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About Gettysburg: The Field of Glory
From July 1-3, 1863, soldiers from the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia battled in what would be one of the most significant struggles of the American Civil War at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The Southern army under the command of General Robert E. Lee invaded Pennsylvania with the hopes of crushing the Federal army under Major-General George Meade. General Lee hoped with the invasion of Pennsylvania and a victory that the peace movement, known as the Copperheads would be able to pressure the Lincoln government for peaceful negotiations with the Southern Confederacy and permit separation from the Union. The invasion would have another benefit. It would allow Virginia farmers the opportunity to maintain their crops without risk of destruction by the Federal army for the use of the hungry Southern army.
The Southern army from officers to the private soldier under General Lee had enjoyed a number of victories over their adversary. Confidence was high among the Confederate army. Major-General William Dorsey Pender of North Carolina, commanding a division in Lieutenant-General A. P. Hill’s Third Corps wrote: “I feel that we are taking a very important step, but see no reason why we should not be successful. We have a large army that is in splendid condition and spirit.” Private French Harding, Company F, 31st Virginia Infantry wrote “I think the surest plan is to depend upon our own resources. I am confident they are sufficient to meet our wants.” During those fateful three days, over 50,000 men from the blue and gray became casualties of war fighting for their convictions at Gettysburg: The Field of Glory.
One of the Confederate divisions fighting at Gettysburg was under the command of Major-General George Pickett. General Pickett commanded three Virginia brigades under the command of Brigadier-Generals James Kemper, Lewis Armistead and Richard Garnett.
Gettysburg: The Field of Glory, released by Infinity Publishingfollows the brigade of Brigadier-General Garnett from Berryville, Virginia through the third day’s fighting at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Jonathan Russell, a Confederate soldier and descendent of the author from Loudoun County, Virginia narrates a very vivid description of the events from his enlistment with the 2nd Virginia Infantry at Harpers Ferry to his service with the 8th Virginia Infantry at Gettysburg. Through the eyes of Private Russell, the reader will appreciate the trials, adventures, challenges, and the loneliness of separation from family while serving with the Army of Northern Virginia.
Gettysburg: The Field of Glory was taken from the Russell family memoirs, soldiers’ diaries and letters, regimental histories, The Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, and The Southern Historical Society Papers. Gettysburg: The Field of Glory includes period photographs, period newspaper articles, historical references, and Major Charles Peyton’s report.
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