Flames Beyond Gettysburg: The Gordon Expedition, June 1863
Flames Beyond Gettysburg doubles as a history of John Gordon’s Brigade’s action prior to the battle of Gettysburg as well as a current tour guide. Six driving tours are outlined in the book, covering each aspect of Gordon’s maneuvers and actions leading up to the major three-day battle. Most people with a passing interest in the Civil War have an understanding of the battle of Gettysburg. However, even among those who consider themselves as having a firm grasp of the battle some know precious little of the pre-battle campaign. This book begins to fill in that area. The author focuses on John Gordon’s Brigade during the last two weeks of June 1863. Picking up the movements of the brigade as it moved from Culpepper, Mingus follows the Georgians’ brigade in all of its pre-Gettysburg activities. After clearing the Shenandoah Valley and crossing the Potomac River, the objective for the Confederates pointed toward the Pennsylvania capital of Harrisburg. Gen. Jubal Early developed an encircling movement against the city. Fortunately for the citizens of Pennsylvania the Southern invasion stalled when Gordon’s men were unable to cross that bridge. The fight in and around Wrightsville, Pa., resulted in the bridge being burned before Gordon’s men could get across. Upon learning of Gordon’s failure to secure the bridge Early expressed his regrets, convinced till the day he died that he could have captured Harrisburg if the bridge had remained intact. Flames Beyond Gettysburg is well-written. While the author’s main focus is on Gordon’s Brigade, but he provides detailed analysis of the Federal actions and movements during Lee’s early invasion of Pennsylvania. The depth of Mingus’ research is truly admirable. He has scoured newspapers from the period for the important activities unfolding in Lee’s Pennsylvania Campaign. His extensive use of other primary sources gleaned from manuscripts, accounts and letters provides interested readers with a plethora of additional research material to examine to learn more about this pre-Gettysburg period. This book is very highly recommended for anyone interested in the Gettysburg Campaign, for it fills in a large gap in the campaign that many people fail to realize. Simply put, this should be the next book on Gettysburg that a person reads. Reviewer: Jay Jorgensen Jay Jorgensen is an attorney and municipal court judge in New Jersey. He is the author of Gettysburg's Bloody Wheatfield and The Wheatfield at Gettysburg: A Walking Tour. He also received his Master’s Degree in Military History - Civil War Studies from American Military University. |
Illustrated, maps, bibliography, index, softcover 624 pp., 2009. Ironclad Publishing Inc., 6258 Olde Orchard Dr., Columbus, OH 43213, $23.95 plus shipping.