Annotated Bibliography
Primary Sources The Diary of Mary Henry June 30- July 8 Author: Mary Henry Website: www.siarchives.si.edu/ history/exhibits/documents/gettysburg.htm This diary is a primary source because it is written during the war and at the approximate time of the specific battle. It is detailed and it explains everything that was happening during the battle. As a matter of fact, she was married to someone who fought in the battle as I later found out doing further |
research. It helped me to get a good idea of what was going on because of the
detail. It also confirmed some of the things I had an idea of in the battle.
Headquarters, Army of Northern Virginia July 31, 1863 Author: Robert E. Lee Website:
www.wwnorton.com/college/history.../resources/documents/lee.htm
This is a primary source because it is written by the general of the southern army and he was
the one who sent his troops into battle at Gettysburg. He took part in the battle and was a major
factor in it. His team lost and this letter describes their loss and it is an apology to all of the
families of his men. It described the battle in detail from the Confederate point of view so to
speak. It was very helpful as a primary source.
Headquarters, Potomac Army October 1, 1863 Author: Major General George Meade Website:
www.wwnorton.com/college/.../history/resources/documents/gettysburg.htm
This primary source is a letter from Gen. Meade to his and Gen. Grant’s troops in the north. It
explains in detail the victory at Gettysburg. It also explains the loss of soldiers from both sides
and it tells about what happened in the northern assault on the southern troops. It is the Battle
of Gettysburg from the Union point of view. It was very detailed and it helped me very much
because of the detailed writing.
Gettysburg Battle Photos Website:
www.visit.gettysburg.com/gettysburg-battle-photos.htm
These two pictures are primary sources because they are real pictures from the end of the Battle
of Gettysburg. They are graphic pictures and show a small bit of the ferocity of this battle. They
are helpful because it gives you a visual picture of everything that you hear about the battle. It is
helpful because it a picture to you of what really happened in the battle instead of the writing of
other people.
General Lee’s Map of the Battle of Gettysburg July 2, 1863 Map Maker: Robert E. Lee Website:
www.archives.gov> America’s Historical Documents
This map is a primary source because it shows the battle plan that Gen. Lee set up. Although
his plan failed, his map was well designed and showed great detail. It was helpful because it
showed exactly where everything took place. The battle was carefully coordinated by both sides
as shown in the map.
SECONDARY SOURCES
www.totalgettysburg.com
“I have been up to see Congress and they do not seem to be able to do anything except to
eat peanuts and chew tobacco, while my army is starving.” -Robert E. Lee
This direct quote is a good secondary source because it is a useful and very descriptive source
from the Battle of Gettysburg. It is a quote spoken by General Robert E. Lee. It explains how he
felt about Congress ignoring the suffering his army was going through.
“We failed but in the good providence of God apparent failure often proves blessing.” -
Robert E. Lee
This is also a secondary source because it is also spoken by Robert E. Lee who was the
Confederate general during the Civil War and he is explaining his take on the loss suffered at
Gettysburg. He tries to look on the bright side of the loss. He thinks that God will help him win
the war because there is a blessing in the loss at Gettysburg.
“We know not of the future and can not plan for it much.” -Josh Chamberlain
This secondary source is a short quote but just about sums up what times were like during the
Civil War. Everything was unpredictable and it was impossible to tell what was going to happen
next. The soldiers and citizens never knew when they would be called for battle or a battle would
take place right outside their house or wherever it may be that a fight broke loose between the
two sides and you couldn’t prepare for anything because you didn’t know when or if something
would happen.
“I have never advocated war except as a means of peace.” -Ulysses S. Grant
This secondary source spoken by Gen. Grant of the Union army, tells that he is not a person who
likes or approves of war unless it brings peace. It is a useful source because it gives an idea of
the mindset of the general during that time and just how bad and brutal of a war and specifically
Gettysburg were.
“I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer.” -Ulysses S. Grant
This secondary source is also from Ulysses S. Grant. It is what he said to the press after the battle
of Gettysburg. He tells how much momentum was gained by the North and that he wanted to
fight the entire rest of the war that way even if it took the entire summer of 1866. He was clearly
very animated and excited when he spoke these words after the battle and the rest of the north
probably felt the same way.
www.boerner.net
“It ain’t so hard to get to that ridge. The hell of it is staying there.” -Confederate soldier
Even though the speaker of this quote is unknown, it is a secondary source. It shows just how
hard it was for any soldier to make it from one place to another without getting captured. It also
tells you that if you were fortunate enough to make it to your “destination”, it was very difficult
to stay there without being murdered on spot.
“Up men and to your post! Don’t forget that you are from Old Virginia! -George E. Pickett
This secondary source suggests that there is some sort of superiority for people from Virginia
in that time and that it somehow makes you better than everybody else. It was likely a thing that
they felt better knowing that they had “Virginia blood” or something superstitious like that.
“We entered Gettysburg in the afternoon, just in time to meet the enemy entering the
town, and in good season to drive him back before he gets his foothold.” -John Buford
This tells that the two armies met, entering Gettysburg at the same time but John Buford’s squad
was able to push the opposition back. They obviously attacked before the other team could
establish themselves in the town. This was how the battle at Gettysburg first started.
“The truth will be known in time, and I leave that to show how much of the responsibility
of Gettysburg according to instructions- which protest is the first and only one I ever made
in my career- I ordered my line to advance and make the assault.” -John B. Hood
This secondary source tells about how one captain ordered his line to assault the opposition
during Gettysburg and how he was always giving instruction through his military career. He also
explains how his line protested but he sent them in anyway. My guess is that he probably doesn’t
want to be in the military but he had to.
www.cwrtdallas.org
“War is cruelty. There is no trying to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over.”
-General William T. Sherman
This may sound complicated but it is very simple. War is bad and you can’t stop it but the worse
it is, the more people die, and the more people that die, the quicker it ends.Gen. Sherman was
likely very intelligent and he understood what most people in that time didn’t understand, that if
many people die quickly, then it will end quicker.
“If the Confederacy falls, there should be written on it’s tombstone: Died of a Theory.” -
Jefferson Davis
This likely isn’t as funny and ironic to anyone else as it is to me but i find this hilarious
that he speaks about tombstones here because when I lived in Virginia last year, I lived in a
neighborhood that was five minutes away from the Cedar Creek battlefield and Cedar Creek
ran through the woods behind my neighbor’s house and Jefferson Davis was buried in my
neighborhood which happened to be Civil War ground. My bus used to drive right past his
tombstone and his burial spot every day.This is a useful source but I find it hilarious personally.
“Gen. Grant habitually wears an expression as if he had determined to drive his head
through a brick wall and was about to do it.” -Union soldier
This source tells how serious this war was and how badly everyone wanted it to be over but at
the same time wanted to win and either keep or free slaves depending on which side you fought
for. It mainly speaks about Gen. Grant who was a very serious person evidently to the point
where his own soldiers thought it was funny or excessive.
“Sending men to McClellan is like shoveling fleas across a barnyard. Not half of them get
there.” -Abe Lincoln
The president of the United States at the time spoke this secondary source. He uses a simile
to give an idea of how hard and rare it was to even get half of your soldiers from one place to
another. He says that not half of them get there because they are either killed or captured on the
way.
“Why do men fight who were born to be brothers?” - Gen. James Longstreet
This tells how disappointed people were with the country because all people in the world and
especially in our own country do not need to be fighting and need to be brothers and sisters
although he only speaks of brother because women had no rights and they couldn’t fight but he
says that everyone should be peaceful and not resort to violence.
detail. It also confirmed some of the things I had an idea of in the battle.
Headquarters, Army of Northern Virginia July 31, 1863 Author: Robert E. Lee Website:
www.wwnorton.com/college/history.../resources/documents/lee.htm
This is a primary source because it is written by the general of the southern army and he was
the one who sent his troops into battle at Gettysburg. He took part in the battle and was a major
factor in it. His team lost and this letter describes their loss and it is an apology to all of the
families of his men. It described the battle in detail from the Confederate point of view so to
speak. It was very helpful as a primary source.
Headquarters, Potomac Army October 1, 1863 Author: Major General George Meade Website:
www.wwnorton.com/college/.../history/resources/documents/gettysburg.htm
This primary source is a letter from Gen. Meade to his and Gen. Grant’s troops in the north. It
explains in detail the victory at Gettysburg. It also explains the loss of soldiers from both sides
and it tells about what happened in the northern assault on the southern troops. It is the Battle
of Gettysburg from the Union point of view. It was very detailed and it helped me very much
because of the detailed writing.
Gettysburg Battle Photos Website:
www.visit.gettysburg.com/gettysburg-battle-photos.htm
These two pictures are primary sources because they are real pictures from the end of the Battle
of Gettysburg. They are graphic pictures and show a small bit of the ferocity of this battle. They
are helpful because it gives you a visual picture of everything that you hear about the battle. It is
helpful because it a picture to you of what really happened in the battle instead of the writing of
other people.
General Lee’s Map of the Battle of Gettysburg July 2, 1863 Map Maker: Robert E. Lee Website:
www.archives.gov> America’s Historical Documents
This map is a primary source because it shows the battle plan that Gen. Lee set up. Although
his plan failed, his map was well designed and showed great detail. It was helpful because it
showed exactly where everything took place. The battle was carefully coordinated by both sides
as shown in the map.
SECONDARY SOURCES
www.totalgettysburg.com
“I have been up to see Congress and they do not seem to be able to do anything except to
eat peanuts and chew tobacco, while my army is starving.” -Robert E. Lee
This direct quote is a good secondary source because it is a useful and very descriptive source
from the Battle of Gettysburg. It is a quote spoken by General Robert E. Lee. It explains how he
felt about Congress ignoring the suffering his army was going through.
“We failed but in the good providence of God apparent failure often proves blessing.” -
Robert E. Lee
This is also a secondary source because it is also spoken by Robert E. Lee who was the
Confederate general during the Civil War and he is explaining his take on the loss suffered at
Gettysburg. He tries to look on the bright side of the loss. He thinks that God will help him win
the war because there is a blessing in the loss at Gettysburg.
“We know not of the future and can not plan for it much.” -Josh Chamberlain
This secondary source is a short quote but just about sums up what times were like during the
Civil War. Everything was unpredictable and it was impossible to tell what was going to happen
next. The soldiers and citizens never knew when they would be called for battle or a battle would
take place right outside their house or wherever it may be that a fight broke loose between the
two sides and you couldn’t prepare for anything because you didn’t know when or if something
would happen.
“I have never advocated war except as a means of peace.” -Ulysses S. Grant
This secondary source spoken by Gen. Grant of the Union army, tells that he is not a person who
likes or approves of war unless it brings peace. It is a useful source because it gives an idea of
the mindset of the general during that time and just how bad and brutal of a war and specifically
Gettysburg were.
“I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer.” -Ulysses S. Grant
This secondary source is also from Ulysses S. Grant. It is what he said to the press after the battle
of Gettysburg. He tells how much momentum was gained by the North and that he wanted to
fight the entire rest of the war that way even if it took the entire summer of 1866. He was clearly
very animated and excited when he spoke these words after the battle and the rest of the north
probably felt the same way.
www.boerner.net
“It ain’t so hard to get to that ridge. The hell of it is staying there.” -Confederate soldier
Even though the speaker of this quote is unknown, it is a secondary source. It shows just how
hard it was for any soldier to make it from one place to another without getting captured. It also
tells you that if you were fortunate enough to make it to your “destination”, it was very difficult
to stay there without being murdered on spot.
“Up men and to your post! Don’t forget that you are from Old Virginia! -George E. Pickett
This secondary source suggests that there is some sort of superiority for people from Virginia
in that time and that it somehow makes you better than everybody else. It was likely a thing that
they felt better knowing that they had “Virginia blood” or something superstitious like that.
“We entered Gettysburg in the afternoon, just in time to meet the enemy entering the
town, and in good season to drive him back before he gets his foothold.” -John Buford
This tells that the two armies met, entering Gettysburg at the same time but John Buford’s squad
was able to push the opposition back. They obviously attacked before the other team could
establish themselves in the town. This was how the battle at Gettysburg first started.
“The truth will be known in time, and I leave that to show how much of the responsibility
of Gettysburg according to instructions- which protest is the first and only one I ever made
in my career- I ordered my line to advance and make the assault.” -John B. Hood
This secondary source tells about how one captain ordered his line to assault the opposition
during Gettysburg and how he was always giving instruction through his military career. He also
explains how his line protested but he sent them in anyway. My guess is that he probably doesn’t
want to be in the military but he had to.
www.cwrtdallas.org
“War is cruelty. There is no trying to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over.”
-General William T. Sherman
This may sound complicated but it is very simple. War is bad and you can’t stop it but the worse
it is, the more people die, and the more people that die, the quicker it ends.Gen. Sherman was
likely very intelligent and he understood what most people in that time didn’t understand, that if
many people die quickly, then it will end quicker.
“If the Confederacy falls, there should be written on it’s tombstone: Died of a Theory.” -
Jefferson Davis
This likely isn’t as funny and ironic to anyone else as it is to me but i find this hilarious
that he speaks about tombstones here because when I lived in Virginia last year, I lived in a
neighborhood that was five minutes away from the Cedar Creek battlefield and Cedar Creek
ran through the woods behind my neighbor’s house and Jefferson Davis was buried in my
neighborhood which happened to be Civil War ground. My bus used to drive right past his
tombstone and his burial spot every day.This is a useful source but I find it hilarious personally.
“Gen. Grant habitually wears an expression as if he had determined to drive his head
through a brick wall and was about to do it.” -Union soldier
This source tells how serious this war was and how badly everyone wanted it to be over but at
the same time wanted to win and either keep or free slaves depending on which side you fought
for. It mainly speaks about Gen. Grant who was a very serious person evidently to the point
where his own soldiers thought it was funny or excessive.
“Sending men to McClellan is like shoveling fleas across a barnyard. Not half of them get
there.” -Abe Lincoln
The president of the United States at the time spoke this secondary source. He uses a simile
to give an idea of how hard and rare it was to even get half of your soldiers from one place to
another. He says that not half of them get there because they are either killed or captured on the
way.
“Why do men fight who were born to be brothers?” - Gen. James Longstreet
This tells how disappointed people were with the country because all people in the world and
especially in our own country do not need to be fighting and need to be brothers and sisters
although he only speaks of brother because women had no rights and they couldn’t fight but he
says that everyone should be peaceful and not resort to violence.