"Gettysburg to Vicksburg is a pictorial history of the first five Civil War battlefield parks: Gettysburg, Chickamauga-Chattanooga, Shiloh, Antietam, and Vicksburg. Photographer A.J. Meek brings the battlefield parks into focus with one hundred photographs, while noted Civil War historian Herman Hattaway provides a brief history of these major battles and of the formation of parks on the battlefield grounds.".

"Through his photographs, Meek provides glimpses of personal vision and historical significance, guiding the reader through the settings for the battle narratives. He also shows how the battlefield grounds are different today, as trees and grass cover hills and former breastworks.".

"Hattaway provides insight into the personalities and achievements of military leaders on both sides. He also offers extensive descriptions of the events that took place before, during, and after each battle, explaining the significance of each encounter within the larger conflict between the Union and Confederate armies.

In addition, he describes what happened to the battlefield areas long after the fighting ended, as the government, veterans, and private organizations wrestled over how the actual grounds - and in some sense, the memory of the soldiers - should be preserved."--BOOK JACKET.