Great Top 10 Tim! Absolutely agree on Coddington's Study as #1, and am looking forward to reading Tucker's High Tide at Gettysburg. Love his book on the battle of Chickamauga. Frassanito's Journey in Time is also outstanding. Reading His follow up "Early Photography... " right now.
My Dad took me to Gettysburg in the 70s. We bought Gettysburg Sketches by Frederic Ray. I still have it. I looked it over a few months ago and was surprised how good and complete the text was. It was not just about the illustrations. Also, so much came flooding back as when I was a kid I must have gone through it 100s of times.
Wow, as someone who collects books (among many other things!) this was a joy to watch! I'm lucky enough to own a first hardback edition of What a Girl Saw at Gettysburg (published in 1889) #8 on your list, a first edition of Notes on the Rebel Invasion (published in 1864) #6 on your list, and a first signed edition of William Frassanito's Gettysburg: A Journey in Time (published in 1975, although I got Fras's autograph years later at a Gettysburg signing) #2 on your list. Now, I'm planning to look for High Tide at Gettysburg, based on your excellent recommendation. Thanks, Tim! By the way, my first introduction to the Civil War was when I found an empty wooden cannon carriage (didn't know what it was called then and it was missing its cannon) in an empty farmer's field behind our house in St. Louis, Missouri. It was hidden in tall overgrowth, but even at the age of 10, I knew it had something to do with the Civil War. Unfortunately, one of our neighbor's parents heard me talking about it and he convinced me to lead him to where it was hidden in the tall grass, whereupon he subsequently took it and put it in his front yard ... Why didn't my parents get it? ... I'm the one who found it!
I remember taking a battlefield tour with a guide named Bob Gale some years ago, and when I mentioned that I was reading Coddington's book, his response was "Ah! The Bible!" That was a great book and have also read the Frassanito book. The first book that got me going on the Civil War was the American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War. Got it for Christmas around 1961 and was first attracted to the photos and maps, but as I got a little older I began reading the text by Bruce Catton and have been reading about Gettysburg and the Civil War ever since. Great video, Tim!!
Speaking of influential books from my elementary school library in the early 1970s was the 1963 American Heritage Junior Library’s Battle of Gettysburg by Catton. Lots of illustrations, reproductions of paintings, photos and a version of the Greenspan birdseye map/ illustration. The misidentified photos made me appreciate Frassanito a few years later. I had a similar discussion with Mrs. Johnson about Curious George. That wasn’t going to cut it compared to the history section.
I bought Edward Coddington,s book "a study in command' in 1970 in Wolfville Nova Scotia.What a find.I could not believe that book was in that small town . I was17 years old.Paid$17.95 for paperback.The Cad $ was at par or better than US$ back then Not that way now {"?"}
I love it that your interest in the Civil War began in the 1st grade! I think that's about the time my interest in the Civil War began too. Thank you for sharing your list. Since my main area of interest is (obviously) the Gettysburg campaign, and mainly the civilian accounts during the battle, I am partial to Tillie Pierce's book. My other favorite is "Firestorm at Gettysburg....Civilian Voices" by Jim Slade & John Alexander. Also Wm. Frassanito's books and Gregory Coco's books....and a couple books by a couple really cool Civil War historian dudes with an incredible wealth of information: Tim Smith and Garry Adelman. 😊
Yes, mine was also Bruce Catton. His Civil War Trilogy. Finding them after reading from American Heritage. His snippets on the Iron Brigade and placing flags on Civil War veterans graves. This is after watching watching living veterans March in Memorial Day parades when he was a kid.
I will throw in some more honorable mentions: Carol Reardon’s “Pickett’s Charge in History and Memory-highlights the newspaper opinions of the Confederate participants. David L Shulz’s “ Double Canister at Ten Yards”. Helps you understand the contributions of artillery. Lastly, “American Scoundrel” by Thomas Keneally, because to understand Dan Sickles’s actions at Gettysburg, you have to understand where he came from.
I also have and read Schultz's "Double Canister..." and understand he's working on a companion volume titled "Complexities And Complications" about the Confederate artillery's part on July 3rd, but it seems to have fallen off the radar. Have you heard anything about it?
@@lawrencemyers3623 yea he’s been working on it for several years. Stopped for awhile while he went back to work. One of the people helping him bailed on it. Who knows🤷♂️
I just finished Edwin Coddington’s book which Tim ranked # 1. If I’m not mistaken, it’s also Gary Adelman’s go-to for books on the battle of Gettysburg.
Such a great segment Tim! I loved Fredrick Ray’s Gettysburg Sketches! I spent hours reading it as a kid. I thought I had a great Gettysburg book collection, but there are many here that I do not.
I’m currently reading Glenn Tucker’s excellent book. I was amazed to learn from this book that George Pickett’s entry into West Point was aided by none other than Abraham Lincoln!
I still have my first Civil War book I got as a child. It was the American Heritage History of the Civil War by Bruce Catton. It's falling apart from age and use but I'll never part with it.
That is the book that got me interested in the Civil War. Was first attracted by the pictures and maps, but when I was old enough to read the text by Bruce Catton, that is when I really became a fanatic about the history of the war.
I have to put my first Battle of Gettysburg book on here. I bought this as a 15 year old on my first visit. "The Battle of Gettysburg" by W. C. Storrick.
My first book I ever read on the Civil War was Shiloh by Shelby Foote in 1993 while I was in high school. The second book I read was Coddington... I was hooked.
#11 “Pickett’s Charge In History And Memory” by Carol Reardon. Over 200 pages focused on those decisive few hours on the third day and how they were reported on and remembered. Excellent reading!
Ive got an original "Three Weeks at Gettysburg" by Georgeanna Muirson. I think it was quickly printed and handed out to US Sanitary Commission workers about a month or so post battle. I believe there was a hardcover reprint in 1969. Its a 24 page pamphlet in realty.
I like a kid’s book published in 1952 that is so well-written and engaging, you can picture yourself there. It’s “Gettysburg” from the Landmark Book Series. A classic! By MacKinlay Kantor.
Yep! I was reading that when I was in elementary school (in the fifties) and I think my parents finally bought it because they were suspicious that I eventually wouldn’t return my library copy (I kept taking it out to re-read.). I still have it somewhere and it’s a fond memory! In fact, that Landmark Book Series included some other great histories for kids-I read a bunch of them!
Tim, I,m from Brazil. What do you think about the 3 volums from Shelby Foote (the civil war narrative)? Are they good? I´m thinking to buy them, but it´s very expensive to send to Brazil. Please, in your opinion, does the books worth?
I was just looking at my old copy of the American Heritage Civil War, and I noticed that Stephen Sears is listed as an assistant editor for that book. I enjoy Sears books on the Civil War very much.
I see you didn't include Newt Gingrich's book, a fantasy concerning a "what if" the Confederate Army had defeated the Union Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg in July of 1863. My two young sons and I met & conversed with Gingrich about twenty years ago when he was out of elected office and hawking his books on a folding card table on a sidewalk in Gettysburg, PA. Lining up for his book was a continuous flow of excited men & boys, many wearing white T-shirts emblazoned with the Confederate Battle Flag. Gingrich eagerly signed each book copy sold. It seemed strange to me, a US NPS historian, that Gingrich, himself a history professor at the University of West Georgia at the time, should indulge the public in such curious things. Now, I can see, he was catering to "his people" all along, building toward the day when "his people" would attempt a redo of the Confederate defeat at Gettysburg by attempting to topple the Union at the Capital on January 6th, 2021. He likely delighted to see the Confederate Battle Flag enter our Nation's Capitol at the head of "his people", too!
I presume “ the Killer Angels” is not in your list because it is considered fiction. But I remember the history in it and Longstreet telling Lee to head to Washington after day 2 and not attacking on day 3 when the north had the better defendable position and had thousands of reinforcements. That book should be considered history. It was great. I may be prejudiced because I really liked the authors( MichaekShaara) baseball story “for the love of the game”
@@MaguireGuitar it is not! And you need to read the Companion that I suggested. It s small book but very enlightening and besides he said first thing…no fiction! It is called fiction because that’s what it is!
@@McNair39thNC - don’t get mad. I don’t remember the fictitious story at all but I remember the history of Longstreet telling Lee to head to Washington after day 2. That is history
Thanks Tim. I was pleased to see that a handful of my favorites made your list!
Coddington and Phanz are my 1 and 2. And shout out to Morningside whose books are so heavy that my house leans to one side.
Pfzanzs books on Gettysburg are incredible
My parents had a coffee table book of Gettysburg photos. It really left an impact on me.
Very nice video Tim
Great Top 10 Tim! Absolutely agree on Coddington's Study as #1, and am looking forward to reading Tucker's High Tide at Gettysburg. Love his book on the battle of Chickamauga. Frassanito's Journey in Time is also outstanding. Reading His follow up "Early Photography... " right now.
I believe I had the first 'comic' book around 1972 when we visited the battlefield. Way back memory.
My Dad took me to Gettysburg in the 70s. We bought Gettysburg Sketches by Frederic Ray. I still have it. I looked it over a few months ago and was surprised how good and complete the text was. It was not just about the illustrations. Also, so much came flooding back as when I was a kid I must have gone through it 100s of times.
Wow, as someone who collects books (among many other things!) this was a joy to watch! I'm lucky enough to own a first hardback edition of What a Girl Saw at Gettysburg (published in 1889) #8 on your list, a first edition of Notes on the Rebel Invasion (published in 1864) #6 on your list, and a first signed edition of William Frassanito's Gettysburg: A Journey in Time (published in 1975, although I got Fras's autograph years later at a Gettysburg signing) #2 on your list. Now, I'm planning to look for High Tide at Gettysburg, based on your excellent recommendation. Thanks, Tim! By the way, my first introduction to the Civil War was when I found an empty wooden cannon carriage (didn't know what it was called then and it was missing its cannon) in an empty farmer's field behind our house in St. Louis, Missouri. It was hidden in tall overgrowth, but even at the age of 10, I knew it had something to do with the Civil War. Unfortunately, one of our neighbor's parents heard me talking about it and he convinced me to lead him to where it was hidden in the tall grass, whereupon he subsequently took it and put it in his front yard ... Why didn't my parents get it? ... I'm the one who found it!
I remember taking a battlefield tour with a guide named Bob Gale some years ago, and when I mentioned that I was reading Coddington's book, his response was "Ah! The Bible!" That was a great book and have also read the Frassanito book. The first book that got me going on the Civil War was the American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War. Got it for Christmas around 1961 and was first attracted to the photos and maps, but as I got a little older I began reading the text by Bruce Catton and have been reading about Gettysburg and the Civil War ever since. Great video, Tim!!
Tim that was the Amen of the to 10 books on the battle at Gettysburg. Thank you for sharing this great information. 💕💯👊👍
Thanks!
Thanks so much!
Great vid! I'm always a sucker for Shelby Foote so I'd have his Stars in Their Courses
I would say that for pure writing and creating great literature about the Civil War, Shelby Foote and Bruce Catton are my favorites.
But Shelby himself was adamant that his books were novels, so they technically don't qualify.
Fantastic content!
Speaking of influential books from my elementary school library in the early 1970s was the 1963 American Heritage Junior Library’s Battle of Gettysburg by Catton. Lots of illustrations, reproductions of paintings, photos and a version of the Greenspan birdseye map/ illustration. The misidentified photos made me appreciate Frassanito a few years later. I had a similar discussion with Mrs. Johnson about Curious George. That wasn’t going to cut it compared to the history section.
I bought Edward Coddington,s book "a study in command' in 1970 in Wolfville Nova Scotia.What a find.I could not believe that book was in that small town . I was17 years old.Paid$17.95 for paperback.The Cad $ was at par or better than US$ back then Not that way now {"?"}
I love it that your interest in the Civil War began in the 1st grade! I think that's about the time my interest in the Civil War began too. Thank you for sharing your list. Since my main area of interest is (obviously) the Gettysburg campaign, and mainly the civilian accounts during the battle, I am partial to Tillie Pierce's book. My other favorite is "Firestorm at Gettysburg....Civilian Voices" by Jim Slade & John Alexander. Also Wm. Frassanito's books and Gregory Coco's books....and a couple books by a couple really cool Civil War historian dudes with an incredible wealth of information: Tim Smith and Garry Adelman. 😊
Gettysburg Sketches was the first book I ever got at the Battlefield, over 50 years ago. I loved, and still love that book.
As usual ... simply a great watch! Tim, was Sears in the running?
Could you post a Excel or a PDF list of those books? Thank you and have a great week.
Yes, mine was also Bruce Catton. His Civil War Trilogy. Finding them after reading from American Heritage. His snippets on the Iron Brigade and placing flags on Civil War veterans graves. This is after watching watching living veterans March in Memorial Day parades when he was a kid.
I would like to see a top ten books of the newer books on Gettysburg.
I have a few about Gettysburg, a lot more on Waterloo, even more on Jutland.
I will throw in some more honorable mentions: Carol Reardon’s “Pickett’s Charge in History and Memory-highlights the newspaper opinions of the Confederate participants. David L Shulz’s “ Double Canister at Ten Yards”. Helps you understand the contributions of artillery. Lastly, “American Scoundrel” by Thomas Keneally, because to understand Dan Sickles’s actions at Gettysburg, you have to understand where he came from.
Sickles at Gettysburg by Jim Hessler is the best on that subject!
I also have and read Schultz's "Double Canister..." and understand he's working on a companion volume titled "Complexities And Complications" about the Confederate artillery's part on July 3rd, but it seems to have fallen off the radar. Have you heard anything about it?
@@lawrencemyers3623 yea he’s been working on it for several years. Stopped for awhile while he went back to work. One of the people helping him bailed on it. Who knows🤷♂️
I just finished Edwin Coddington’s book which Tim ranked # 1. If I’m not mistaken, it’s also Gary Adelman’s go-to for books on the battle of Gettysburg.
Such a great segment Tim! I loved Fredrick Ray’s Gettysburg Sketches! I spent hours reading it as a kid. I thought I had a great Gettysburg book collection, but there are many here that I do not.
love when tim says acrosst..... lol. great vid tim !!!!
IWe take the T out of balmore and use it in other words Like Kilt, Fount and of course Washet
I’m currently reading Glenn Tucker’s excellent book. I was amazed to learn from this book that George Pickett’s entry into West Point was aided by none other than Abraham Lincoln!
I would suggest Devil's Den by Gary and yourself.
I still have my first Civil War book I got as a child. It was the American Heritage History of the Civil War by Bruce Catton. It's falling apart from age and use but I'll never part with it.
I still have mine!
@@mjciavola yes I have the old one kept as an artifact and bought another to read.
That is the book that got me interested in the Civil War. Was first attracted by the pictures and maps, but when I was old enough to read the text by Bruce Catton, that is when I really became a fanatic about the history of the war.
I have one that he signed for me. I think I was 9 or 10 years old or so...
@@jumpmaster82nd. Signed by Bruce Catton? Cool!
I have to put my first Battle of Gettysburg book on here. I bought this as a 15 year old on my first visit. "The Battle of Gettysburg" by W. C. Storrick.
My first book I ever read on the Civil War was Shiloh by Shelby Foote in 1993 while I was in high school. The second book I read was Coddington... I was hooked.
#11 “Pickett’s Charge In History And Memory” by Carol Reardon. Over 200 pages focused on those decisive few hours on the third day and how they were reported on and remembered. Excellent reading!
My first book too. I still have it. Also Gettysburg Sketches 50 cents back then.
Cool.
Ive got an original "Three Weeks at Gettysburg" by Georgeanna Muirson. I think it was quickly printed and handed out to US Sanitary Commission workers about a month or so post battle. I believe there was a hardcover reprint in 1969. Its a 24 page pamphlet in realty.
I like a kid’s book published in 1952 that is so well-written and engaging, you can picture yourself there. It’s “Gettysburg” from the Landmark Book Series. A classic! By MacKinlay Kantor.
Yep! I was reading that when I was in elementary school (in the fifties) and I think my parents finally bought it because they were suspicious that I eventually wouldn’t return my library copy (I kept taking it out to re-read.). I still have it somewhere and it’s a fond memory! In fact, that Landmark Book Series included some other great histories for kids-I read a bunch of them!
I just wonder who the captain was who wore the 4-pocket dress uniform with the China-Burma theater patch off to the left? Interesting!
It was a WWII Nurse who served in India and Burma.
Timiwas8 yrs old in 1956 , getting over polio .. your the best tim ! 😂
What is the jacket next to Tim?
Tim, I,m from Brazil. What do you think about the 3 volums from Shelby Foote (the civil war narrative)? Are they good? I´m thinking to buy them, but it´s very expensive to send to Brazil. Please, in your opinion, does the books worth?
I read 7 out of 10, Got some books to find
Let's not forget "Gettysburg, A Study in Command " and yes Pfanz. Any of his Gettysburg books.
He didn't forget it. It's his #1.
His number 1 Book was Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command by Edwin Coddington 1968 is that the one you are talking about.
Yes, I typed it during the runner-up segment.
Sears? I just ordered two of these books, Tucker and Pfanz.
Sears…nah
I was just looking at my old copy of the American Heritage Civil War, and I noticed that Stephen Sears is listed as an assistant editor for that book. I enjoy Sears books on the Civil War very much.
I see you didn't include Newt Gingrich's book, a fantasy concerning a "what if" the Confederate Army had defeated the Union Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg in July of 1863. My two young sons and I met & conversed with Gingrich about twenty years ago when he was out of elected office and hawking his books on a folding card table on a sidewalk in Gettysburg, PA. Lining up for his book was a continuous flow of excited men & boys, many wearing white T-shirts emblazoned with the Confederate Battle Flag. Gingrich eagerly signed each book copy sold. It seemed strange to me, a US NPS historian, that Gingrich, himself a history professor at the University of West Georgia at the time, should indulge the public in such curious things. Now, I can see, he was catering to "his people" all along, building toward the day when "his people" would attempt a redo of the Confederate defeat at Gettysburg by attempting to topple the Union at the Capital on January 6th, 2021. He likely delighted to see the Confederate Battle Flag enter our Nation's Capitol at the head of "his people", too!
Why haven't I heard of any of the books from 6-10? 😯 Then again, Tim did say that bad books are some of his favorites.😆
I presume “ the Killer Angels” is not in your list because it is considered fiction. But I remember the history in it and Longstreet telling Lee to head to Washington after day 2 and not attacking on day 3 when the north had the better defendable position and had thousands of reinforcements. That book should be considered history. It was great. I may be prejudiced because I really liked the authors( MichaekShaara) baseball story “for the love of the game”
It is a book of fiction and in no way should be considered history! 😂 you need to read this right away! A Killer Angels Companion by Scott Hartwig!!!
Did you listen to the video even? He specifically said it wouldn’t include fiction, it was one of the first things he said🤣🤣
@@McNair39thNC - but the history is accurate- it could be considered both
@@MaguireGuitar it is not! And you need to read the Companion that I suggested. It s small book but very enlightening and besides he said first thing…no fiction! It is called fiction because that’s what it is!
@@McNair39thNC - don’t get mad. I don’t remember the fictitious story at all but I remember the history of Longstreet telling Lee to head to Washington after day 2. That is history