Archaeological Perspectives on the Southern Appalachians: A Multiscalar Approach ed. by Ramie A. Gougeon and Maureen S. Meyers (original) (raw)

West Virginia History: A Journal of Regional Studies, 2017

Abstract

of York County, Pennsylvania, during the campaign, a history of how the US Army has interacted with the battlefield, and a guest blog featured on the popu lar Civil War Memory website attest to the range of topics Snell has tackled.1 Each article is, in its own way, a kind of gem. Of par tic u lar note is Snell’s examination of the herculean efforts of the logisticians in the Army of the Potomac during the Gettysburg Campaign. The depth of his research here is emblematic of the rest of his work. In chronicling the enormous challenges faced by the quartermaster, subsistence, and ordinance departments of the Union Army, he has delved into source material the likes of which are not normally mined in a typical campaign study. The conclusions drawn shed new insight into not only the manner in which the campaign was conducted, but also the tactical decisions made by the Union high command during the battle itself. The true strength of My Gettysburg is in the totality of the work. It is, in a certain way, a kind of deeply personal love letter, an ode to a lifelong obsession. Snell’s work reminds us that our understanding of Amer i ca’s epic battle is, like the battlefield itself, constantly evolving, and that Snell’s own career, as highlighted by the work contained herein, can be seen as a kind of signpost along the way. Students of military history, legions of Civil War enthusiasts and battlefield buffs, and future military personal and staffride attendees will find essays that challenge and illuminate impor tant aspects of the battle. Students of human nature and of memory will discover unique insights into why Americans continue to be fascinated by Gettysburg and the many ways in which Americans have engaged with this defining chapter of history.

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