In the Shadow of the Round Tops

Longstreet's Countermarch, Johnston's Reconnaissance, and the Enduring Battles for the Memory of July 2, 1863

By: Allen R. Thompson

Narrated by: Shawn Compton

James Longstreet's countermarch and Samuel Johnston's morning reconnaissance are two of the most enigmatic events of the Battle of Gettysburg. Both have been viewed as major factors in the Confederacy's loss of the battle and, in turn, the war. Yet much of it lies shrouded in mystery.

Though the battle is one of the most well-documented events in history, the vast majority of our knowledge comes from the words of the veterans and civilians who experienced it. Without action photography, video, or audio recordings, our primary window into what happened is the memory of those who were there. The story of the Battle of Gettysburg is simply the compilation of the memories of those who fought it. But memory is anything but objective.

Recognizing the multitude of factors that affect human memory, In the Shadow of the Round Tops explores how the individual soldiers experienced, remembered, and wrote about the battle, and how those memories have created a cloud over James Longstreet's bewildering countermarch and Samuel Johnston's infamous reconnaissance. Each soldier had a particular view of these historic events. By comparing the veterans' memories and sifting through the factors that affected each memory, the picture of the countermarch, reconnaissance, and the entire battle, comes into sharper focus.

©2023 Allen R. Thompson (P)2024 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

A REAL HISTORICAL DETECTIVE STORY

An amazing feat of “sifting” to get to the essence of an historical event. Getting to the “real” events of 2 July 1863 at Gettysburg is a marvelous and incredible narrative of the battle and of the frailty of human memory. An incredible and ground breaking history by any measure. A “must” read for those truly interested in what a chaotic business is an actual battle. COL (Ret) Michael Rampy

An amazing read for any Gettysburg buff!

Tremendous perspective, a lot of fun!! Very grateful for this tour de force. You will not be disappointed

Excellently researched and articulated

One of my new favorite Gettysburg books. It has changed the way I perceive July 2nd and opened my eyes to what was the reality on the ground muddied by the memories of those who told the story. Definitely recommended reading for anyone looking for answers to the countermarch and the events of that day.

A bunch of speculation

A canard of the freakish does he soeakish
Then Sven did it again
Then Ben Len Ken