Days of Darkness: The Gettysburg Civilians

by William G. Williams

Book Overview

Many books have documented the military repercussions of the Battle of Gettysburg - but never before has an author delved so deeply into what has been a nearly untapped historical resource: the accounts of the town's 2,400 civilians, who became combatants and casualties, spies and stretcher-bearers - eyewitnesses all to this momentous event.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425123537
• ISBN13: 9780425123539
• Release Date: November 1990
• Publisher: Berkley Books
• Length: 1 Pages
• Weight: 0.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Would make a hell of a movie

I read this incredible and rare perspective on the great battle and came away with a rather astounding cinematic vision for its telling. This author has chosen to invite us into a glimpse of farmland simple life interrupted by ghastly warfare that changed all the lives of its citizens forever. How often do we think of that concerning the Civil War battlefields? Amazing take. I bought one for a friend immediately afterwards. This absolutely MUST be a film someday!

The other battle of Gettysburg

People tend to think of the battle of Gettysburg and consider the famous fields such as Pickett's Charge, Wheatfield, Little Round Top and Culp's Hill to be the history while the civilians in town shared their own battle. The entire town was littered with sharpshooters, Confederate soldiers, the wounded and prisoners. The Gettysburg people were basically caught up in this fray and this book demonstrates the horrors and hardships that these people witnessed. Personal accounts are placed together in almost a novel-like format which places the reader quite easily within the action itself. Stories such as housing the wounded, losing a home, sharing food with the soldiers caught up in battle and witnessing the bloodshed are among the many stories within this great book. It is a must read for those looking to understand Gettysburg completely.

AWESOME

A must read for all those interested in the Human interest factor during the battle of Gettysburg. This book is easy to read and keeps your attention throughout. William G. Williams has done a masterful job of bringing the horrors of this magnificent Battle to life. I've already read it twice and have given several copies to my Civil War buff friends.

Great Reading and very interesting!

This book had great eyewitness accounts.I enjoyed it alot and would suggest it to any Civil War buff or anyone who would like to learn what it was like to be a civilian in the Civil War.

Brutal, inspiring, engrossing, a fine history book!

For the serious Civil War reader, this is a must! Billy Williams brings alive the haunted streets of the little college town of Gettysburg as its people struggled to survive the three darkest days in American history. Two enormous armies tore at each other relentlessly, men fighting and dying on the porches of the town, in the streets, the gardens, the schools. You will meet many of the residents of Gettysburg and will feel the terror that they felt as they dodged snipers' bullets, nursed the wounded, closed the eyes of the dead. There is heroism and cowardice, sacrifice and selfishness in this well done offering. When the battle was over, the armies left 50,000 casualties behind in once pretty little town. Graphic, agonizing, inspiring, loving...this book is all of that. A true star in the many offerings of that most savage of times in our history.