Command and Communication Frictions in the Gettysburg Campaign

By Philip M. Cole
Illustrated, softcover, 103 pp., 2006. Colecraft Industries, 970 Mt. Carmel Rd., Orrtanna, PA 17353, $9.95 plus shipping.

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.

Review:
Much has already been written about the battle of Gettysburg, and still more will be written in the future. So, the obvious question to ask about Philip Cole's Command and Communication Frictions in the Gettysburg Campaign is, do we need such a book? The answer is yes!

The author is no novice to Gettysburg. He is a Licensed Battlefield Guide at the Gettysburg National Military Park, and is the author of Civil War Artillery at Gettysburg.

Command and Communication Frictions takes a fresh look at an all too often overlooked aspect of this, or any, battle for that matter. That aspect is what happens "behind-the-scenes" during a military campaign.

Students of Gettysburg are very familiar with the tactics employed by the respective armies. They know what transpired during each of the three days of the battle. Indeed, volumes are written on each individual day of fighting.

Cole's book does not address those issues. Rather, he tells us the book will, "analyze the frictions that interfered with or otherwise tested the greatness of commanders, uncovered by the weaknesses of systems, and challenged the skills of communicators." This book makes good on those promises.

Divided into two sections, the first part of the book deals with command frictions. This section covers the ramifications of interruptions and changes in command. While we may know that Abner Doubleday replaced John Reynolds as First Corps commander on July 1, 1863, we usually do not think what effect that change in command caused down the line. Cole did, and provides valuable insights like that for both armies.

He also analyzes what impact the traditional senior commander on the field had on the transfer of command and overall responsibility. Ordinarily it worked well. Yet, when Gen. George Meade jumped the system by appointing Winfield Scott Hancock in charge, Cole describes the ensuing conflict with clarity.

The second part of the book reviews communication frictions occurring during the battle. The author identifies many causes for these frictions, such as insufficient instructions, uncertain instructions, conflicting orders, disregarded orders, and discretionary orders.

With each category of potential conflict readers are provided with examples of how that particular cause added to conflict and communication friction. Many times I found myself looking at the examples provided in a whole new light - removed from the emphasis of strategy and tactics.

Command and Communication Frictions is a short book full of thought-provoking practical knowledge about the battle of Gettysburg. Everyone will benefit from reading it.