broader overview of the Battle of Gettysburg, examining its importance both in history and memory. Simpson's clear, concise retelling of this key event in American history will appeal to both lovers of history and those who are new to the study of the Civil War.

About the Author

BROOKS D. SIMPSON is ASU Foundation Professor of History at Arizona State University. He is the author of several books, including America's Civil War (Harlan Davidson, 1996); The Civil War in the East: Struggle, Stalemate, and Victory (Praeger, 2012); and Ulysses S. Grant: Triumph Over Adversity, 1822-1865 (Houghton Mifflin, 2000), as well as coeditor of Sherman's Civil War: Selected Correspondence of William T. Sherman, 1860-1865 (University of North Carolina Press, 1999). A historian of nineteenth-century U.S. history and the American presidency, he has written numerous articles and appeared on C-SPAN, NPR, and PBS's The American Experience. He lives in Gilbert, Arizona.