Brandy Station 1863: First Step Toward Gettysburg
By Dan Beattie
(April 2009 Civil War News)

Illustrated, maps, bibliography, index, softcover, 96 pp., 2008. Osprey Publishing Ltd., c/o Random House Distribution Center, 400 Hahn Rd., Westminster, MD 21157, $19.95 plus shipping.

Reviewer: Frank Piatek
Frank Piatek graduated from Geneva College with a B.A. in history. He received his J.D. from Duquesne Uni­versity in 1972. He is a member of several reen­act­ment groups and past president of the Mahoning Valley Civil War Round Table.

Review:
Anyone already familiar with Osprey Publishing realizes that it produces some of the most polished battle histories and essays on men at arms that can be found. Its hallmark has been its combination of period and modern-day photographs, drawings and color prints and maps to accompany the text, making its books visually appealing as well as informative.

This offering (Campaign Series 201) continues in that tradition with clear color maps drawn to a regimental level, some of which are three-dimensional bird’s-eye views. The illustrations include three color plates by Adam Hook with accompanying commentary. Others by artists Don Troiani, Keith Rocco and Don Stivers are smaller reproductions of their original works.

A Chronology and an Order of Battle are included. Beattie discusses the setting and strategic plans of both armies prior to the battle. He also provides a brief biography of the commanders and a description of the armies engaged, including the role of cavalry in what was the war’s largest cavalry battle.

While there are other books about this engagement with more details, specifically Joseph W. McKinney’s study published several years ago, Beattie’s distillation of existing scholarship makes this book ideal for those wanting a shorter, yet comprehensive, rendition. It does not simply end with the battle at Brandy Station. He continues on to describe the aftermath as Lee’s army moved toward Pennsylvania, including engagements in the Loudoun Valley.

There is a brief commentary on the major personalities’ postbattle careers together with a description of the battlefield today. The book as a whole is worth reading for those wanting to explore the field, particularly with the maps and contemporary photographs to guide one along the way.

The maps contain an explanatory chronology of the action, making them useful by themselves, without one having to reread the narrative to see what occurred. The text, which has no citations, is concise, and yet has sufficient detail in describing General Buford’s morning attacks, General Gregg’s advance, and the action at Fleetwood Hill. I would have preferred to see more paragraphing to separate main ideas better.

Beattie is especially interested in this project, having been on the Brandy Station Foundation Board that is involved in preservation of the site. With his effort here, it is easy to see how the Federal cavalry came of age, a fact recognized by both sides even then. From Brandy Station on, the Federal cavalry in the East got the respect it deserved.

This book is a worthy addition to the Osprey collection and warrants consideration by those interested in Brandy Station specifically and those viewing it in the context of the Gettysburg Campaign generally.