The saga of a nation divided—from the Union Army’s disaster at Fredericksburg to its triumph at Gettysburg—by a Pulitzer Prize–winning Civil War chronicler. In the second book of the Army of the Potomac Trilogy, Bruce Catton—one of America’s most honored Civil War historians—once again brings the great battles and the men who fought them to breathtaking life. As the War Between the States moved … Between the States moved through its second bloody year, General Ambrose Burnside was selected by President Lincoln to replace the ineffectual George “Little Mac” McClellan as commander of the Union Army. But the hope that greeted Burnside’s ascension was quickly dashed in December 1862 in the wake of his devastating defeat at Fredericksburg.
Following Burnside’s exit, a mediocre new commander, Joseph “Fighting Joe” Hooker, turned a sure victory into tragedy at Chancellorsville, continuing the Union’s woes and ensuring Robert E. Lee’s greatest triumph of the war. But the tide began to turn over the course of three days in July 1863, when the Union won a decisive victory on the battlefield of Gettysburg. Months later, Lincoln would give his historic address on this ground, honoring the fallen soldiers and strengthening the Union Army’s resolve to fight for a united and equal nation for all of its people.
With brilliant insight, color, and detail, Catton interweaves thrilling narratives of combat with remarkable portrayals of politics and life on the home front. Glory Road is a sweeping account of extraordinary bravery and shocking incompetence during what were arguably the war’s darkest days.
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Second book in the travails of the Army of the Potomac. From Maryes Heights at Fredericksburg to victory at Gettysburg. I’ve walked both those places. In the first you can see the insanity of trying to charge upward into defended lines. In the latter, that wide open plain in front of the Union lines is where those troops exacted their revenge.
This book is the second in acclaimed Civil War historian Bruce Catton’s trilogy which covers the evolution of the Union Army of the Potomac from a poorly led volunteer army to a veteran military with self-belief and a sense of mission. From the dark days of Fredericksburg, where the army was badly led and suffered tremendous casualties because of it, to Chancellorsville, where much of the army was not even committed to the fighting and another defeat ensued, and finally to Gettysburg, where the army withstood the best the Confederates had to throw at them and held on to victory, the Army of the Potomac developed the self-confidence necessary to win this bloody war. Catton relates the necessary historical facts but in an easy to read and understand style which retains the reader’s attention even for those who are not ordinarily history buffs. I highly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the Civil War. You won’t regret the investment of your time.
I had heard of Bruce Catton’s Civil War writings since I was quite young but have never read them until now. I didn’t realize what a great writer he was. A pleasure to read his outstanding wordcraft. Would have been even better if he had included as intimate a view of the Confederate side as he did of the Army of the Potomac. But that was beyond the scope he chose.
Although I have read many books on the US Civil War, I found this book very informative and enjoyable.
Fine historical read.
Great history of the Civil War. More of a focus on the Union side. Very readable and almost as good as Foote’s series. Not for the current haters of white men.
Bruce Canton is one of the best when it comes to the Civil War
This is my favorite book in Catton’s trilogy on the Army of the Potamac.
I love books about history and wars. This one (it’s old) was a little dry but had a lot of good information in it. Was difficult to stick with it at times. I did read the two books that followed this one. The third one was the best. Today’s history authors seem to write more interesting accounts of US wars.
History comes alive as a narrative and Catton is a great story teller. You can almost hear the sound of guns being fired.
If you want to see how the Army of the Potomac evolved into the fighting army it became to win Gettysburg and the war in the eastern US, read this book
Clear, beautiful prose.
Bruce Catton is my favorite Civil War author. His three-volume work on the Army of the Potomac (of which Glory Road is the second volume) is a classic.
Great book for civil war buffs
all of his books should be read