Pickett's Charge

A New Look at Gettysburg's Final Attack

By: Phillip Thomas Tucker PhD

Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin

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 These fighters' moments of cowardice, failure, and triumph are explored using their own words from primary and unpublished sources.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.

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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.

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.

Great research

I learned a LOT about that 3rd day at Gettysburg. I appreciated the telling of individual soldiers and that R E Lee’s plan for that infamous charge, the cavalry fight behind Union lines. It was not a blunder. It might have succeeded and been the Napoleonic tactic using all the artillery, infantry and cavalry that when all were coordinated—-it came very close to succeeding. I had ancestors fighting in that battle. I am surprised so many were CSA. Congratulations to the author.

Confederate Apologist

Why not say Union Calvery was the blame. And the Union soldiers were to blame! The author gives far to much time in "If Onlys". As if only Lee would of relieved Vicksburg Vicksburg would of been saved. If only Little Mac followed up the battle of Antietam there would of been no battle of Gettysburg. My Dear Mr. Tucker P. H. D. your theory of what ifs is a complete explanation for every lost battle. An while it's fun too conjecture it is a weak explanation for all lost battles we wish would of been different.

pretty good

a little too much emphasis on the irish contribution but overall a good story from a different perspective

In depth and impartial

This is a well researched and in depth telling of perhaps the most important battle of the war between the states.

Too much repetition

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