Booknotes: "If We Are Striking for Pennsylvania," Volume 2

New Arrival:
• "If We Are Striking for Pennsylvania": The Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac March to Gettysburg - Volume 2: June 22–30, 1863 by Scott L. Mingus, Sr. and Eric J. Wittenberg (Savas Beatie, 2023).

Book-length military microhistories of events before, during, and after the three-day Battle of Gettysburg continue to be produced at a rapid clip, with the added benefit that the subject matter continues to attract top-level research and writing talent. Many of these tightly focused titles have been authored by Eric Wittenberg and Scott Mingus, both well-known and respected figures in Gettysburg Campaign publishing. Most recently, they've combined their decades-long accumulation of expertise to produce a two-volume project that will, for the foreseeable future, surely be considered the premier history of the June 1863 'March to Gettysburg.'

“If We Are Striking for Pennsylvania”: The Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac March to Gettysburg - Volume 1: June 3–21, 1863 (2022) and "If We Are Striking for Pennsylvania": The Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac March to Gettysburg - Volume 2: June 22–30, 1863 attempt to recount this four-week Gettysburg preamble as comprehensively as possible, weaving together "military, media, political, social, economic, and civilian perspectives with rank-and-file accounts from the soldiers of both armies as they inexorably march toward their destiny at Gettysburg."

Given the all-in ferocity of the fighting at Gettysburg and the tremendous toll in casualties incurred during those three days, it's easy to forget that a lot of marching and fighting took place before they even got there. By instilling in readers a full appreciation of those events, Mingus and Wittenberg help bring about a greater understanding of the campaign as a whole.

As a reminder, "(t)he first volume (June 3–21) carried the armies through the defining mounted clash at the battle of Brandy Station, after which Lee pushed the head of his army into the Shenandoah Valley and achieved the magnificent victory at Second Winchester on his way to the Potomac. Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker, who was caught flat-footed by the move, used his cavalry to probe the mountain gaps, triggering a series of consequential mounted actions."

Volume 2 "completes the march to Gettysburg and details the actions and whereabouts of each component of the armies up to the eve of the fighting. The large-scale maneuvering in late June prompted General Hooker to move his Army of the Potomac north after his opponent and eventually above the Potomac, where he is removed from command and replaced by V Corps commander George G. Meade. Jeb Stuart begins his controversial and consequential ride that strips away the eyes and ears of the Virginia army. Throughout northern Virginia, central Maryland, and south-central Pennsylvania, civilians, politicians, and soldiers alike struggle with the reality of a mobile campaign and the massive logistical needs of the armies." 25 maps help readers follow the action.