Maps of First Bull Run

The Maps of First Bull Run by Bradley M. Gottfried.

Once again a book review that is well behind the time. I think I'm late in doing this review because it is so obvious from the first time you open this book that this is a great book. This is Gottfried's second book in the battlefield atlas series from Savas Beatie (he did Gettysburg first and Dave Powell has added Chickamauga to the series as well).

The basic layout of each book in the series is that there is a full page color map depicting one phase of the battle and the text that describes that map is on the facing page. You can read the book cover to cover or simply use it to enhance another book on the battle that has much fewer maps. I think the series is great and as each book comes out I'll buy it without needing to see it or read reviews first, that's part of the reason why I did not review this book when it came out.

There are 51 maps in this volume, half of which cover the battle directly. Nine cover the preliminary movements and skirmishes, including Blackburn's Ford. A few maps cover the theater situation in the month afterwards and then there are about a dozen maps on Ball's Bluff.

My only complaint, and it is a series wide complaint, is that elevation change is indicated by hash marks and not by topographic lines. I grew up with topo maps so reading them has never been a problem for me. I understand they can clutter a map or be difficult for a portion of the population to read but I personally would prefer them over hash marks. I've seen topo lines used in books where it doesn't clutter the map, so it can be done. I think it would help with study as you would be able to see real elevations (and for those of us who know how to make profiles you could create profiles to show how much of the field could be seen from a particular position). Whenever I study I battle I go to the local USGS office and get the quad sheets so I have a good topographic map.

Anyway, that's my only complaint about the book series. I see no reason not to add this book to your library.

Final Book Sales

The symposium is now over. We do have some books leftover and I wanted to let my readers have a chance at these great deals.

Brigades of Gettysburg by Bradley M Gottfried (cloth) - Symposium Price $30.00, Retail Price $50.00

Artillery of Gettysburg - Gottfried by Bradley M Gottfried (cloth) - Symposium Price $15.00, Retail Price $24.95

Maps of Gettysburg: The Gettysburg Campaign June 3 – July 13 by Bradley M Gottfried (cloth) - Symposium Price $30.00, Retail Price $39.95

Maps of First Bull Run by Bradley M Gottfried (cloth) - Symposium Price $27.00, Retail Price $34.95


Shiloh and the Western Campaign of 1862 by Timothy B Smith (cloth) - Symposium Price $20.00, Retail Price $32.95

On Many a Bloody Field: Four Years in the Iron Brigade by Alan D. Gaff (paper), Symposium Price $10.00, Retail Price $17.95


Iron Brigade: A Military History by Alan Nolan (paper) - Symposium Price $15.00, Retail Price $19.95


Dear Sarah: Letters Home from a Soldier of the Iron Brigade by Coralou Peel Lassen (cloth) - Symposium Price $10.00, Retail Price $24.95



Sherman's Horsemen by David Evans (paper) - Symposium Price $16.00, Retail Price $27.95



McClellan's War by Etahn Rafuse (cloth) - Symposium Price $23.00, Retail Price $35.00


Myth of the Lost Cause by Gary Gallagher & Alan Nolan (cloth) - Symposium Price $13.00, Retail Price $19.95

Email me at shilohnick at msn dot come to place your order.

Symposium Book Sales

The symposium is about a week away so I wanted to post again about the book sales.

All of the book prices are for symposium attendees. If you don't come you won't get these deals. After the symposium we will extend those prices to anyone else out there, I'll post the list of what's left sometime the week after the event.

As you'll see symposium attendees will get a nice discount on these books. Just one more reason to come to the event. Every book is at least 15% off of retail price, one is 60% off of retail! The average discount is 26% off of retail. Click here to order tickets.

Let's recap what a symposium ticket gets you. One, admission to an incredible event with five nationally renowned authors. There are five presentations, a panel discussion and a book signing. Two, the first 50 attendees through the door will receive a copy of Mark Hughes "The New Civil War Handbook," a $15 retail value, for free. Three, the amazing deals in the book room which will include Trailhead Graphics' award winning maps and various CDs produced by Stephen Recker, including Virtual Gettysburg. Four, breakfast and lunch are provided. That is an incredible deal for $50.

Some of the books from Savas Beatie came autographed and that is now noted on this list. So we will have signed books from authors besides the ones appearing at the event. That was very exciting to see when I opened the boxes.

We also have a book, Chickamauga Memorial, so new its not even listed on amazon as available. While they are still taking preorders you can purchase a copy and get it signed.
No the roundtable did not actually buy a moving truck, but with all the books we ordered for the symposium it feels like we need one. The book selection will be much bigger than last year. There are no pre-orders, this post is just a teaser so you can plan your purchases the day of the event.

Brigades of Gettysburg by Bradley M Gottfried (cloth) - Symposium Price $30.00, Retail Price $50.00

Artillery of Gettysburg - Gottfried by Bradley M Gottfried (cloth) - Symposium Price $15.00, Retail Price $24.95

Maps of Gettysburg: The Gettysburg Campaign June 3 – July 13 by Bradley M Gottfried (cloth) - Symposium Price $30.00, Retail Price $39.95

Maps of First Bull Run by Bradley M Gottfried (cloth) - Symposium Price $27.00, Retail Price $34.95


Kearny's Own: The History of the 1st New Jersey Brigade by Bradley M Gottfried (cloth) - Symposium Price $31.00, Retail Price $36.95


Men Stood Like Iron: How the Iron Brigade Won Its Name by Lance J. Herdegen (paper) - Symposium Price $16.00, Retail Price $19.95


Those Damned Black Hats! by Lance J. Herdegen (cloth) - Symposium Price $26.00, Retail Price $32.95


McClellan's First Campaign, March - May 1862 by Russel H Beatie (cloth) - Symposium Price $36.00, Retail Price $45.00. There will also be copies of the first two volumes in the series available. Russel Beatie is bringing these himself and the price is not yet determined but it will be a substantial discount.


Shiloh and the Western Campaign of 1862 by Timothy B Smith (cloth) - Symposium Price $20.00, Retail Price $32.95


Battle of Shiloh and the Organizations Engaged by Timothy B Smith (cloth) - Symposium Price $26.00, Retail Price $33.00

Golden Age of Battlefield Preservation by Timothy B Smith (paper) - Symposium Price $31.00, Retail Price $38.95


This Great Battlefield of Shiloh by Timothy B Smith (paper) - Symposium Price $16.00, Retail Price $19.95


Untold Story of Shiloh: The Battle and the Battlefield by Timothy B Smith (paper) - Symposium Price $18.00, Retail Price $21.95

Chickamauga Memorial by Timothy B Smith (cloth) - Symposium Price $35.00, Retail Price $43. This is brand new, amazon only offers pre-orders, but if you attend the symposium you can pick it up and get it signed. I already bought a copy, have read it and will post a review of it here in the future.


On Many a Bloody Field: Four Years in the Iron Brigade by Alan D. Gaff (paper), Symposium Price $10.00, Retail Price $17.95


Iron Brigade: A Military History by Alan Nolan (paper) - Symposium Price $15.00, Retail Price $19.95

Lee Considered by Alan Nolan (paper) - Symposium Price $18.00, Retail Price $22.50

Giants in Their Tall Black Hats: Essays on the Iron Brigade by Alan Nolan & Sharon Vipond (cloth) - Symposium Price $18.00, Retail Price $29.95


Pickett's Charge in History and Memory by Carol Reardon (paper) - Symposium Price $15.00, Retail Price $19.95


Dear Sarah: Letters Home from a Soldier of the Iron Brigade by Coralou Peel Lassen (cloth) - Symposium Price $10.00, Retail Price $24.95


Major General Robert E. Rodes of the Army of Northern Virginia by Darrell L. Collins (cloth) - Symposium Price $26.00, Retail Price $32.95 SIGNED BY AUTHOR


Sherman's Horsemen by David Evans (paper) - Symposium Price $16.00, Retail Price $27.95

Fighting for the Confederacy: Recollections of Gen Alexander by Edward Porter Alexander (paper) - Symposium Price $20.00, Retail Price $26.00


One Continuous Fight: Retreat from Gettysburg by Eric Wittenberg, JD Petruzzi & Michael Nugent (cloth) - Symposium Price $28.00, Retail Price $34.95 SIGNED BY ALL THREE AUTHORS


Plenty of Blame to Go Around by Eric Wittenberg & JD Petruzzi (cloth) - Symposium Price $26.00, Retail Price $32.95


McClellan's War by Etahn Rafuse (cloth) - Symposium Price $23.00, Retail Price $35.00


Myth of the Lost Cause by Gary Gallagher & Alan Nolan (cloth) - Symposium Price $13.00, Retail Price $19.95

Lee and His Army in Confederate History by Gary W Gallagher (paper) - Symposium Price $16.00, Retail Price $20.95

Lee and His Generals in War and Memory by Gary W. Gallagher (paper) - Symposium Price $18.00, Retail Price $21.95


Complete Gettysburg Guide by J. David Petruzzi (cloth) - Symposium Price $31.00, Retail Price $39.95 SIGNED BY AUTHOR


Sickles at Gettysburg by James A. Hessler (cloth) - Symposium Price $26.00, Retail Price $32.95 SIGNED BY AUTHOR

Gleam of Bayonets by James V. Murfin (paper) - Symposium Price $21.00, Retail Price $24.95


Stand of the US Army at Gettysburg by Jeffrey Hall (cloth) - Symposium Price $25.00, Retail Price $34.95

General George E Pickett in Life and Legend by Lesley J Gordon (paper) - Symposium Price $16.00, Retail Price $20.95


Marble Man: Robert E. Lee and His Image in American Society by Thomas L. Connelly (paper) - Symposium Price $17.00, Retail Price $19.95


Ninety-eight Days: Geographer’s View of Vicksburg Campaign by Warren Grabau (cloth) - Symposium Price $38.00, Retail Price $48.00


Colonel John Pelham: Lee's Boy Artillerist by William Woods Hassler (paper) - Symposium Price $16.00, Retail Price $20.95