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Chancellorsville and Gettysburg

Abner Doubleday began the Civil War as a Union officer and aimed the first cannon shot in response to the bombardment opened on Ft. Sumter in 1861. Two years later, after a series of battles (including Antietam, where he was wounded), Doubleday took over a division in the Army of the Potomac's 1st Corps.

These are his memoirs of service in two of the War's great campaigns. At Chancellorsville, a very promising start made by General Hooker against Lee's Confederate forces fell to a defeat when, in Doubleday's estimation, normal and prudent precautions against surprise in the heavily-wooded battlefield were not carried out; he also seemingly apologizes for Hooker's lack of leadership during the battle as a result of his having been stunned by a cannon ball hitting the post against which he was leaning.

After Chancellorsville, Hooker was replaced as Army Commander by General George Meade. Doubleday describes the curious circumstances that led the two opposing armies to meet at Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. When Doubleday's superior, General John Reynolds, was killed by a sharpshooter on the first day's battle, he took over the 1st Corps and fought it well against converging Confederate divisions that badly outnumbered him. The Corps was forced by battle losses to retire, but its desperate fight bought the time needed for Union reinforcements to pour into Gettysburg and thus prevent a defeat in detail.

General Howard of the XIth Corps replaced Doubleday as the senior commander on the field, and mistakenly wrote to Meade that 1st Corps had routed after practically no fighting. Thus, when Meade arrived, he removed Doubleday from command of 1st Corps, replacing him with a more junior general from another Corps. The snub would embitter Doubleday against Meade. This book is in part Doubleday's revenge, as he picks apart Meade's indecision after the battle was essentially won, with the repulse of the famous Pickett's Charge. In his view, Meade could have won the war at that moment. (Summary by Mark Smith)

Year of Publication: 1882Genres: War & Military,Modern (19th C),Memoirs

Running Time: 6 hours 46 minutes 28 seconds(20 chapters)

Language: EnglishRead by: Mark F. Smith

#	Chapter Name
	00 - Preface Mark F. Smith	4:39
	1-01 - The Opening of 1863 - Hooker's Plans Mark F. Smith	18:50
	1-02 - Friday, The First of May Mark F. Smith	15:03
	1-03 - The Disastrous Second of May Mark F. Smith	9:56
	1-04 - The Rout of the Eleventh Corps Mark F. Smith	20:27
	1-05 - Jackson's Advance Is Checked Mark F. Smith	11:43
	1-06 - Sickles Fights His Way Back; Arrival of the First Corps Mark F. Smith	8:00
	1-07 - The Battle of the Third of May Mark F. Smith	35:37
	1-08 - May 4th: Attack on Sedgwick's Force Mark F. Smith	25:17
	1-09 - Preparations to Renew the Conflict Mark F. Smith	11:19
	1-10 - Battle of Brandy Station: Fleetwood Mark F. Smith	6:58
	2-1 - The Invasion of the North Mark F. Smith	20:58
	2-2 - Hooker\'s Plans. Hooker Superceded by Meade Mark F. Smith	35:49
	2-3 - Stuart\'s Raid Mark F. Smith	13:02
	2-4a - The First Day at Gettysburg, Part A Mark F. Smith	30:14
	2-4b - The First Day at Gettysburg, Part B Mark F. Smith	32:25
	2-5a - Battle of Gettysburg - The Second Day, Section 1 Mark F. Smith	26:45
	2-5b - Battle of Gettysburg - The Second Day, Section 2 Mark F. Smith	30:23
	2-6 - The Battle of the Third Day Mark F. Smith	34:34
	2-7 - General Retreat of the Enemy Mark F. Smith	14:29