Product Description

The compelling story of the Second Vermont Brigade and its vital role at Gettysburg (more than any other brigade they determined the fate of the battle) fills a significant gap in the history of America's Civil War. "A Vermont brigade held the key position at Gettysburg and did more than any other body of men to gain the triumph which decided the fate of the Union," the New York Times reported soon after the historic battle over the Fourth of July, 1863. The citizen soldiers of General George J. Stannard's Second Vermont Brigade, only a few days short of their nine-month enlistments, occupied a sector of Cemetery Ridge, helped stabilize the line, and then shattered the right flank of Pickett's famous charge just when the outcome of the battle hung in the balance. In this unique eye-witness account, Coffin draws on scores of soldiers' letters to relate how and why young recruits from isolated hill farms flocked to the Union colors in response to Lincoln's call in 1862. During the nine months leading up to their rendezvous with destiny at Gettysburg, they recorded, in humorous detail, foraging for food, and, in more sober terms, enduring homesickness, monotony, and often fatal diseases. We share, too, their anxieties as they are thrust suddenly into the most important infantry maneuver directed against the Confederate assault.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #848721 in Books
• Published on: 1997-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 314 pages

From Library Journal
Coffin (Full Duty: Vermonters in the Civil War, CountryMan, 1994) has written a stirring account of the Vermont 2nd Brigade and its important role at the battle of Gettysburg. Through an exciting narrative of short chapters, the reader experiences a you-are-there sensation as the author offers letters and diaries of the participants. Coffin, a former reporter and board member of the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites, reveals the full range of military life, from the monotony of camp to the overwhelming sensation of battle. He may slightly exaggerate the brigade's accomplishments, but clearly its actions were significant. Though dozens of books of this genre have been published in recent years, the public's appetite seems insatiable. As such, this lavishly illustrated volume is a well-recommended addition to the group.?Stephen G. Weisner, Springfield Technical Community Coll., Mass.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author
Howard Coffin, author of Full Duty: Vermonters in the Civil War, is a former reporter and until recently press secretary to US Senator James Jeffords. A veteran of the 2nd Armored Division, he is a member of the board of the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites and served on the National Civil War Sites Advisory Commission.

Customer Reviews

Excellent brigade history
Howard Coffin's book on the Second Vermont Brigade is a real treat, a book filled with interesting personal anecdotes on soldier life and the terror of the battlefield drawn from dairies, letters home, journals, and newspaper accounts. His lucid writing style, coupled with the fore-mentioned personal accounts, rivet the reader. This book is hard to put down once you begin reading it.

Coffin traces the regiment from its inception to its mustering out shortly after the Battle of Gettysburg, where three of the five regiments were instrumental in turning back Pickett's Charge, as well as the supporting attack by Lang's Floridians and Wilcox's Alabama brigade. Spiced by the first-person accounts, the book offers the reader an interesting perspective on the frustrations, fear, boredom, anger, and anxiety brought about by soldiering. Coofin judiciously mixes narrative on troop movements, battle flow, and organizational matters with anecdotes and vignettes that personalize the life of the Second Vermont Brigade.

All in all, Coffin's book is a must-read for anyone even remotely interested in Pickett's Charge and its repulse, as well as as for anyone interested in Nine-Minths Regiments and Vermont Civil war troops. This is among the best brigade histories that I have ever read! Well recommended!

A detailed 9 month story
I read this book because I discovered that my great great grandfather fought with "A Co." 13th Reg. 2nd Brigade. A frenchman in the "Irish" company. Great detail on the volunteers who signed on for a quick nine month adventure and found eight months and two weeks of boredom and in the last weeks of their enlistment had a heroic march to get to Gettysburg and then to meet Picketts Charge, great story, even better knowing it is true.

Army Life
This is a great book about men who enlisted for nine months late in 1862 to save the Union. The 2nd Vermont Birgade were men who want to to something but were unwilling to enlist for years. Accepting a bounty they gave nine months to the war, that nine moths ended in July 1863 at Gettysburg. At the end of their enlistment they stood fast on July 2nd & 3rd beating back the Longstreet's I Corps.
Making good use of letter, we follow this group of men through the reality of a Civil War enlistment. Eight months of picket lines, sickness, death and being away from home with no action. Quickly changes as we race north after the AoNV into two days of very hard battle. In reading the book, you see how little life in the army has changed and the impact Gettysburg had on the men for the balance of their lives.
Very well written, easy to read and follow. The book has a good level of information but will be best enjoyed if you know something about the time between The 7 Days and Gettysburg.