Abner Doubleday: His Life and Times

Abner Doubleday: His Life and Times is a full-length biography of a man who lingered on the fringes of history for nearly 150 years. His story is one of a man who was remembered for a myth, not his actual deeds. This story sheds light on the man who was as complex as any modern person; a man who was far ahead of his time. When General John F. Reynolds fell at the beginning of the Battle of Gettysburg, it was Doubleday who took on the command of the troops during the first day. As the Union retreated at the end of the day and the two armies flowed through the streets, Abner was seen in the midst of the wounded and stragglers as he tried to learn more details of the action. He rode rapidly back to the front. His horse was covered with foam and the flushed face of the General bespoke the tremendous strain under which he was laboring. A subordinate officer described Abner, He handles his troops under fire with the same composure he would exhibit at a review or parade. (He is) a man of unquestioned bravery, cool and clear sighted on the battlefield.