John J. Pullen (1913–2003)

I loved this book and I have many Civil War books. Reminds me of the way Bruce Catton wrote. Lots of information, some that one does not find in the more noted Civil War histories, and it feels up close and personal.

They held Little Round top on the Secand Day of Gettysburg, and thus were the most heroic unit of that battle. their fame was largely confirmed by Joshua Chamberlain a writer who commanded the unit, but was not so attractive a character as the man portrayed by Jeff Daniels in the movie "Gettysburg". Chamberlain also wrote the classic description of the final pursuit of the Army of Northern Virginia "The Passing" of the Armies." He became rather a "Professional Hero" after the War, but was a show more good reporter of what he saw and did. He also wrote "Bayonet! Forward": My Civil War Reminiscences and "Through Blood and Fire at Gettysburg", Pullen did a good history of the unit. I read Pullen's book in 1963, thus this is a later edition. show less

Superb account of a volunteer regiment and of Joshua Chamberlain , who played a key part in saving the Union line on the second day at the battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. I had read an earlier version of this book in my early adult years and it was a pleasure to read this latest version in my senior years. The author conveys a vivid picture of farmers , fisherman and outdoors Maine men and their transformation into veteran soldiers during the course of the war.

This book gives us a look at the life of this gallant general after his service in the Civil War. While he never became nationally prominent in his other endeavors, he was always the man who would answer a call and do a creditable job no matter what the task, including being governor of Maine.

Unfortunately his name went into obscurity after he died, most likely due to the fact that World War I started shortly after. His legacy faded and was not even remembered when a book about Maine heros show more was written in the 1920s. It would be several decades before his name was back in the forefront when in 1982 a colonel at Leavenworth Kansas was asked to write a field manual and the person he chose to emulate over men like Jackson and Patton, was Joshua Chamberlain.

And more recently, due to films and new books, he is once again and, probably, forever, where he wanted to be - known as a great militaryman. show less