Gettysburg is perhaps the most written-about battle of the Civil War, and the July 2nd attack on the Federal left flank -- Little Round Top, Devil's Den, the Wheatfield and the Peach Orchard -- is perhaps the most written-about part of the Battle of Gettysburg. One of the most important -- and controversial -- roles in this attack was played by the brigade of five Alabama regiments (4th, 15th, 44th, 47th, and 48th; the 4th raised in part in the Huntsville area) commanded by Brig. Gen. Evander Law. Drawing upon their expertise as the authors of a previously published brigade history for Law's brigade, Laine and Penny have put together a very interesting, informative, and valuable addition to the large body of literature already available on this part of the battle.

Using letters and diaries from high privates as well as officers, in addition to the after-action reports (from both sides) found in the Official Records, the authors tell the story of Law's brigade from its camps in Virginia all the way to into Pennsylvania and through the crucible of battle at Gettysburg and back to Virginia. The narrative covers more than just the dramatic events of July 2nd. The reader is treated to stories of foraging in the rich Pennsylvania countryside, the long and arduous 25 mile march from New Guilford to the battlefield, and the often-neglected events of July 3rd, when the Alabamians, supported by elements of a Georgia brigade and scattered other troops, held the better part of two Federal cavalry brigades at bay and thereby secured the Confederate right flank.

Having read a lot of battle narratives, and quite a few of them about this particular aspect of this particular battle, I was surprised at the freshness and clarity of the description in this one. The authors did a first-rate job of making clear how the various units in the attack moved, how their maneuvers related to one another, the sequence of events on different parts of the battlefield, etc. This is one of the absolute best renderings of battlefield action at the regimental level that I have ever read. The maps are a key part of this success, and in fact the use of maps is nearly the best I have ever seen in a Civil War book. They are well-done, well-placed, well-annotated, and plentiful.

This is a good book, sure to be of interest to local readers as well as Civil War historians everywhere. The authors are to be commended for their efforts.