Hallowed Ground: A Walk at Gettysburg by James M. McPherson

Hallowed Ground: A Walk at Gettysburg by James M. McPherson-141 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

McPherson takes readers on a "tour" of the grounds of the Gettysburg battlefield. He discusses many monuments and dedications on the grounds. Stories about several officers and soldiers on both sides, Union and Confederate, are included. I was already familiar with some of the stories, but not all. For instance, there were a couple of Confederates from the town of Gettysburg who fought here. One was related to the Culp family for whom Culp's Hill was named. His name was Wesley Culp and he was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg. 

McPherson also dispels a few myths surrounding the Battle of Gettysburg. One of these dispelled myths involves a spring on the battlefield. Supposedly, at the end of the second day of battle Confederate and Union soldiers declared a truce and shared water from the springs. However, according to McPherson there are no accounts which support this myth. An account from a Union soldier relates that he approached the spring but slowly backed away when he saw Confederate soldiers already there. He dispels several other myths in addition to this one. 

Overall, I really liked this short book. I want to visit Gettysburg National Military Park even more now. The only qualm I have is that there are no images of monuments that the author visits. It would have been nice to have even a small image of some of the monuments the author mentions. This is why I didn't give it five stars.

Bayonet! Forward: My Civil War Reminiscences by Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

Bayonet! Forward: My Civil War Reminiscences by Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain-328 pages

General Chamberlain was Colonel of the 20th Maine at Little Round Top at the Battle of Gettysburg and successfully defended it with a bayonet charge. He was also at Fredericksburg, Petersburg, White Oak Road, Five Forks, and several other major Civil War battles in which the Union Army of the Potomac fought. Additionally, he (his division) was chosen to take the official surrender of arms of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia after Lee's surrender at Appamattox. I have previously read a biography about Chamberlain and one of his works and immediately wanted to read this book when I came across it on Goodreads. This was a good read and Chamberlain is clearly a good orator and writer, after all he was professor of rhetoric and oratory at Bowdoin College in Maine before his enlistment. His thoughts and remembrances of his experiences during the Civil War are compelling and thought-provoking, although glorifying of war and his experience a bit. One can tell that he was an intellectual, thoughtful man who was also humble and contrite. His thoughts on his peers and superiors are particularly compelling. Overall, this was a good read.

The Gettysburg Address: A Graphic Adaptation by Jonathan Hennessey

The Gettysburg Address: A Graphic Adaptation by Jonathan Hennessey-224 pages

This was very thought-provoking and interesting. I am a history enthusiast, especially the Civil War and Reconstruction Era of the United States. I am glad to have read this and it is a good, thought-provoking account of the meaning of each phrase and the whole of the Gettysburg Address and its place in American past and present.