No battle in the history of the United States and perhaps no battle in the history of the world is associated with more, "what ifs" than the battle of Gettysburg. A large percent of those, "what ifs" are associated with the struggle for the Round Tops on July 2nd. What if Longstreet had attacked earlier? What if Sickles had stayed where he was supposed to stay? What if Warren had arrived on Little Round Top a half-hour later? What if Benning Had not lost his bearing and had joined Law's attack on Little Round Top? What if Hood had been allowed to go around the Union left flank? Penny and Laine do mention these what ifs, but only on rare occasions do they attempt to speculate on what might have happened. Instead they deal in facts, or what DID happen.

This book must have taken years to research for they have dug deep into regimental histories and it would appear they have even researched the personal papers of any solider who's family still happens to have them around. By doing such exhaustive research the authors are able to provide us with personal glimpses of the men involved, things like what they did before the war and after the war. One soldier even credits berries in part for his recovery from diarrhea. You can't get much more personal than that.

In all honesty, this is not a book for the casual reader. I have spent many hours prowling around the battlefield at Gettysburg and on occasion I had trouble keeping up with what regiment was where. Taking that problem into account, the authors have included numerous maps showing the troop movements in great detail. The maps are a huge help. This book also does an excellent job of keeping things interesting, even while getting into a good deal of minutia.

This is an excellent book for anyone fascinated by those three July days in Pennsylvania. Anyone doing research on the battle needs a copy of this book. Penny and Laine allow us to follow Law's Brigade from Virginia to Gettysburg, and back again. I would love to have the time to run up to Gettysburg, climb up and sit on a big boulder at Devil's Den and read this book. While sitting there, able to look around me and see the places described, this book's vivid account of July 2nd, 1863 would almost transport me back in time and allow me to see it all for myself. Great Job