Hallowed Ground

A Walk at Gettysburg

By: James M McPherson

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

James M. McPherson, the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Battle Cry of Freedom, and arguably the finest Civil War historian in the world, walks us through the site of the bloodiest and perhaps most consequential battle ever fought by Americans: the Battle of Gettysburg.

The events that occurred at Gettysburg are etched into our collective memory, as they served to change the course of the Civil War and with it the course of history. More than any other place in the United States, Gettysburg is indeed hallowed ground. It’s no surprise that it is one of the nation’s most visited sites (nearly two million annual visitors), attracting tourists, military buffs, and students of American history.

McPherson, who has led countless tours of Gettysburg over the years, makes stops at Seminary Ridge, the Peach Orchard, Cemetery Hill, and Little Round Top, among other key locations. He reflects on the meaning of the battle, describes the events of those terrible three days in July 1863, and places the struggle in the greater context of American and world history. Along the way, he intersperses stories of his own encounters with the place over several decades, as well as debunking several popular myths about the battle itself.

What brought those 165,000 soldiers—75,000 Confederate, 90,000 Union—to Gettysburg? Why did they lock themselves in such a death grip across these once bucolic fields until 11,000 of them were killed or mortally wounded, another 29,000 were wounded and survived, and about 10,000 were “missing”—mostly captured? What was accomplished by all of this carnage? Join James M. McPherson on a walk across this hallowed ground as he be encompasses the depth of meaning and historical impact of a place that helped define the nation’s character.

“[I]n a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our power to add or detract.”
—President Abraham Lincoln©2003 James McPherson; (P)2003 Books On Tape, Inc.

Excellent guide for touring the battlefield

What did you love best about Hallowed Ground?

I thought it laid out an excellent path for personal discovery.

Who was your favorite character and why?

This was a guide of the battlefield and had many characters.

Which character ??? as performed by Grover Gardner ??? was your favorite?

All played a big role

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Buford's decisions on the first day.

Any additional comments?

This is a must read/listen guide before touring the Gettysburg battlefield.

Gardner is a Great Narrator

Mr. McPherson always writes wonderfully. I grew up in Gettysburg, so I could see in my mind’s eye exactly what he was describing. If you plan to go to Gettysburg, though this is not a “tour” book, it is very good at getting the reader acclimated to my little hometown.

As for the narrator, Mr. Gardner continues to be one of my favorites, along with George Guidall. Over many years and books, Mr. Gardner has never disappointed me.

Though it is a short book, I highly recommend this audiobook.

Good Intro to Gettysburg

If you are looking for a book to introduce you to Gettysberg, this is a good one. It balances anecdotes, 'myths', and background data with a solid day by day recitation of critical events. It doesn't get bogged down in unit designations, commander's names, and other 'enthusiast' minutiae.
There are plenty of other books that go into the rich detail which many of us love. But before you dive in to that level, you have to know the basic geography and chronology of what happened. So again, this book or Jeff Shaara's Civil War Battlefields' (either the Gettysburg excerpt or the entire book) are a find place to start.

A must listen!

Even if you have never been to Gettysburg, and do not plan to visit there anytime soon, this is an audiobook that is definitely worth the listening time. You can almost picture what it must've looked like and been like back then. This book is full of both history and practical comments, like what is different about the area now and what existed back then. Excellent naration as well.

Nice for what it is.

Had I never been to Gettysburg I don't think this book would have kept my interest. You need a visual image to relate to as the author takes you around the battlefield so I would recommend this to those who have at least a general knowledge of the battle or have visited the battlefield. The author does a nice job disposing of some myths and discussing some of the controversies in a consice manner so that in a relatively short listen he is able to be fairly comprehensive.