There were over 600 artillery pieces at Gettysburg. The guns were managed and operated by over 14,000 men. In three days over 50,000 rounds were fired. What impact did artillery have on this famous battle? How efficiently were the guns used? What were the strengths and weaknesses on each side? "Civil War Artillery At Gettysburg" answers these questions and many more. Using accessible descriptions, this work details the state of the art of this "long arm" as it existed at the time of the battle. It is an informative overview of field artillery in general while using the battle of Gettysburg to illustrate artillery technology. For it was Gettysburg when the artillery branch of both armies had matured to the point where its organization would stay relatively unchanged for the remainder of the war. Both armies prior to Gettysburg had neither the same mix of guns nor, more importantly, the same structure of organization as it did at this battle. The effects were telling. "This book is an artillery 'buff's' delight...The work meticulously examines the forming of the respective artillery arms of the two armies; the organization; artillery technology; guns; equipment and animals constituting that arm; ammunition; artillery operations; the artillerymen and, finally, actions of the guns on July 2 and 3....The work is perfect for someone seeking more data than found in most general histories of the battle...Nicely illustrated to supplement the text, the succinctly written technical details of ballistics, projectile composition and impact of technology for battlefield lethality will prove similarly useful and exciting for anyone captivated by the guns of Gettysburg." Book review by B. F. Cooling, The Civil War Courier "Rather than being a dull treatise, 'Artillery at Gettysburg'...proves to be an engaging book... Cole explains the benefits and liabilities of each piece of artiillery....His use of photographs, diagrams, and maps are excellent and integrate seamlessly into the text....Not only does it explain why events unfolded the way they did , it helps explain how they unfolded." Book review by Maj. James Gates, USAF, Military Review "No other modern book on Civil War artillery of this size is as detailed...as this book is generally...The author's broad approach to the whole subject of artillery tactics shine when he compares and contrasts several artillery incidents at Gettysburg that better explain what was going on at the time....This book is essential for all those interested in Civil War artillery, 19th century artillery, or just the battle of Gettysburg. Highly recommended." Book review by Peter A. Frandsen, The Artilleryman "I found Civil War Artillery at Gettysburg to be an informative and well written account of the 'long-arm' at Gettysburg. The book is very well-illustrated with maps and photos throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to our readers." Book review by James N. Vogler, Jr., Editor-in-Chief, Confederate Veteran Philip Cole was born and raised in Gettysburg and currently resides near there. He is a U.S. Navy veteran and graduate of Penn State University. Cole is a licensed battlefield guide at Gettysburg National Military Park.

Civil War Artillery at Gettysburg

History

Cole, Philip M.

Americas

Colecraft Industries

Frictions are the mechanisms which complicated warfare. They are the constant streams of obstacles thrown in the way of planning and the governor of progress. Armies encountered any number of unpredictable obstacles in any number of situations. Each friction requires a different solution. Each challenge is a diversion from the planned objective. Each unplanned task saps an army's resources needed elsewhere. Frictions steered the armies into making major decisions and altering or reversing plans. They drew commanders' attention to less important details in operations at the expense of maintaining balance over the big picture. This work focuses on the frictions of two important functions - command and communication. Command frictions in the Army of the Potomac, for example, caused a great deal of confusion in recognizing who was in charge at any one time or place. Communication frictions altered Lee's original plan to move towards Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and diverted the Army of Northern Virginia to Gettysburg; they caused forward elements of the Confederate army to provoke a general engagement against Lee's instructions; they misdirected thousands of troops away from the battle and caused unnecessary casualties. "Command and Communication Frictions in the Gettysburg Campaign" illustrates the effect these two functions had in determining the outcome of the campaign. This work uses a variety of incidents, some familiar, to illustrate their serious impact on the battle - at least as much as troops in combat affected the result. The examples presented deal mainly with the high commands of the armies, especially the Army of the Potomac. The high command level was where the most important decisions were made to influence the progress of the army and the destiny its troops. Even though this study concentrates on frictions in the Gettysburg campaign, the revelations from this one operation, nevertheless, can be applied to any battle of any war. Philip M. Cole's book Command and Communication Frictions in the Gettysburg Campaign brings about an interesting scholarship to the battle and campaign which has been so written about over and over again. But with grace, he has brought a new look into that which has been studied so prominently with fresh air... Cole's study on the command and communication frictions is more than just another Gettysburg study; it is a look into the structure and reason for some of the major problems in the battle when it comes to command... One of the most interesting new points which Cole brings out is that Hooker did not just "make time" as Coddington states in his work; he had many communication frictions between himself and the high command in Washington. Another problem with communication he brings about is the use of time on the battlefield and just how much time it takes to send orders around on the field. Part of the command friction which was most interesting was the friction with senior commanders and wing commanders. Sometimes with complete disregard for orders, there were great issues among the men in the army. One thing which should have been obvious, but seems new in this work, is the personal relationships which are created through experience and can be a problem when the command changes. These studies are some of the reasons that this book should be among the library of any Gettysburg enthusiast... Cole's work is one of the best studies presented on command in quite some time and though it has been in print for about eight years, should be part of any study of Gettysburg by Civil War historians. This book is highly recommended for any interested in command structure or issues during the Gettysburg Campaign. 5 Star Review by Matthew Bartlett posted on goodreads.com December, 2013

Command and Communication Frictions in the Gettysburg Campaign

"Fear is contagious, but so is courage." Fear-it's merely a warning to the senses of potential injury or threat. It directs actions away from danger and increases the chances of survival. It grips every soldier's heart as he draws near the enemy. But before that happens, this emotion has been altered by a concoction of physical and mental stresses that affect the reaction to danger and the ability to manage fear. Stressors such as physical fatigue, lack of sleep, hunger, conflict of values, the clash between self-preservation and the obligations to duty and fellow soldiers all shape responses to actions. How did they struggle through combat yet still manage to perform? Proper motivation, morale, discipline, and training all helped. Diversions aided soldiers by directing their attention away from fear. Some managed fear through denial, others by acclimation, or some simply accepted their destiny as fate. This work explores how fear and stress challenged soldiers in the Civil War and the means used to cope through their desperate situations. It includes many eyewitness accounts and observations of what soldiers experienced as they approached battlefields, engaged in combat, and the impressions stamped into their minds that lasted a lifetime.
 …This work, likely to become quite popular, provides descriptions of every facet of fear soldiers involved in any major conflict might experience. Philip Cole dissects fear with an expertise that is hard to match. He takes an intangible emotion and breathes life into it. Fear influences our thoughts and actions frequently without our knowledge. Using this premise, he explores factors influencing fear. Additionally he describes the cause-and-effect relationship between fear and stress. Understanding these factors is extremely important in order for commanders to be effective. Weather, fatigue and lack of food, sleep and clothing all play an important part in how a soldier reacts during battle. Reactions during conflict are almost as different as the individuals fighting. Preparations made prior to battle may or may not alleviate certain fears. Actual combat almost always causes different fears. These not only include the fear of dying but also of being surrounded by death, isolation and loneliness… Many historians struggle to understand why Civil War soldiers were willing to make frontal assaults like Longstreet’s Gettysburg attack, better known as “Pickett’s Charge,” where certain death appeared imminent. Cole provides a very good answer: the close-knit community among soldiers and good communication between leaders and subordinates… Another interesting observation is that Civil War soldiers suffered many of the same emotional and mental traumas that soldiers face in modern combat zones. This book appeals to a wide audience. It is reasonably priced, well written and extensively researched. The author makes learning how soldiers in combat overcome their fears a more enjoyable experience… Reviewer for the Civil War News, Richard J. Blumberg, gives this book a “strong recommendation.”

You'll Be Scared. Sure-You'll Be Scared - Fear, Stress, and Coping in the Civil War

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Cole, Philip M.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Cole, Philip M.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Cole, Philip M.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Civil War Artillery at Gettysburg

Command and Communication Frictions in the Gettysburg Campaign

You'll Be Scared. Sure-You'll Be Scared - Fear, Stress, and Coping in the Civil War