Between plans and their execution rage the winds of war. The winds of chance. The winds of choice. The winds of political ambition and human error-and human schemes. The winds of war grow dark around General George Meade, appointed to command the Army of the Potomac just three days before a brewing battle against Robert E. Lee, charismatic leader of the Confederate forces. No one-not even the … outgoing commander-seems to know where Lee’s army is, except that they are somewhere on Northern soil, possibly pushing toward a decisive battle deep in the heart of the Union. Bound by duty to take a position he did not seek and does not want, Meade reluctantly accepts Lincoln’s appointment, and overnight, the fate of nearly 100,000 Union soldiers is in his hands.Meade is a planner-a quiet, capable engineer whose commitment to modesty and restraint is second only to his commitment to honor, duty, and country. While the winds of war swirl around him, he struggles to concoct a battle plan without even the most basic information, in order to defeat an enemy he cannot find, on ground he has not yet seen. Thwarted by insufficient military intelligence, and betrayed by the machinations of an unscrupulous general with dreams of glory, Meade knows it will take all his skill and the heroism of his troops to best the formidable and hitherto undefeated Lee. The fate of the Republic itself hangs in the balance.Without Warning is the gripping saga of the Battle of Gettysburg, the Union patriots who fought it, and the man who led them. It scrutinizes the role character plays in leadership and the challenge of the unexpected. Built firmly upon the annals of history, this epic historical novel brings to vivid life seven unforgettable days in the lives and trials of a Union general and his men as they brave the winds of war to save the United States of America.
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I loved this historical account from General Mead’s point of view. I could not put it down. Terry Pierce’s descriptions of the hour by hour events place you right in the middle of Gettysburg. I learned so much about events I never knew plus learning about the character of the individual Generals and officers in charge made me appreciate their efforts so much. I cannot. Wait to read Terry’s next book, Thundering Courage!
provides a whole new perspective on the battle of gettysburg- from the union standpoint -i did not understand how close the union came to loosing this battle
this book is excellent could not put it down
I loved the Killer Angels and have been to Gettysburg several times. I have never seen the other side presented in the same format. I recommend that you read them both back to back. Great read.
Character Counts – Terry Pierce does a masterful job of telling the largely unknown story of General George Mead. Without Warning uses strong characterization to depict the unwanted promotion of General George Mead at a critical time for the Army of the Potomac just days before the Battle of Gettysburg, the challenges of an ever-changing battlefield, and the burden of command on the battlefield. This is a must read as the novel demonstrates the importance of character.
In writing “Without Warning,” Dr. Terry Piece has proven himself to be a master storyteller. “Without Warning” is an easy-read, well-researched, detailed-description of the Battle of Gettysburg from the Union perspective. It provides the reader a clear understanding of General George Meade’s transition to command only days prior to the beginning of the epic battle, putting you in the middle of his planning processes and his interaction with staff members who supported and opposed President Lincoln’s decision. This novel tells of General Meade’s, and others’, dynamic leadership prior to and throughout the major battle.
The tremendous amount of research combined with the author’s outstanding narrative writing style, has given us a historical masterpiece. I enjoyed “Without Warning” thoroughly and can’t wait for Dr. Pierce’s next book. This is a must read for all military leaders.
If you are a lover of history, especially of events that have shaped this great nation, this book is a must read. Meticulously researched, it tells the story of Union General George Meade’s defeat of Confederate General Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg. This is NOT some dry, boring textbook rehash, but a brilliantly written historical novel that should be required reading in all high school and college American History classes. I couldn’t put it down. I hope Mr. Pierce graces us with more of the same in the future.
Why didn’t I have this fascinating book when I studied American history as a young student? I was spellbound by Terry Pierce’s vivid description of seven days that reshaped the outcome of the Civil War. I was drawn into every scene as though I was a spectator to incredible feats of heroism, unparalleled bravery of dedicated and inspiring leadership, political intrigue, and the ultimate sacrifice of so many soldiers on the battlefield. I confess that I had no knowledge of General Meade and the majority of soldiers surrounding him prior to this reading. I literally devoured this novel in a matter of days and now have such a vivid picture of the challenges Meade faced assuming command of the Army of the Potomac just three days before the Battle of Gettysburg. I hope Mr. Pierce will write a sequel soon!!
Very good historical overview and inside view into an amazing piece of US history! Well written and so informative.
There’s a reason this book was a Pulitzer Prize nominee. It is masterfully written. The scenes come alive so vividly, you will cease to be sitting in your living room chair and find yourself, instead, on horseback, galloping through the night as you carry an urgent message that will change the course of the Civil War. And the life of the man who reads it.
Not to be missed!
Astonishingly good. Incredibly informative. I never had a clear picture of the battle until I read this book. If you care at all about outstanding historical warfare books, a MUST read. This book is unaffected by gravity; you cannot put it down!
I thoroughly enjoyed the historical novel ‘Without Warning’ = The Saga of Gettysburg by historian Terry Pierce (USN ret.). He has molded the swirling winds of the saga into an extraordinary and fascinating account of this most pivotal event in our history.
I found the book compelling, powerful and a readable ‘page-turner’. The story of the greatest battle of the Civil War, a true turning point in the terrible conflict, depicts the events in vivid detail and brings the main characters of the drama into a loyal and gritty focus on the actual incidents of the action. Author Pierce, using his deep knowledge and understanding of the battle and of the experiences of warriors engaged, has been able to create the feel of the fighting and episodes of great suffering as well as the stress of making the right decisions by the combatants.
Of course, the spotlight falls upon the new commanding general of the Union Army of the Potomac, Major General George G. Meade, who was promoted unexpectedly and ‘without warning’ only three (3) days before the bloody fighting commenced on July 1, 1863 west and north of the sleepy town of Gettysburg.
General Meade after only three days in command of the Army of the Potomac bested the alleged greatest commander in the Civil War – Robert E. Lee and brought for himself everlasting glory for saving the Union and ensuring further greatness for President Lincoln by his gallant conduct.
Author Terry Pierce has been able to harness the facts of the fighting at Gettysburg and using the thoughts and even words of the men involved has woven a drama that illustrates the chances involved, the role of strong character in battle, the decision-making and the valor and gallantry displayed by those engaged. He has created an epic which comes alive for those who wish they could have witnessed the triumph and tragedy of the Battle of Gettysburg.
As a specialist in the life and career of General Meade, president of the General Meade Society and Civil War Era historian, I recommend highly this historical novel of Gettysburg. It has authenticity, character development, good writing and high drama. The Gettysburg enthusiast will not be disappointed with ‘Without Warning’.
Sincerely
Andy Waskie, Ph.D.
Philadelphia
July, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Accurate, insightful, puts you right on the battlefield.
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2020
Without Warning, the Saga of Gettysburg,i a fantastic read. It focuses first on the buildup prior to the decisive battle between the Union and Confederate armies, and then takes you into battle as General Meade leads his troops against those of General Robert E. Lee. As one reads you can almost see and smell the smoke, hear the thunder of cannon fire and the screams of wounded soldiers. The author places the reader right on the battle field, and provides insight into not only the brutality of the war, but also the personalities involved in carrying out General Meade’s battle plan, or inadvertently sabotaging it, with nothing less than the survival of the Union at stake. This is a book that I truly did not want to put down. It is extremely well researched and written, highly recommended! BGB
Skeptical at first by the length of this novel, I found myself barely able to put it down! Dr. Terry Pierce is a master at portraying the voices and character of the generals and soldiers in the Army of the Potomac, leading up to and during the Battle of Gettysburg. Pierce is able to take the historical data of this pivotal Civil War battle and weave together personal conversations, points of view and conflicts to produce a novel that leaves the reader with an intimate knowledge of the key Union fighters. Upon completion of the novel, I was left with an in depth knowledge of General Meade and his men. I can’t wait to read the sequel!
As a work of historical fiction, author Pierce’s superbly researched depiction of the victorious leadership of General Meade at Gettysburg is an exciting and inspiring story. It should become a classic on the shelf with “Red Badge of Courage“.
This book showcases the human reality of personalities and egos when juxtaposed with values, ethics and level of compentence. Our nation is blessed that good overcame evil amongst those senior officers serving in the Army of the Potomac. Finally a book that shows that General Lee didn’t just LOSE at Gettysburg, he was BEATEN.
I absolutely loved this book! Written like a novel yet historically accurate, this book takes you into the events of the most famous Civil War Battle totally from the perspective of the Union soldiers’ and commanders’ points of view. It begins with the assignment of a new commanding General of the Army of the Potomac just 3 days before the epic battles begin. With this approach, I felt their stress at the uncertainties faced by a new commander and those under his command as they struggled to make crucial decisions with almost no information about the location and intent of the invading Confederate Army. The author tells the story of these soldiers and their heroism from various points of view, from General Meade’s command level down to the units fighting the battles. I really liked this approach and how it helped me understand what they were facing, how plans and contingencies were formed based on the information at hand, how those plans changed and changed again in the heat of battle, and just how horrific those battles were. The book is very well-written and when I finished it I found I didn’t want it to end – the biggest compliment I can give an author. I can’t wait to see what comes next.
Terry Pierce has written a captivating, powerful, factual novel of the Union Forces at Gettysburg. General Meade embarks on a journey of self-discovery with challenging, inspirational results that changed an entire country. The cast of characters are real, complex and controversial. I didn’t know what to expect from a Civil War novel-but found myself thoroughly engrossed in the heart wrenching and heartwarming tale. The author has complete control of his story and his style. It is a book well worth your read…
Without Warning is an absolutely thrilling and awe-inspiring book! It is incredibly well written and is packed full of fascinating characters and information. I especially enjoyed how captivating it was to read in novel form while being so historically accurate. The author effectively transports you to this pivotal scene of the Civil War and enables you to feel as if you are present for this epic moment in history. This story evoked a sense of renewed admiration and appreciation for the brave men who fought and led with such conviction, passion and sacrifice for the greater good of our country and their fellow man. I didn’t want this book to end and eagerly look forward to a sequel!
This novel dismantles our long-held notions about this period in American history. In addition to experiencing a re-framed perspective, the humanity of the characters was poignant and a surprising aspect of the evolving story. The thoughts, emotions, and human foibles of the “actors” added an interesting dimension that undergirded the story itself and enhanced the value of the narrative.
Brings the Civil War “alive”. Realistic look inside the participants on the US side of probably the critical engagement of the war – from the private to the Commanding General. Fact that was written by “active military” shows in credibility and depth. Nice balance of personal-level character/perspective, the “fog of war” and West Point military strategy.