Turning the Tide at Gettysburg

How Maine Saved the Union

Jerry Desmond

During the first three days of July in 1863, the largest battle ever fought in North America occurred in the small Pennsylvania town of Gettysburg. More than 160,000 men from the North and the South engaged in mortal struggle in the third year of the American Civil War. At many crucial points of time and location on the battlefield, men from Maine were there to stem the Confederate tide.

Once asked why the Confederate Army lost the battle at Gettysburg, General George E. Pickett replied, "I think the Yankees had something to do with it." He should have said those men from Maine had something to do with it. The argument can be made that the eventual outcome at Gettysburg might have been in doubt had the regiments from Maine, in all numbering some 3,700 volunteers, not performed heroically in the line of battle. They stood firm at Gettysburg and helped save the Union.

Through maps and photographs, historian Jerry Desmond details, location by location around the battlefield, the heroic actions of the volunteer regiments from Maine.

Down East Books

Pages: 152 • Trim: 7 x 10

978-1-60893-274-0 • Paperback • September 2014 • $18.95 • (£14.99)

978-1-60893-275-7 • eBook • September 2014 • $9.99 • (£7.99)

Subjects: History / United States / Civil War Period (1850-1877), History / United States / State & Local / New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)

Turning the Tide at Gettysburg

How Maine Saved the Union

Paperback

eBook

Summary

During the first three days of July in 1863, the largest battle ever fought in North America occurred in the small Pennsylvania town of Gettysburg. More than 160,000 men from the North and the South engaged in mortal struggle in the third year of the American Civil War. At many crucial points of time and location on the battlefield, men from Maine were there to stem the Confederate tide.

Once asked why the Confederate Army lost the battle at Gettysburg, General George E. Pickett replied, "I think the Yankees had something to do with it." He should have said those men from Maine had something to do with it. The argument can be made that the eventual outcome at Gettysburg might have been in doubt had the regiments from Maine, in all numbering some 3,700 volunteers, not performed heroically in the line of battle. They stood firm at Gettysburg and helped save the Union.

Through maps and photographs, historian Jerry Desmond details, location by location around the battlefield, the heroic actions of the volunteer regiments from Maine.

Details

Down East Books

Pages: 152 • Trim: 7 x 10

978-1-60893-274-0 • Paperback • September 2014 • $18.95 • (£14.99)

978-1-60893-275-7 • eBook • September 2014 • $9.99 • (£7.99)

Subjects: History / United States / Civil War Period (1850-1877), History / United States / State & Local / New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)

Author

Jerry Desmond is a Maine native and a graduate of the University of Maine. He has toured the battlefield at Gettysburg more than 100 times, and is the executive director of the Birmingham History Center in Birmingham, Alabama. He lives in Hoover, Alabama.

Reviews

The book appears to be a detailed study of the battle and a good resource to research those who fought in the battle, especially for those who are doing a detailed study of men from the local area or perhaps a study of ancestors, or those doing a detailed study of history, especially local involvement.
— Houlton Pioneer Times

Thousands of books have been written about the Civil War. . . .and historian Jerry Desmond now adds to that historiography, but his book has a nice twist. Turning the Tide at Gettysburg is a slim volume that focuses on the gallantry and sacrifice of Maine soldiers in that iconic battle. . . .This book is well-supported by maps and photos, and is a fitting tribute to Maine's Civil War veterans.
— Kennebec Journal

Turning the Tide at Gettysburg

How Maine Saved the Union

Jerry Desmond

Turning the Tide at Gettysburg

How Maine Saved the Union

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