Introduction

On April 12, 1861, Confederate artillery fired on Fort Sumter, which was located in Charleston harbor, South Carolina.  These were the first shots fired in what became the Civil War, a battle between the Southern states which wished to secede from the Union, and the Northern states which fought to keep their country together.   Many of the battles, which included the Battle of Bull Run, and the Battle of Chickamauga, were waged mainly on Southern and Western soil.

After the Battle of Chancellorsville, which was a Confederate Victory, General Robert E. Lee, with 75,000 troops, attempted to invade the Northern states.  His hope was to disrupt the Union war efforts.  This invasion would culminate in the Battle of Gettysburg which lasted for the first three days of July, 1863.  The Confederate Forces, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, was organized into three army corps under Commanders' Longstreet, Ewell, and A.P. Hill, with a cavalry division under J.E.B. Stuart.  Ranged against the Confederates was the Union army of the Potomac which was commanded by General George Meade.

On the first day of battle Meade's forces under Commander John Buford held the site until Union reinforcements arrived.  The second day brought Confederate attacks against Union lines which were located at Little Round Top, Cemetery Hill, Devil's Den, the Wheatfield, and the Peach Orchard.  On the third day, Lee sent 15,000 troops to attack Cemetery Ridge which was being held by 10,000 Union troops under W. Hancock.    Confederate troops did manage to break through the lines, but a Union counterattack on three sides forced the Confederate troops to withdraw.

On July 4th, Robert E. Lee led his men back to Virginia.  Out of the 88,000 Union troops there were 23,000 casualties, and among the 75,000 Confederates, more than 20,000 were lost.  Along with the Vicksburg Campaign, which turned the war in the West to the Union's favor, Gettysburg was a pivotal battle in the American Civil War.

Scope

This pathfinder is intended for college level students who have an interest in the Civil War and in the Battle of Gettysburg.  The Battle of Gettysburg is important to American history.  Lee's defeat at Gettysburg ended the Confederate invasion into the North and aided in turning the war to the Union's favor.  This pathfinder provides a list of sources which deal especially with Gettysburg, and can be located through the State University of New York at Albany's uptown campus library.  These sources, which include historical atlases, encyclopedias, and biographical journals, have a wide array of publishing dates from shortly after the conclusion of the Battle of Gettysburg through present day.

Key to Locations

• UALB - State University of New York at Albany
• ULIB - University at Albany Main Library
• REF - Reference Section
• Per - Periodicals Section
• OVER - Oversized Books

Subject Headings

These subject headings may be utilized when searching for reference material and books related to the Battle of Gettysburg.  They are most useful for searching online catalogs, but they can also be used in searching indexes and abstracts as well as the World Wide Web.

• Gettysburg Campaign, 1863
• Lee's Second Northern Invasion, 1863
• Maryland Campaign, 1863
• Pennsylvania Invasion, 1863
• Virginia - History - Civil War, 1861-1865
• Gettysburg, Battle of, Gettysburg, PA, 1863
• United States - History - Civil War, 1861-1865
• United States - History - Civil War, 1861-1865 - Campaigns
• Pennsylvania - History - Civil War, 1861-1865

There are also subject headings for those individuals involved in both the campaign and in the battle.  Two examples of these types of subject headings would be:

• Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870
• Pickett, George E. (George Edward), 1825-1875

Browsing Areas

With the online catalogue it is sometimes difficult to find relevant information.   Therefore, one can opt to browse the shelves where materials on the Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg are housed.  These materials are represented by the following range of call numbers.

• E 475.35 D7 - E 475.57 P 4 - ULIB 3rd Floor (Materials Solely on Battle of Gettysburg)
• E 453 - E 660 - ULIB 3rd Floor (Civil War Materials)
• REF E 467 D68 - REF E 487 E55 - ULIB Reference 1st Floor

The information provided in this pathfinder is only a small sampling of the reference and general material available on the Battle of Gettysburg.  To explore this topic further, it would be beneficial to peruse both Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com as well as the World Wide Web in general.

Bibliographies

Bibliographies are an excellent starting point when trying to find good books and prominent authors in a particular field.  I have included three bibliographies in this section, each of which deal with both the American Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg.  It should be noted that bibliographies of Civil War maps have been placed in the Geographical Sources Section, and that much of the material in this pathfinder provides additional bibliographies.

Broadfoot, Tom.  Civil War Books - A Priced Checklist with Advice.   Wilmington:  Broadfoot Publishing Company, 1990.
Call #:  E 468 Z999 B76X 1990   (ULIB)

• Updated prices for thousands of Civil War Books with additional bibliographical information collected over the past 30 years.  Indexed by author and title, advice on book care and repair, a study and comparison of internet sales and catalog sales, and more.   Since the first edition appeared in 1978, this volume has become the standard guide for Civil War prices.  Now, in addition to prices and bibliographic information, it is the largest source of "inside information" for collectors.  All titles grouped in one alphabetical listing.   (Broadfoot Publishing)

Nevins, Allen, ed.  Civil War Books; a Critical Bibliography.  Volume I.  Baton Rouge:  Louisiana State University Press, 1967.
Call #:  (*) Z 1242 N35 V.1   (ULIB OVER)

• Volume I covers military aspects - mobilization, organization, administration and supply; military aspects - campaigns; military aspects - soldier life; prisons and prisoners of war; the Negro; the navies; and diplomacy.  There is a new edition available through Barnes and Noble that was published in 1996.   (Synopsis)

Sauers, Richard Allen.  The Gettysburg Campaign - June 3 - August 1, 1863.   Westport:  Greenwood Press, 1982.
Call #:  E 475.51 Z999 S29X   (ULIB)

• Listing over 2,000 citations, this bibliography includes contemporary newspaper articles, personal accounts by participants, travel literature, journal articles, regimental histories, and both scholarly and popular monographs.  It is selectively annotated.  A number of collections are analyzed, and different editions, reprints, translations, and variant titles of works are noted.  Appendices include a list of audio-visual materials, and unit rosters of the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia, which represent the Union and Confederate forces involved.  An index is also provided, as the bibliography is arranged alphabetically by author.  ... A wide variety of indexes would have to be searched to produce the number of citations found in this volume.  It will be of great use to students and researchers interested in this particular aspect of the Civil War.    (Editorial Review From the Publisher)

Biographical Sources

This section includes both biographical and autobiographical accounts of individuals involved in the Gettysburg Campaign.  From the lowliest soldier to the highest ranking officer, each provides a window into the events of June and July, 1863.

Bandy, Ken and Florence Freeland, eds.  The Gettysburg Papers.   Volume I & II combined.  Dayton:  Morningside Bookshop, 1986.
Call #:  E 475.51 G47X 1986   (ULIB)

• These papers are first hand accounts, in the form of papers, speeches, and letters, by those who witnessed and took part in the Battle of Gettysburg.  This book revisits the strategy of the Gettysburg Campaign, and the horror of the fight itself.  By including the papers of lowly raking infantry soldiers, and those of higher ranking officers, one is introduced to the varying perspectives of those who were involved in the Gettysburg Campaign.   (Synopsis)

Coco, Gregory Ashton.  Killed in Action:  Eyewitness Accounts of the Last Moments of 100 Union Soldiers Who Died at Gettysburg.   Gettysburg:  Thomas Publications, 1992.
Call #:  E 475.53 C636 1992   (ULIB)

• At least 10,000 soldiers were killed or mortally wounded in the three-day Battle of Gettysburg.  Over 5,000 of these were deaths suffered by Union officers and enlisted men.   Using the sharp eyes and keen minds of the spectators who were on the scene, this book is an attempt to illustrate the last moments, hours, or days of 100 Federals who fell in that one engagement.   (Book Description)

Coco, Gregory Ashton.  On the Bloodstained Field:  130 Human Interest Stories of the Campaign and Battle of Gettysburg.  Gettysburg:   Thomas Publications, 1987.
Call #:  E 475.53 C62 1987   (ULIB)

• Volume I has 56 pages containing 130 fascinating human interest stories of the campaign and Battle of Gettysburg.   (Civilwarandmore.com)

Coco, Gregory Ashton.  On the Bloodstained Field II:  132 More Human Interest Stories of the Campaign and the Battle of Gettysburg.   Gettysburg:  Thomas Publications, 1989.
Call #:  E 475.53 C622 1989   (ULIB)

• Volume II has 128 pages containing 132 more fascinating stories.   (Civilwarandmore.com)

Doubleday, Abner.  Chancellorsville and Gettysburg - Campaigns of the Civil War Volume VI.  New York:  Charles Scribner's Sons, 1882.
Call #:  E 475.35 D68   (ULIB)

• Provides stern judgments of Generals Meads and Howard; astute insights into other generals such as Hooker, Reynolds, and Sickles; and penetrating, minute-by-minute analyses by a leading participant of these two pivotal battles.    (From the Publisher)

Hoke, Jacob.   The Great Invasion of 1863, or, General Lee in Pennsylvania, Embracing an Account of the Strength and Organization of the Armies of the Potomac and Northern Virginia ... with an Appendix Containing an Account of the Burning of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, a Statement of the General Sickles Controversy, and Other Valuable Historic Papers.  Gettysburg:  Stan Clark Military Books, 1992.
Call #:  E 475.5 H72 1992   (ULIB)

• Hoke was a resident of Chambersburg at the time of the Confederate invasion and the Battle of Gettysburg.  This book is particularly valuable for the accounts of the occupation of Chambersburg and the activities in that area.  "Although this is one of the early accounts of the Gettysburg Campaign, it remains one of the most interesting."    (Friends of Gettysburg Reading List)

Nesbitt, Mark.  35 Days to Gettysburg - The Campaign Diaries of Two American Enemies. Harrisburg:  Stackpole Books, 1992.
Call #:  E 475.51 N47 1992    (ULIB)

• The author has selected the diaries of two participants in the Battle of Gettysburg:   Thomas Lewis Ware, a Confederate soldier from Georgia, and Franklin Horner, a Union soldier from Pennsylvania, and follows them for 35 days as each one marches toward Gettysburg.  Their experiences, thoughts, and feelings are recounted exactly as written in their diaries.  The author's commentary follows each day's entry and gives insight and detail as to location, army units involved, food and housing, and background information on each individual to better understand the diary entries.  The author then takes the two participants through the Battle of Gettysburg, their involvement in each phase of the battle, and the final outcome as it affects them.  Lastly, the author maps out routes of march for each of the two participants, using modern highways for anyone wishing to duplicate the marches.  The book gives interesting insight into the thoughts and feelings of two common soldiers as they approach a major battle.  It will be of value to any library needing information on the daily life of soldiers during the Civil War.    (Library Journal)

Oates, William C. and Frank A. Haskell.  Gettysburg.   New York:  Bantam, 1992, c1905.
Call #:  E 475.53 O273X 1992    (ULIB)

• A firsthand look at the Battle of Gettysburg offers Union and Confederate viewpoints of the conflict, recreating the three days and discussing the decisions of Lee, Longstreet, and Meade.   (Ingram)

Dictionaries

Each of these sources provide a concise, yet useful, definition of terms associated with the Battle of Gettysburg.  These terms can range from definitions of events, like the Battle of Gettysburg, and Pickett's Charge, to background information on people, like General George Meade, and Robert E. Lee.

Boatner, Mark Mayo.  The Civil War Dictionary.  New York:   Vintage Books, 1991.
Call #:  E 468 B7   (ULIB REF)

• For almost thirty years The Civil War Dictionary has been the most complete, authoritative, and handy reference book on what has been called the Second American Revolution, 1861-1865.  Periodically updated throughout sixteen printings, this invaluable volume has more than 4,000 entries, alphabetically arranged and carefully cross-referenced.     (From the Publisher)

Ritter, Charles F. and John L. Wakelyn.  Leaders of the American Civil War:   A Biographical and Historiographical Dictionary.   Westport:  Greenwood Press, 1998.
Call #:  E 467 L43 1998   (ULIB REF)

• Civil War buffs will welcome this biographical dictionary . . . which includes 47 articles on outstanding military and civilian Union and Confederate leaders as well as entries for other significant figures, including Frederick Douglass, Clara Barton, Dorothea Dix, and even Walt Whitman (a volunteer nurse in Washington).  Missing, however, is Admiral David Farragut, the Union's most successful naval officer.  Each article discusses prewar and wartime careers as well as postwar activities.  A valuable feature is an extended commentary and analysis of some of the outstanding items of the vast historiography about the Civil War.  For Civil War collections in academic and larger public libraries.   (Library Journal)

Wakelyn, Jon L. and Frank E. Vandiver.  Biographical Dictionary of the Confederacy.   Westport:  Greenwood Press, 1977.
Call #:  E 467 W2   (ULIB REF)

• Scholarly and of broad general interest.  Its balanced treatment provides the reader with concise yet accurate information, and its application of statistics to the study of collective biography and political leadership will prove of interest to the student and scholar of the Civil War. . . . Recommended for public and academic libraries.    (From the Publisher)

Encyclopedias

The following sources provide useful background information for the study of the Battle of Gettysburg.  Several of these reference materials also provide bibliographies and reading lists which allow users to begin further research.  These sources should primarily be used as reference works or as an introduction to the research topic.

Bowman, John S., ed.  Encyclopedia of the Civil War.   Greenwich:  Dorset Press, 1992.
Call #:  E 468 E63X 1992   (ULIB REF)

• This encyclopedia contains more than one thousand entries and nearly three hundred illustrations.  Pages 88 to 91 deal specifically with the Battle of Gettysburg and there are several illustrations to accompany the text, as well as maps.  References to Gettysburg can also be retrieved under the entries of the various Union generals, and Confederate generals, like Joshua Chamberlain, and George Edward Pickett.   (Synopsis)

Current, Richard N., ed.  Encyclopedia of the Confederacy.   New York:  Simon and Schuster, Inc., 1993.
Call #:  E 487 E55 1993 V.1 - V.5   (ULIB REF)

• Each article is signed and has a bibliography citing from two to fifteen sources.   The volumes contain more than 600 illustrations including contemporary photographs and etchings, maps, and specially commissioned photographs of a number of military arms and accoutrements. . . Highly recommended for both academic and public libraries.    (Choice)

Faust, Patricia L., ed.  Historical Times Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Civil War.   New York:  Harper Perennial, 1991.
Call #:  E 468 H57X 1991    (ULIB)

• The articles are well written and well edited, but do not contain bibliographies.   The amply annotated list of contributors reveals several major scholars of Civil War history but they are far fewer in number than journalistic contributors.   This is a reference work for browsers, history buffs, beginning students of the period, and well-informed general readers--for everyone but serious Civil War scholars.   It does not replace the more scholarly but less-well-produced work by Mark M. Boatner, The Civil War Dictionary {BRD 1960, 1961}.  Academic libraries should own both.    (Choice)

Heidler, David S., & Jeanne T. Heidler.  Encyclopedia of the American Civil War:   A Political, Social, and Military History.   Santa Barbara:  ABC-CLIO, Inc., 2000.
Call #:  E 468 E53 2000 V.1 - V.5    (ULIB REF)

• ABC-CLIO has published the most comprehensive reference work, offering more than 1,600 signed entries, over 300 contributors, more than 500 illustrations and 75 maps, and over 250 primary source documents . . . Every conceivable subject--from Chickamauga, Battle of to Harper's Weekly to Gatling gun to Jews-- receives consideration.   Entries range from less than one-half page to more than eighteen pages for Atlanta campaign.   Each essay is followed by see also references to related entries elsewhere in the set, as well as extensive suggested readings for deeper research on that particular subject. . . Encyclopedia of the American Civil War is the most comprehensive reference work written about its topic, providing both the novice and the expert an opportunity to expand their knowledge of this vital aspect of U.S. history.  Recommended for high-school, public, and academic libraries.   (Booklist)

Sifakis, Stewart.  Who Was Who in the Confederacy:  A Comprehensive, Illustrated Biographical Reference to More Than 1,000 of the Principal Confederacy Participants in the Civil War.  New York:  Facts on File, Inc., 1988.
Call #:  E 467 S562 1988    (ULIB)

• A unique resource detailing the principle participants of the Civil War.   Contains complete, detailed bios of soldiers from Robert E. Lee to forgotten scouts and spies.    (Ingram)

Sifakis, Stewart.  Who Was Who in the Union:  A Comprehensive, Illustrated Biographical Reference to More than 1,500 of the Principal Union Participants in the Civil War.   New York:  Facts on File, Inc., 1988.
Call #:  E 467 S564 1988   (ULIB)

• The first comprehensive biographical reference to all the principle Union participants of the Civil War.  Includes 1,500 entries--from Ulysses S. Grant to forgotten scouts and spies.   (Ingram)

Geographical Sources

Atlases, and the maps contained therein, can provide one with a geographical context in which to place the events of the Battle of Gettysburg.  With this in mind, listed below are three subject-specific geographic resources, as well as two annotated bibliographies of maps contained in the National Archives and the Library of Congress.    Note, also, that maps of the Gettysburg Campaign can also be located in many of the biographical and assorted books listed elsewhere in this pathfinder.

Stephenson, Richard W.  Civil War Maps:  An Annotated List of Maps and Atlases in Map Collections of the Library of Congress.   Washington, D.C.:  Library of Congress Map Division, 1961.
Call #:  E 468.7 Z9 U5   (ULIB)

• The maps included were prepared by the federal armed forces or by commercial firms in the North.  There are few by Confederate authorities.  The list is broken down first to a list of maps of the United States during each year of the war.  This is followed by an alphabetical list divided by state.  Pennsylvania is covered on pages 54 to 60.   With each listing, the author's name is mentioned, a full title is given, there are color notations, an imprint, the natural scale, the size to the nearest inch, and there is a brief paragraph describing the contents of the map.  Finally, at the end of the book is a general index.   (Synopsis)

Symonds, Craig L and William J. Clipson.  Gettysburg, A Battlefield Atlas.  Baltimore:   Nautical & Aviation Publishing Company of America, 1992.
Call #:  E 475.53 S95X 1992    (ULIB)

• This compact but comprehensive volume provides both a narrative history and a cartographic display of the Battle of Gettysburg that makes the events of the engagement both vivid and comprehensible.  From the moment the Confederacy determined to launch an invasion into the North, to Lee's retreat across the Potomac into Virginia, the strategic and tactical movements of both armies are portrayed in twenty-four full-page, three-color maps accompanied by a page of explanatory text keyed to the maps . . . Here is a book that clarifies the complex, and yet offers insight and context to the amateur or professional student of Civil War history.   (From the Publisher)

United States Military Academy / Department of Military Art and Engineering.   The West Point Atlas of the Civil War.  New York:   Frederick A. Praeger Publisher, 1962.  
Call #:  E 470 U58   (ULIB REF)

• This atlas includes eleven maps of the Gettysburg Campaign along with text to explain the events of those two months.  Confederate forces are in red, with Union troops in blue.   The first map gives presents the location of Confederate and Union troops on June 1, 1863.   For four maps following this, readers are shown the movements of troops, and one can easily watch as the Confederate forces prepare to fight the Union forces.   The next five maps are devoted to retelling where troops were deployed during the three days of fighting.   Finally, an eleventh map gives a visual on the position of the retreating Confederate forces as of July 13, 1863.   (Synopsis)

United States National Archives.  Civil War Maps in the National Archives.  Washington, D.C.:  National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration, 1964.
Call #:  E 460 U5   (ULIB)

• Part I is a general guide to the approximately 8,000 Civil War maps in the Cartographic & Architectural Branch.  It consists of collective and brief item descriptions of all the Civil War maps and related records.  Part II describes selected maps.   Those maps which cover more than one state are placed under the heading of United States.  The remaining maps are listed alphabetically by state.  There is also a comprehensive index.    (Synopsis)

Guides, Handbooks, Almanacs, & Manuals

This section consists of chronological works which give an overview of events that occurred during the Civil War, including the Battle of Gettysburg.  There are also a variety of guides, handbooks, and manuals included in this section.  Each provides insight into the landscape of Gettysburg; simple factual information on the battle, such as what ammunition was used; as well as the language of the men who lived in this time period.

Brown, Herbert O.  Fields of Glory:  The Facts Book of the Battle of Gettysburg.   Gettysburg:  Thomas Publications, 1990.
Call #:  E 475.53 B76X 1990   (ULIB)

• One thousand questions with the answers challenge the reader to improve his/her knowledge of the Battle of Gettysburg.  Ideal as a refresher or for the novice.  A difficulty rating scale makes it possible to compete with others.    (Thomaspublications.com)

Denney, Robert E.  The Civil War Years:  A Day-by-Day Chronicle of the Life of a Nation.  New York:  Sterling Publishing Co., 1992.
Call #:  E 468.3 D44 1992   (ULIB)

• "The voices of soldiers, sailors and civilians, northerners and southerners, generals and privates, combine to create a distinctively American chorus....Denney understands and highlights the nature of war." - PW - - "This imposing volume is a useful record of the war years, a daily history beginning in January 1861 and ending in May 1865."    (Civil War History)

Long, E.B. (Everette Beach) and Barbara Long.  The Civil War Day by Day:  An Almanac, 1861-1865.  Garden City:   Doubleday, 1971.
Call #:  E 468.3 L6   (ULIB)

• A comprehensive timeline of all Civil War events, from the greatest battles to the smallest skirmishes.  Detailed and indexed, this volume serves as an excellent reference to the daily activities of the Civil War.   (Longitudebooks.com)

Luvaas, Jay, ed.  The U.S. Army War College Guide to the Battle of Gettysburg.   New York:  Perennial Library, 1987.
Call #:  E 475.53 U55X 1987   (ULIB)

• This guide uses first-hand accounts to illustrate how this skirmish, only three days long, turned into one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War.  Eyewitness accounts by battle participants make these guides an invaluable resource for travelers and nontravelers who want a greater understanding of five of the most devastating yet influential years in our nation's history.  Explicit directions to points of interest and maps--illustrating the action and showing the detail of troop position, roads, rivers, elevations, and tree lines as they were 130 years ago--help bring the battles to life.  In the field, these guides can be used to recreate each battle's setting and proportions, giving the reader a sense of the tension and fear each soldier must have felt as he faced his enemy.   (Book Description)

Lyman, Darryl.  Civil War Wordbook:  Including Sayings, Phrases, and Expletives.   Conshohocken:  Combined Books, 1994.
Call #:  E 468.9 L96 1994   (ULIB)

• Now that millions of Americans are interested in the Civil War, many have found that period words in contemporary letters, diaries, reminiscences, official accounts and even modern histories can be obstacles to a true understanding of the time and its people; author Darryl Lyman has gathered in an easy-to-use reference book from over 700 words and expressions that first appeared or were first widely used during the Civil War.   (From the Publisher)

Meek, A.J (photographer) and Herman Hattaway (text).  Gettysburg to Vicksburg:  The Five Original Civil War Battlefield Parks.   Columbia:  University of Missouri Press, 2001.
Call #:  E 468.7 M53 2001   (ULIB)

• Splendidly written and dramatically illustrated, Gettysburg to Vicksburg is a stunning pictorial history of the first five Civil War battlefield parks:   Gettysburg, Chickamauga-Chattanooga, Shiloh, Antietam, and Vicksburg.  Renowned photographer A. J. Meek brings the battlefield parks into vivid focus with one hundred memorable photographs, while noted Civil War historian Herman Hattaway provides a brief history of these major battles and of the formation of parks on the battlefield grounds . . .   Much more than a handbook, Gettysburg to Vicksburg is one of the most comprehensive resources available to battlefield park visitors.  With Meek and Hattaway's help, visitors will, at long last, be able to understand fully just exactly what they are seeing.   This important new work will make a significant addition to Civil War scholarship and will be welcomed by scholars, students, and Civil War enthusiasts alike.   (From the Publisher)

Thomas, Dean S.  Ready--Aim--Fire!:  Small Arms Ammunition in the Battle of Gettysburg.  Gettysburg:  Thomas Publications, 1981.
Call #:  E 646.5 T46 1981   (ULIB)

• More than 375 bullet and cartridge specimens used by the Northern and Southern armies in the largest battle of the Civil War.   (Book Description)

Thomas, William G. and Alice E. Carter.  The Civil War on the Web:   A Guide to the Very Best Sites.  Wilmington:  SR Books, 2001.
Call #:  E 468.9 T46 2001   (ULIB)

• Thomas, director of the Virginia Center for Digital History, and Carter, project manager of the Learning Network, have examined thousands of Civil War web sites and culled the top 95 most informative, visually appealing, and easily navigable sites for the serious researcher.  Subject matter and content type for each featured resource are described and evaluated with detailed annotations and given a one to five star rating based on content, aesthetics, and user-friendliness . . . this work will serve as a guide to the best current Civil War scholarship available online.  Highly recommended for academic libraries.   (Library Journal)

Assorted Books

There are many reference materials on the Battle of Gettysburg, but there are also numerous scholarly works on the battle as well.  In this section is a small selection of scholarly works that provide further insight into the battle.

Boritt, Gabor S., ed.  The Gettysburg Nobody Knows.   New York:  Oxford University Press, 1997.
Call #:  E 475.53 G398 1997    (ULIB)

• Leading authorities shed new light on the greatest battle in American history, focusing in particular on the unknown, the controversial, and what might have been.    (Ingram)

Dowdey, Clifford.  Lee and His Men at Gettysburg:  the Death of a Nation.   Lincoln:  University of Nebraska Press, 1999, c1958.
Call#:  E 475.53 D746 1999   (ULIB)

• This work, first published in 1958, by Alfred A. Knopf, details the battles of Gettysburg from the Confederate point of view.  As the first volume in a trilogy focusing on the campaigns of the Army of Northern Virginia it describes the disastrous Confederate experience at Gettysburg during three days in July in 1863, and examines reasons for the ultimate defeat of the Army of Northern Virginia.  Includes many b&w maps.   (Booknews)

Frassanito, William A.  Gettysburg:  A Journey in Time.   New York:  Scribner, 1975.  
Call #:  E 475.53 F793 1975   (ULIB)

• A unique example of photographic detective work in which the famous battle is re-created almost as if it were a contemporary news event.  The reader is transported to the battlefield by the photographs and through the analysis of the photographs to the battle itself. We watch it unfold, action by action.  In meticulous close-up fashion, with documentary force, we see the terrible encounters of men at war.   (Civilwarandmore.com)

Longacre, Edward G.  The Cavalry at Gettysburg:  A Tactical Study of Mounted Operations During the Civil War's Pivotal Campaign, 9 June - 14 July 1863.  Rutherford:  Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, c1986.
Call #:  E 475.51 L85 1986   (ULIB)

• "Bristles with analysis, details, judgments, personality profiles, and evaluations and combat descriptions, even down to the squadron and company levels."    (Civil War Times Illustrated)

Paris, Louis-Philippe-Albert d'Orlčans, comte de.  The Battle of Gettysburg, From the History of the Civil War in America.   Philadelphia:  Porter & Coates, 1886.
Call #:  E 475.51 P21   (ULIB)

• . . . has thoughtfully sifted the evidence for every statement made, has consulted with the surviving officers of either army, and then, "with malice toward none and charity for all," and with an impartiality rare even in a foreigner of his exalted position and preeminent ability, has written the history of the greatest battle fought on American soil.  The Comte de Paris' account of the battle of Gettysburg is widely acknowledged to be the fairest and most graphic description of the battle ever written.    (From the Publisher)

Tucker, Glenn.  High Tide at Gettysburg:  the Campaign in Pennsylvania.  Dayton:   Press of Morningside Bookshop, 1983.
Call #:  E 475.51 T83 1983   (ULIB)

• High Tide at Gettysburg tells the story of the Army of Virginia from June 3, 1863, when they began the invasion of Pennsylvania, to July 13, when they crossed the Potomac.   How near the South came to victory is clearly set forth in these pages . . . Glenn Tucker clearly sets out the background of the crucial battle so that the reader can fully appreciate its unfolding.  Two great opposing forces faced each other.   Their struggle for victory claimed the lives of nearly 50,000 men.   (From the Publisher)

Trudeau, Noah Andre.  Gettysburg:  A Testing of Courage.   New York:  HarperCollins, 2002.
Call #:  E 475.53 T78 2002   (ULIB)

• Trudeau skillfully intertwines his narrative with firsthand accounts using letters, diaries, memoirs, and after-action reports from local residents, soldiers, and officers.   He offers new insights on familiar controversies such as Confederate General Ewell's role on the first day of fighting, Robert E. Lee's mood for battle, and Major General Meade's reluctance to fight.  In addition, Trudeau unearths many little-known human interest stories and brings to light the trials and tribulations of ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances.  The book includes 60 maps, a detailed roster of the opposing armies' command structure, and copious chapter notes.  A monumental work, thoroughly researched and well written, this is the best recent single-volume history of the campaign.  Highly recommended for Civil War enthusiasts and scholars.    (Library Journal)

Periodicals

Journals are an excellent way to keep track of current articles and book reviews on the Battle of Gettysburg.  The two journals / periodicals in this section were located through ARBA (American Reference Books Annual) Magazines for Libraries, 11th ed.   The following descriptions combine information from ARBA, and from the publishing source of these journals / periodicals.

Civil War History:  A Journal of the Middle Period.   [ISSN:  0009-8078].  Kent:   Kent State University Press.  1955.   Quarterly.
      http://bookmasters.com/ksu-press/journals.htm

• The foremost scholarly journal of "the middle period," covering not only the War Between the States but the events leading up to it and its aftermath.  This journal has three or four major articles and 10-15 book reviews in each issue.  It is the scholarly companion to Civil War Times, and the information it contains will be useful to anyone who desires more in-depth knowledge of Civil War topics.  Although probably not for the casual reader, this journal should be included in academic and general library collections.

Civil War Times Illustrated:  A Magazine for Persons, Interested in the American Civil War, its People, and its Era.   [ISSN:  0009-8094].  Harrisburg:  PRIMEDIA Special Interest Publications, History Group.  1959.   Published 7x/yr.
      http://www.primedia.com/html2/media/cowles/civilwar.html

• Civil War Times Illustrated tells the complete story of our nation's great Civil War, with all its action, drama and modern-day significance.  As a general interest publication in a specialized field, the magazine examines all aspects of the era.  Intended primarily for the general reader and the Civil War enthusiast, this publication would also be helpful to high school and junior college students beginning research on a Civil War topic.

Merideth, Lee W.  Guide to Civil War Periodicals.   Twentynine Palms:  Historical Indexes, 1991.
Call #:  (*) E 461 M47X 1991    (ULIB OVER)

• This book is broken up into subject index; articles by author index; book reviews by author index; book reviews by title index; and a numerical listing of all articles.   Information on the Battle of Gettysburg can be located via the subject index, and this information is further divided into categories.  Those categories are articles, additional articles, additional articles, book reviews, memoirs, video, general listings, additional listings, illustrations and maps.   (Synopsis)

Indexes & Abstracts

The following resources are useful staring points for gathering information on the Battle of Gettysburg.  Each of the indexes and abstracts listed below can be accessed through UALB Libraries' home page.

America:  History and Life.  Santa Barbara, CA:   ABC-CLIO.
      http://serials.abc-clio.com/

• America:  History and Life is a complete bibliographic reference to the history of the United States and Canada from prehistory to the present.  Published since 1964, the database comprises over 450,000 bibliographic entries, providing an incomparable research tool for students and researchers of US and Canadian history.   This extensive database covers over 2,000 journals published worldwide.  Every year approximately 16,000 new entries are added to this database, so researchers can keep up with the historical literature from the United States, Canada, and throughout the world.

EBSCO Academic Search Premier.  EBSCO Publishing.
     http://library.albany.edu/databases/search.asp

• The world's largest academic multi-disciplinary database, Academic Search Premier provides full text for more than 3,800 scholarly publications, including full text for nearly 2,800 peer-reviewed journals.  Coverage spans virtually every area of academic study and offers information dating as far back as 1975.  This database is updated on a daily basis via EBSCOhost.

Expanded Academic ASAP.  The Gale Group, Inc.
      http://library.albany.edu/databases/search.asp

• This is a general database which contains 9,634,655 articles. It covers astronomy, religion, law, history, psychology, humanities, current events, sociology, communications and the general sciences.  The database is updated daily, and one can access scholarly journals, news magazines, and newspapers, some with full text and images.

JSTOR - The Scholarly Journal Archive.  The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
     http://www.jstor.org/

• This database provides citations and full text to journal articles in the disciplines of African American Studies, Asian Studies, Anthropology, Ecology, Economics, Education, Finance, Language and Literature, History, Political Science, Philosophy, Sociology, Statistics, Population Studies and more.  There is an assortment of articles on the Battle of Gettysburg available through this database.

Internet Sources

There are few non-fee based resources available on the Battle of Gettysburg, and I have included some sites on this pathfinder which do not just give a synopsis of the battle with a few sketches.  The more interactive a site, the more interesting that site is.  Several of these web resources have interactive maps which demonstrate how the fight progressed complete with captions.  There are also several sites which combine past and present through images from that time period and images from the present.  Visual images do not present a statistical synopsis of the battle, but rather bring to life the people who fought and died at Gettysburg.

Discovery Communications, Inc.  Civil War Chronicles - Gettysburg:  Bloody Crossroad.  Updated 2000.      http://www.discovery.com/stories/history/civilwar/gettysburg/gettysburg.html

• Initially, this site offers a retelling of the days leading to the Battle of Gettysburg, and the battle itself from the perspective of General Robert E. Lee.   One intriguing aspect of this site is the section entitled, "In Their Own Words."   This section includes links to the biographical sketches of six different people.   Each sketch is accompanied by an audio file of that person speaking about their experiences during this battle.  A second interesting feature of this site is a set of three interactive maps, one for each day of battle.  Each map has a red block for the Confederate forces, and a blue block for the Union forces.  Accompanied by narrative, the map goes through the events of each day, showing and telling which forces were fighting where, and how well.

Heiser, John, ed.  Gettysburg National Military Park:   United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service.  Updated 25 February 2003.
      http://www.nps.gov/gett/home.htm

• The National Park Service is responsible for this site which combines information on Gettysburg today, as well as the Battle of Gettysburg.  Visitors to this site can find information on planning a trip to Gettysburg, the park facilities, current weather conditions at the park, special events, etc.  For history buffs, the site offers links to the Eisenhower Historic Site, to battlefield maps of the Battle of Gettysburg, to information on the lives of soldiers who fought in the battle, and even to a virtual tour of the battlefield.  The battle of Gettysburg itself is covered extensively with historical information, interactive maps, and photographs of today juxtaposed with sketches and photos from the time of the battle.

The History Net:  Where History Lives on the Web.  Updated 2002.
      http://www.historynet.com/

• By clicking on the link to American History, one can link to Civil War History, and from there to history on the Battle of Gettysburg.  The main feature of this information on Gettysburg is a four part synopsis of the battle itself.   Each day of fighting is broken down, with a final section dedicated to the aftermath of the battle.   There are fast facts on Gettysburg available, which include how many soldiers were involved on each side, and who was commanding which army.  The most important aspect of this site, however, is the link it offers to the Battle of Gettysburg Official Records.   This secondary site offers summaries of the various incidents of the battle, narratives written by those who were there, and official records.

Johnson, Stuart et al.  The Battle of Gettysburg Resource Center.   Updated 22 February 2003.
      http://www15.brinkster.com/gburginfo/

• A group of Civil War/ Battle of Gettysburg enthusiasts created this site in order to answer questions about the Battle, what led up to it, and to cover its aftermath.   The homepage is broken down into ten groups which include, A Photographic Tour of the Battlefield Today, Interesting and Unusual Stories, Civilians, and the Aftermath.   Each section provides a wide variety of links.  Not only does this site include stories about the people at Gettysburg, civilians and soldiers, but there are also army rosters, photographs, maps, and links to other Gettysburg sites.

The Library of Congress.  Selected Civil War Photographs.   Updated 5 January 2000.
      http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/cwphtml/cwphome.html

• The Library of Congress is responsible for placing this collection online.   There is no historical synopsis, nor are there any interactive maps of the Battle of Gettysburg.   Instead, from this homepage, one can click on the subject index which leads to twenty six photographs of the Battle of Gettysburg.  Each photo is accompanied by a short summary, general notes, subject headings, and collection information.  These photographs, taken both during and after the battle, capture the images of soldiers killed during the fighting, as well as the surrounding landscape, various civilians, and headquarters of the opposing armies.

Military History Online.  Updated 2000.
      http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/gettysburg/

• This site offers an extensive amount of introductory historical information, and America in the 1850's is discussed along with the history of the Civil War.   Accompanying the information on the Civil War is a time line which is colored coded to present historical events during the war.  The coverage of General Robert E. Lee and the reasons for his invasion into the North is presented chronologically with maps of the movement of his army.  The Battle of Gettysburg itself is broken into three sections, each section representing a day of fighting.  These sections are further subdivided, and, along with a synopsis of the fighting that occurred, each link also provides a battle map.

Created by Danielle Cayea
Spring 2003
SUNY School of Information Science & Policy