GDG- Essential Books on Gettysburg

[Chet Diestel]

 Esteemed GDG Member Dave McGowan Contributes:

   I want to thank everyone for the discussions on Heth, Stuart, et al. 
Now, what essential books would your recommend for the person who, lets say, 
is "training" to be a guide?  Part 2, how would you approach the battle to 
understand it thoroughly?  Do you treat it like most research, read all the 
surveys then work down to the days, then maybe regiments and personalities?
    Dave McGowan
   (Cousin of Sam)

   In making a study of Gettysburg --- or any major battle/campaign --- it 
is vital to begin at the macro and work your way down to the micro. One 
needs to have a thorough overview of the so-called "Big Picture" before 
tackling the battle piecemeal, as it were, via what occurred on each day 
followed by examining the actions of the various units --- from corps to 
regiments and batteries --- let alone the personalities of high and low 
degree.
  Of course, the definitive "Big Picture" work is still Edwin B. 
Coddington's "The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command." Additionally, 
everyone needs to read the three-volume section of the Official Records 
(Volume 27) of the Official Records which deal with the campaign and battle. 
(Personal preference: Get hold of hard copies of the OR (which are readily 
avialable for sale) --- you will get so much more by reading it that way 
rather than on your computer screen via one of the many CD formated copies.
  In doing more "micro" research, I would strongly recommend reading the too 
often neglected three-volume "New York at Gettysburg" and the multi-volume 
"Pennsylvania at Gettysburg," (which includes volumes on both the 50th and 
75th anniversary reunions on the battlefield.). The books not only contain 
good, brief regimental histories, often before and after the battle, but 
provides the reader with insight of how the veterans viewed themselves and 
their units and their actions in the post war era.)
   With regards,
      Chet