The 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters at Gettysburg - by Mark W Allen (Paperback)

About the Book

"While much has been written about the Battle of Gettysburg, there has been no study presented on the actions of the 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters during the battle. Known for their extensive training and specialized tactics, the regiment has often been by Civil War historians only in passing. This history is the first to examine in detail the actions of this Union Army regiment on July 2, 1863. Drawing on newly discovered primary sources, this book seeks to clarify mysteries on persistent unknowns, such as the identity of the non-commissioned officer that met with Company B of the 20th Maine and the location of Major Stoughton during the battle. Following the understrength regiment as they move against two Confederate brigades, this book presents a detailed and thorough historical narrative of the Battle of Gettysburg that has long gone untold."--

Book Synopsis

The many works on the Battle of Gettysburg have neglected the role of the 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters, known for their extensive training and specialized tactics. This history is the first to explore the actions on July 2, 1863, of this Union Army regiment largely composed of men from Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.

Drawing on newly discovered primary sources, this book seeks to clarify mysteries such as the identity of the non-commissioned officer who met with Company B of the 20th Maine and the location of Major Homer R. Stoughton during the battle. Following the understrength regiment as it confronts two Confederate brigades, this thorough historical narrative presents a long untold story of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Review Quotes

"Gettysburg is one of the most written-about subjects in American history, but Allen's meticulous and engaging study proves that there remain important aspects of this pivotal battle to be explored. The actions of the 2nd US Sharpshooters during the pivotal second day of the battle had an impact far beyond their modest numbers, and this work contributes a small but vital piece to the understanding of this battle."-Thomas J. Goetz, Ph.D., associate professor, American Military University

"Impeccably researched and chock full of details, Allen's deep dive into the Union's 2nd Sharpshooters role in the Battle of Gettysburg uncovers the fragile hinge point in this defining battle that would sway the victory to the Union-the nick-of-time race to the top of Little Round Top."-Ryan Fairfield, host of the Warrior Next Door podcast

"Mark Allen tells an engaging and detailed story of how the use of sharpshooters, primarily the 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters, played a pivotal role in the Battle of Gettysburg. The book portrays the step-by-step movements and decisions on both sides of the conflict through narrative and maps informed and supported by an impressive array of first-hand accounts, ranging from the official reports and personal correspondence of the commanding officers to letters home from front-line soldiers. The book clearly delineates how the actions of the sharpshooters contributed greatly to the decisive conclusion of the battle that many historians regard as the turning point of the war."-David E. Allen, Ph.D., Texas Christian University

About the Author

Mark W. Allen is the former military historian at the War Memorial Park in Muskogee, Oklahoma, home of the World War II fleet submarine U.S.S. Batfish (SS310). He lives near Tulsa, Oklahoma.