Again I am reminded that I am obviously not cut out to be a soldier, so it's lucky for all involved that I've remained a civilian.įirst, this is not the best rendering of the battle at Gettysburg. Personally if I had advanced across a cornfield under fire, been repulsed by the enemy and then had to march back while being shot at I wouldn't have been cheering anybody. Still I was amused reading that some of the soldiers returning from Pickett's charge took off their hats and cheered General Lee. It is civil war as a national celebration of heroism and reconciliation.
Everybody in this account who fights nobly and doggedly is virtuous and heroic. It is easy reading, the narrative and characterisation will lead them on.Īs a history of the American Civil War what strikes me from this excerpt is that there is no sense of their being any villains, the emphasis is rather on noble and heroic struggle.
It's just the kind of thing to give to a child who is interested in history and enjoys stories or perhaps to an adult who isn't a confident reader. The leading figures (naturally tending to be the officers) come across as heroes with moral virtues clearly on display. It is a good modern example of history as drama. Since the complete three volume book is one which I haven't read I can attest that this little volume that just deals with the battle of Gettysburg is free standing. This is an excerpt from Foote's three-volume history of the American Civil War.
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