Sickles at Gettysburg

The Controversial Civil War General Who Committed Murder, Abandoned Little Round Top, and Declared Himself the Hero of Gettysburg

De: James A. Hessler

Narrado por: Bob Neufeld

Duración: 14 h y 28 m

Resumen del Editor

Sickles at Gettysburg: The Controversial Civil War General Who Committed Murder, Abandoned Little Round Top, and Declared Himself the Hero of Gettysburg, by licensed battlefield guide James Hessler, is the most deeply-researched, full-length biography to appear on this remarkable American icon. And it is long overdue.

No individual who fought at Gettysburg was more controversial, both personally and professionally, than Major General Daniel E. Sickles. By 1863, Sickles was notorious as a disgraced former Congressman who murdered his wife’s lover on the streets of Washington and used America’s first temporary insanity defense to escape justice. With his political career in ruins, Sickles used his connections with President Lincoln to obtain a prominent command in the Army of the Potomac’s Third Corps - despite having no military experience. At Gettysburg, he openly disobeyed orders in one of the most controversial decisions in military history.

No single action dictated the battlefield strategies of George Meade and Robert E. Lee more than Sickles’ unauthorized advance to the Peach Orchard, and the mythic defense of Little Round Top might have occurred quite differently were it not for General Sickles. Fighting heroically, Sickles lost his leg on the field and thereafter worked to remove General Meade from command of the army. Sickles spent the remainder of his checkered life declaring himself the true hero of Gettysburg.

Although he nearly lost the battle, Sickles was one of the earliest guardians of the battlefield when he returned to Congress, created Gettysburg National Military Park, and helped preserve the field for future generations. But Dan Sickles was never far from scandal. He was eventually removed from the New York Monument Commission and nearly went to jail for misappropriation of funds.

Hessler’s audiobook is a balanced and entertaining account of Sickles’ colorful life.

©2009 James Hessler (P)2021 James Hessler

Backbiting

Great historical information! Who knew about how much backbiting went on after this war was over.

Good book

I thought this was a good, even handed look at a very controversial figure. I recommend it

in entertaining take on the Battle of Gettysburg

Written for true Gettysburg buffs. Very few characters from the 19th century where as colorful as Dan Sickles. This book takes a rather objective look at his life prior and after the July 2nd battle at Gettysburg, which Dan Sickles played a major role in. The author really holds back from leveling and opinion, one way or another on his life and the role he played at the battle, but shares the insights from many other authors and their opinions. Can the good someone does in there life outweigh the bad? Dan Sickles is a great case study, if that question is an interest you have. It is more a biography than a case study on just the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg.