Review of "Human Interest Stories of the Three Days Battles at Gettysburg with Pictures"

Review of

Human Interest Stories of the Three Days Battles at Gettysburg with Pictures

Five out of five stars

 This book is one of the pamphlets that can be purchased at the Gettysburg Memorial site that explains the monuments, the organizational structure of the battlefield and the terrain that was most fought over. It is surprising to hear that despite all of the bombs and bullets that were flying around, there were almost no civilian casualties. It is ironic that this most costly of all American Wars was one of the most chivalrous ever fought.

 As is mentioned in the book, the Confederate goal was to launch an invasion of the Union states, demonstrate their power to take Union territory and force a negotiated end to the war. Thousands died in the mass charges that were a prelude to the even greater slaughter that took place in World War I. While neither side won a decisive victory, the Union won on points, for the Confederate forces were forced to retreat back to their territory.

 This book is a reminder that even though the men killed each other with abandon, they never thoroughly hated and demonized the opposition. Many families had men fighting on both sides and there were instances when soldiers that knew each other on the opposite sides would meet. Once instance is of two men courting the same woman. When you read accounts of the civil wars in Spain and Russia and how ruthless the two sides were to each other, it is clear from this book and others, that the American Civil War was different in many respects.