The battle of Gettysburg in July 1863 marked the turning point of the
American Civil War. The apex of the Confederacy's final major invasion
of the North, the devastating defeat also marked the end of the South's
offensive strategy against the North. From this battle until the end of
the war, the Confederate armies largely remained defensive. The
Artillery of Gettysburg is a thoughtful look at the role of the
artillery during the July 1?3, 1863 conflict. Bradley M. Gottfried
provides insight into how the two armies employed their artillery, how
the different kinds of weapons functioned in battle, and the strategies
for using each of them. He shows how artillery affected the ebb and flow
of battle for both armies and thus provides a unique way of
understanding the strategies of the Federal and Union commanders.