nThe Battle of Gettyburg remains one of the most controversial military actions in Americas history, and one of the most studied. nProfessor Coddingtons is an analysis not only of the battle proper, but of the actions of both Union and Confederate armies for the six months prior to the battle and the factors affecting General Meades decision not to pursue the retreating Confederate forces. This book contends that Gettyburg was a crucial Union victory, primarily because of the effective leadership of Union forces--not, as has often been said, only because the North was the beneficiary of Lees mistakes.n