I recently received some press materials for the planned Spring 2009 releases from publisher Savas-Beatie and immediately zeroed in on the next volume in their planned series of battle/campaign atlases. If you'll recall, back in January I gave favorable marks to the Gettysburg atlas (which will be released in paperback format next spring).
Volume 2 of the Savas-Beatie Atlas Series, The Maps of First Bull Run: An Atlas of the First Bull Run (Manassas) Campaign, including the Battle of Ball's Bluff, June - October 1861 is also authored by Bradley M. Gottfried. The general format (map and full text pages facing each other) remains, but they've implemented something new called "action-sections", which are map sets comprising anywhere from two to seventeen maps. In another new feature, there are now more than fifty full color maps, as well. FBR is my favorite eastern theater campaign, and I greatly look forward to this book's release. Undoubtedly, Harry will be much pleased, as well.
I'd be more pleased if they sent me a review copy, but I ain't holdin' my breath! I have to worry a bit about an atlas of First Bull Run, because there are some big questions about who went where and when, particularly during the Henry House Hill phase of the fighting. There are missing ORs for some key regiments (like the 11th NY and all of Jackson's brigade). Joanna McDonald has a ton of maps in her book, and in fact wrote a tour book for that part of the fighting, but I don't know that there is enough data available to produce maps that one could call definitive. This should be interesting. Thanks for the heads up, Drew.
ReplyDeleteAny idea if there will be maps included for Patterson's movements? I'd like to see some maps relating to Falling Waters (1861) included.
ReplyDeleteHi Drew
ReplyDeleteThanks for noting Brad Gottfried's forthcoming book and the series itself.
We used "action sections" in the first book on Gettysburg. The difference from 1.0 to 2.0 is full color maps and updated aspects on each map. Otherwise, readers will be very comfortable with the new titles if they enjoyed Maps of Gettysburg.
As for the lack of info on some aspects of the battle, I must defer to Brad.
Thanks again.
--tps