Giants in Their Tall Black Hats: Essays on the Iron Brigade (Great Lakes Connections: The Civil War)

Book Description

No soldier went off to the Civil War with quicker step than 17-year-old James Patrick Sullivan. A hired man on a farm in Juneau County, Wisconsin, he was among the first to anwer Lincoln's call for volunteers in 1861. Sullivan fought in a score of major battles, was wounded five times, and was the only soldier of his regiment to enlist on three separate occasions. An Irishman in the Iron Brigade is a collection of Sullivan's writings about his hard days in President Lincoln's Army. Using war diaries and letters, the Irish immigrant composed nearly a dozen revealing accounts about the battles of his brigage-Brawner Farm, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg as well as the fighting of 1864. Using his old camp name, "Mickey of Company K," Sullivan wrote not so much for family or for history, but to entertain his comrades of the old Iron Brigade. His stories-overlooked and forgotten for more than a century- are delightful accounts of rough-hewn "Western" soldiers in the Eastern Army of the Potomac. His Gettysburg account, for example, is one of the best recollections of that epic battle by a soldier in the ranks. He also left a from-the-ranks view of some of the Union's major soldiers such as George McClellan, Irvin McDowell, John Pope, and Ambrose Burnside. An Irishman in the Iron Brigade is in part the story of the great veterans' movement which shaped the nation's politics before the turn-of-the-century. Troubled by economic hardship, advancing age, and old war injuries, Sullivan turned to old comrades, his memories, and writing, to put the great experiences of his life in perspective.

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful resource.......2003-12-10

I must say I was thrilled to come across this book here. James Patrick Sullivan was my great-great grandfather and I knew little about my ancestors before. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a glimpse of a soldier's recollections of the War Between the States.

JP.......2003-10-23

This is a thoroughly enjoyable book for me, as I am the great-granddaughter of Mickey Sullivan, or "JP" as we Sullivans call him. I read this book before visiting Gettysburg and so was able to retrace his steps. Gettysburg has an surreal quality about it and still seems alive with the spirits of those who fought there. JP was fortunate to come home from that war. Books such as these that speak with the actual words of the soldiers help you to understand the times and the feelings of those who fought there.

Lance Herdegen brought my great-grandfather to life for me - an opportunity I would never have experienced if this book had not been written. I have also listened to Mr. Herdegen speak, telling stories about the Civil War, about the "Western" soldiers from Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Native Americans, who enlisted as "French-Canadians" since as native americans they were considered at that time to be "foreign" peoples...how incredible that seems to us now.

Book Description

Based on an major recent discovery-the Civil War as seen from the front ranks of a legendary fighting unit.

The recently discovered journal of William Ray of the Seventh Wisconsin is the most important primary source ever of soldier life in one of the war's most famous fighting organizations. No other collection of letters or diaries comes close to it.

Two days before his regiment left Wisconsin in 1861, the twenty-three-year-old blacksmith began, as he described it, "to keep account" of his life in what became the "Iron Brigade of the West." Ray's journal encompasses all aspects of the enlisted man's life-the battles, the hardships, the comradeship. And Ray saw most of the war from the front rank. He was wounded at Second Bull Run, again at Gettysburg, and yet a third time in the hell of the Wilderness. He penned something in his journal almost every day-occasionally just a few lines, at other times thousands of words. Ray's candid assessments of officers and strategy, his vivid descriptions of marches and the fighting, and his evocative tales of foraging and daily army life fill a large gap in the historical record and give an unforgettable soldier's-eye view of the Civil War.

Customer Reviews:

1 July 1863. The first day of Gettysburg........2007-01-10

The Civil War Journal of William Ray, Company F, Seventh Wisconsin Volunteers. William Ray was a enlisted man of the Famed Iron Brigade. His story told in his own words from a journal he kept, is an amazing story as told by some one who is there. I will let him tell about a few minutes on the 1st of July 1863 at a place called Gettysburg. His unit having been heavily engaged for most of the day were ordered to fall back though the town.

"I was hit about 1/4 mile out of town by a Ball on the top of the head, come near knocking me down. But I straighted up, went on, another Ball hits sole of my shoe cutting it nearly in two, it ownly making my foot sting a little."

Walking though Gettysburg he stopped at a 2nd Division "hospital" to seek help for his wounds. This "hospital" was soon surrendered to the Confederates (as they took the town), so he walked back to his unit. His story is amazing and detailed. It is a excellent testimony of how life was really like in the Union Army for a regular soldier.

A rare window on daily life in the Iron Brigade!.......2004-12-30

Private William Ray of Company F, 7th Wisconsin Volunteers, wrote (it seems) nearly everyday for four years of war in his journals. It is a book of journal entries that, from start to finish record a momentous journey. To read this book is to travel with Ray across the countryside and know the ever-present boredom of soldier life, punctuated with hard marches and occasional life threatening danger. One gets a real sense of the soldier's isolated position in the war and constant search and need for information, and the ever present lack of it. The book is packed with amazing detail, and it is always from the perspective of the Private soldier. Often Ray has no idea of the larger scope of events he is moving through. Ray has a wonderfully objective attitude, and relates his thoughts and feelings well. What was it like to be wounded in battle? Journey with Ray from the battlefield, through field hospitals, ultimately to spend about a year in a Philadelphia hospital for soldiers. Returning to the regiment, Ray is soon wounded again. Some of the best of Ray's journal comes in 1864 when he is constantly in the action around Petersburg. This book gives the full experience of the common soldier's life in the Iron Brigade, in rare length and depth. Reading 446 pages of journal entries is not a task lightly undertaken, but it is well worth the journey. I recommend reading this one after being well versed in the big picture of the Brigade's history.

Mostly for Buffs.......2004-09-14

William Ray, a decent, optimistic, industrious, and somewhat priggish Wisconsin farmer survived three battle wounds during the Civil War, lasting long enough to be promoted to what may have been his level of incompetence as an orderly sergeant. Ray regularly sent his notebook diaries back to the homefolks, and perhaps for that reason, the diaries tend to be emotionally flat. Although the 7th Wisconsin suffered some of the heaviest casualties of any unit in the Union Army, Ray does not reflect on his perilous situation, and he refers to the dead and wounded largely as statistics rather than as friends and comrades. Occasional passages do rise above Ray's typically mundane entries--for instance, his description of being lost in the rain during the skirmishing of August 18-21, 1864.

This diary will be largely of interest to Civil War buffs curious about the soldiers' daily life. Although the editors' contributions are adequate, the explanatory notes might have better explained to 21st century readers the realities that Civil War armies took for granted. Comparisons of Ray's journal with similar diaries would also have been helpful.

Daily infantry life documented!.......2003-01-15

The story of William Ray's is not entirely unique to Civil War history although his personal account brought forth by four years of great diary keeping brings the soldier daily grind to the forefront. Ray's story is seldom full of action and captures the daily life of a young man of Wisconsin heritage fighting for the Union in the Army of the Potomac. What flavors this monotonous story is that it truly brings the hard lifestyle of 19th Century soldiering to 21st Century readers. This is an excellent book for historians looking to understand soldier thinking. Ray writes about camp life, rumors, gossip, money, family, drill, picket duty, sickness, friends and the "hurry up and wait" philosophy of being an infantry soldier for the Union during the Civil War. Ray's coverage of his fighting is brisk although many times his writing may have been tamed by the fact that he may have been writing with family in mind. He may have not wanted his family to know the hard battle details in the event of his death where his diary could be discovered and sent home with his belongings. Injured on several occasions such as the Battle of Gettysburg and The Wilderness, Ray enhances his story to give this book added information. He writes about his wounds, healing, being sick and helping his fellow soldiers. We are lucky to have such a large diary written which covers four years of the war. From his enlisting, re-enlisting and final discharge Ray offers us a priceless look at a common infantry soldier. His diary notes of the Siege of Petersburg and the mine explosion was very interesting. The ugly daily life of trench warfare certainly painted the struggle at hand. Ray also gives us a definitive look at how the South was truly struggling as of 1864 and when 1865 rolls around he writes about Confederate deserters coming across the lines on a daily basis. This information is seldom covered from a soldier's perspective and it is vital for those looking to understand the mentality of an everyday soldier who by 1864 was a proud Veteran of the boys of '61. This book is also an excellent and valuable reference tool for those trying to learn about the Iron Brigade and more importantly the 7th Wisconsin. A true historian could use a greatly documented book such as this in their library. 5 STARS!!!!!

Daily infantry life documented!.......2003-01-15

A Full Blown Yankee of the Iron Brigade: Service with the Sixth Wisconsin Volunteers

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Transformation of a Young Man at War
Great personal account of life in the Iron Brigade!

A Full Blown Yankee of the Iron Brigade: Service with the Sixth Wisconsin Volunteers
Rufus R. Dawes
Manufacturer: University of Nebraska Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0803266189

Book Description

"I have been so wholly engrossed with my work for the last week or I should have responded sooner to your question: 'Are you going?' If a kind Providence and President Lincoln will permit, I am. I am Captain of as good, and true a band of patriots as ever rallied under the star spangled banner."-Rufus R. Dawes. A Full Blown Yankee of the Iron Brigade combines the personal experiences of Rufus R. Dawes with a history of the regiment in which he served. The Iron Brigade was the only all-Western brigade that fought in the eastern armies of the Union and was perhaps the most distinguished of the Federal brigades. Dawes is credited with a keen sense of observation and a fresh and vivid style. Seldom absent from the field during his entire three-and-a-half-year term, he chronicled Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chan-cellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness campaign, Cold Harbor, and the Petersburg lines. Perhaps most remarkable is the well-honed sense of humor he displayed about both the war and himself. Dawes's sophisticated account of significant military organizations and events improves our understanding of the epic of the Civil War. Rufus R. Dawes (1838-99) kept a journal throughout his war service, which he used in writing this memoir. He also relied on his own prolific correspondence with family members and on the reports by Federal and Confederate participants in the Official Records.

Customer Reviews:

Transformation of a Young Man at War.......2005-03-18

Rufus Dawes writes of his service as an officer of the Iron Brigade's 6th Wisconsin Volunteers from it's formation until his resignation in 1864. Dawes was continuously present in the field almost every day from the day he enlisted, and wrote to his wife even several times a week, yet the book fills a mere 318 pages. His work is based primarily on this large collection of letters his wife had kept throughout the war.

His retrospective reminiscences are interjected only to give us the larger context, and sometimes he quotes the Official Army Reports when helpful. Not only is Dawes a good writer, but because he rose to command the 6th Wisconsin Regiment, he was cognizant of both the big picture and the immediate details of soldier life.

Dawes is an eloquent and sensitive writer. Through Dawes' letters we can feel the stresses and tensions of army life. As a junior officer, Dawes notes his concerns over the seniority among Captains in the Regiment as his primary concern. By 1864, this has shifted to the simple desire to spend time away from the incessant bullets, death and discomforts of war. Dawes' passages on the 1864 Campaign really expresses how different the war became and how really weary the veterans had become. Dawes himself, an exuberant and optimistic spirit always, had become truly weary of war by 1864.

To have tramped with Dawes all over Virginia, to Antietam and Gettysburg and through the Wilderness is an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend this book for the general reader. Of all the first person accounts I have read by Iron Brigade soldiers, this is the easiest to read and follow, and is richly rewarding.

Great personal account of life in the Iron Brigade!.......2002-11-04

It's sometimes tough finding memoirs or diary accounts that don't get involved in writing battle history on a larger scale that doesn't have anything to with the person writing it. Rufus Dawes heavily battle tormented years in the hard fighting Iron Brigade only covers his involvment and the affairs of the Iron Brigade which I found refreshing to read. Rufus Dawes has wrote down a lot in his diary and also wrote many letters home which are presented very well throughout this book. Most of his diary writings mention the date and the events which occurred. Dawes manages to define daily life activity in the camp and soldier actions. What makes this book exciting is his detail for writing about his involvement at major battles such as Antietam, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor and more! Rarely receiving a single scratch, Dawes manages to live to write about his military life as other officers around him eventually become discharged while a majority die. He gets descriptive at times which captures the chaos and confusion of battle. His writings also talk a lot about the Iron Brigade and it's a great reference for those trying to understand how hard fighting this group of soldiers were. Unlike some recollections or memoirs, Dawes writes very well and makes this book easy to follow and read. At times Dawes was very detailed and explains many army movements and his thoughts about approaching battle and surviving the aftermath. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the Civil War and especially for those looking to learn about the Iron Brigade.

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Shelby: One fine cavalry general
Jo Shelby
A very fine read

General Jo Shelby: Undefeated Rebel
Daniel O'Flaherty , and Daniel E. Sutherland
Manufacturer: The University of North Carolina Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0807848786
Release Date: 2000-05-31

Book Description

This vivid work, first published by UNC Press in 1954, reveals General Joseph Orville Shelby as one of the best Confederate cavalry leaders—and certainly the most colorful.

Born in Lexington, Kentucky, but drawn by the promise of the growing West, Shelby became one of the richest men in Missouri. Siding with the Confederacy at the outbreak of the Civil War, he organized his Iron Brigade of cavalry—whose ranks included Frank and Jesse James—taught his men a slashing frontier style of fighting, and led them on incredible raids against Federal forces in Missouri. When the Confederacy fell, Shelby refused to surrender and instead took his command to Mexico, where they fought in support of the emperor Maximilian. Upon his return to Missouri, Shelby became an immensely popular figure in the state, eventually attaining the status of folk hero, a living symbol of the Civil War in the West.

Customer Reviews:

Shelby: One fine cavalry general.......2006-03-07

Many commanders, both North and South, thought Jo Shelby to be the best cavalry general of the South. From the black plume he wore in his cap to the large sorrel horses he rode (after getting three shot from under him at Cane Hill, Arkansas, he superstitiously would only ride sorrels) to his daring tactics, Shelby struck an heroic figure. A successful businessman in Missouri before the war and a prominent slaveholder, he raised a three-regiment cavalry brigade in 1862, taught it western fighting tactics, and conducted a number of raids in Missouri and Arkansas for the rest of the war. A real thorn in the side of Union leaders, Shelby's "Iron Brigade" inflicted much damage in raids all along the western border region. Most distinguished were his operations in Sterling Price's raid into Missouri in the fall of 1864, especially at Glasgow and Sedalia (both of which he captured), Waverly, and Westport. When the war ended, he refused to surrender, and simply took his men to Mexico to fight for Maximillian. But after Maximillian was killed in 1866, Shelby returned to Missouri. His popularity only increased in the hero-hungry post-war South, which was bolstered further after he appeared as a defense witness in the trial of the James brothers, who had ridden with him during the war. He died in 1897, and his funeral was the second largest in the post-war South for a Confederate leader, after only Jeff Davis's.

O'Flaherty's approach is that of a popular, rather than an academic, historian. So much conversational dialogue is included that sometimes the book reads more like a novel than a biography. At times he over-quotes sources: for example, he includes the complete transcript of an interview that appeared in the Kansas City "Journal" with Shelby just before the James Boys trial. It's interesting, but could have been abridged. His purpose, though, seems to be to present Shelby as a hero in the Sir Walter Scott mold: brave, loyal to a cause, fair and democratic, tough on the battlefield, concerned with the welfare of his charges. In this he succeeds admirably. [This is a reprint of the original 1954 edition.]

Jo Shelby.......2005-08-02

I was particularly interested in reading about Confederate General Jo Shelby as my great-grandfather fought under him during the Civil War, serving in Co. A, Elliott's Battalion,
Shelby's Brigade. The book was fairly informative, but relied too heavily on the writings of Major Edwards, Shelby's Aide, who was not always objective, and given to hyperbole.
All-in-all though, it was enjoyable reading and gave me a lot of information about the man my ancestor served under.
I am in the process of visiting the battlegrounds where Shelby campaigned and this book will help in visualizing the various battles.

A very fine read.......2003-04-09

Gen. Shelby did remarkable things with his small command. His genius was unappreciated due to Jefferson Davis' myopic pre-occupation with west point pedigrees instead of ability and results. A Southerner can only sigh at the lost opportunity, if Shelby had been given command of command of the Army of the Trans-Mississippi instead of Theophilus Holmes.
This is a very readable volume about the greatest Confederate cavalryman in the war who led several different lives. About a half of it covers the war, another 1/4th the Mexico adventure, and the remaining 1/4 are split between his growing up and the post-Mexico (1868-97)years.
It features vivid descriptions of many battles in MO and AR, as well as the tale of his expedition to Mexico after the war. The details of his tactics at the Battle of Cane Hill, which he used repeatedly after that is fascinating. The author's style is a bit colorful and folksy, sorta like you're there talking to him. If you demand that your history read like a textbook that may spook you off, but if it doesn't it's a wonderful bio about a neglected figure

The Men Stood Like Iron: How the Iron Brigade Won Its Name

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Reads Like an Adventure Novel!
Not as good as Nolan's
Proud to be a Calico Boy
This was my first in-depth Iron Brigade book--
GEEZ, this is a GOOD BOOK!!!

The Men Stood Like Iron: How the Iron Brigade Won Its Name
Lance J. Herdegen
Manufacturer: Indiana University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 025321825X

Book Description

No volunteers tramped with more innocent resolve on the drill fields of 1861 than the farmers, immigrants, shopkeepers, and "piney" camp boys who volunteered for the Second, Sixth, and Seventh Wisconsin and the Nineteenth Indiana Infantry. The Men Stood Like Iron is the moving, often melancholy, story of how the backwoods "Calico boys" became soldiers of the celebrated "Iron Brigade."

Customer Reviews:

Reads Like an Adventure Novel!.......2004-12-13

If you have never read a book about the Iron Brigade, this is the one to begin with. This book reads like an adventure novel. No matter if you are 10 or 100 years old, this easy to read book is packed with page after page of thrilling adventure. I could not put it down. "What will happen to these brave boys next? Will they survive, and if so, HOW?" was constantly on my mind.

The book is the story of the Brigade as seen from within the ranks of the 6th Wisconsin Regiment. It draws heavily from the memoirs of Rufus Dawes, one of the officers leading the regiment. He was an excellent and compassionate writer, and his first hand observations put you immediately in the ranks.

The history of the Brigade, from enlistment at Camp Randall to the Battle of Gettysburg is told in fast paced and very accessible form. History buffs will enjoy this one as well as newcomers to the subject of the Civil War. After reading this book I was so impressed by the valor of these men, I decided to join the Iron Brigade and become a Civil War reenactor!

Not as good as Nolan's.......2004-06-01

Readers who pick up this book will almost certainly read Alan Nolan's book on the Iron Brigade as well. With that in mind, if you only want or intend to read one, read Nolan's.

This book is much more specific than Nolan's in identifying certain individuals in different companies and offers a more anecdotal approach to the story of the Iron Brigade.

But this book centers almost completely on the Wisconsin regiments (2nd,6th,7th and the 5th for the brief period it was part of the brigade): other than a prologue of sorts beginning at Gettysburg, this book covers only up to Antietam. In reading this edition, a reader could easily forget that the 19th Indiana is part of the brigade, and the book ends before the 24th Michigan becomes part of the brigade at all.

The book is entertaining and very readable, The book's title is "How the Brigade won its Name" and it tells that story and stops. However, Nolan's book does that and covers up to "the Last Stand at Gettysburg," until the brigade is diluted with non-Western regiments. As a result, between reading the two, you could come away feeling as though this book's story is incomplete.

Proud to be a Calico Boy.......2002-04-11

I read a lot of books on the Civil War. I had kin in the the 6th Wisconsin. I read everything I can find about the Iron Brigade. Mr. Herdegen is one of the great authorities on this famed and proud unit. I have enjoyed and learned from every one of his books. Well done! A must read for anyone who calls themselves a Civil War buff. My God....what a war...what a unit! Many American soldiers are button pushers these days. Back then, a man actually saw who he was fighting. The Brigade fought like wildcats. To get a feel for what it was like read Dawes and Herdegen. Read this book!!!

This was my first in-depth Iron Brigade book--.......2001-03-12

I found it very helpful and very inspirational. The book's four maps are especially clear. Quite a number of titles are available on this Brigade, and I was happy to find the book by Rufus R. Dawes, "A Full Blown Yankee of the Iron Brigade: Service with the Sixth Wisconsin Volunteers" now out in paper! Mr. Herdegen uses this earlier work, and now it is available to all CW students. I found much to share with others from this book, and I recommend it highly.

GEEZ, this is a GOOD BOOK!!!.......1999-07-03

I'm a voracious reader on the subject of American History, particularly of our Civil War. I'm currently in the middle of this book, and I came on line to look for related titles. My interest in the Iron Brigade has been whetted! Precious few unit histories or service memoirs bring to life their subjects in such a deeply human, vivid and honoring way as this. If I could only keep or save an armful of my hundreds of books, this would certainly be one of them. I'm going back to read it...

The Iron Brigade: A Military History (Great Lakes Connections: The Civil War)

Average customer rating:

Great Military History for a Great Brigade
A Classic Reference Work & A Good Read
Valuable, concise and an excellent resource!
Wondeful History of the "Black Hat Brigage"
Black Hats and White Gaiters

The Iron Brigade: A Military History (Great Lakes Connections: The Civil War)
Alan T. Nolan , and Wilson K., III Hoyt
Manufacturer: Indiana University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0253208637

Customer Reviews:

Great Military History for a Great Brigade.......2004-06-01

Nolan's book about the Iron Brigade is a fantastic account of the brigade's history, covering its intriguing stories off the field as much as on it.

The book is very easy to follow as it begins with the creation of every regiment in the brigade and ends months after Appomattox.

By using primary accounts and concise analysis, Nolan covers the relationships between the ordinary men and their officers, the relationships between the regiments, the relationships between the brigades and divisional/corps commanders all the way up to McClellan/Hooker and more. In addition, the politics in the brigade and the Army of the Potomac as a whole are covered, and all of this without even getting into the combat history of the brigade.

Nolan covers in depth every combat the Iron Brigade was engaged in while it consisted of just Westerners, and the Epilogue in the book deals with the addition of non Western units to the Brigade, the dissolution of some of the regiments and the mustering out of notable officers through discharges, wounds and death.

In Nolan's interpretation, although it keeps its name, the Iron Brigade is no longer THE Iron Brigade after all the casualties at Gettysburg and the addition of Eastern troops to the brigade on July 18, 1863. Thus the combat from Brawner's Farm to Gettysburg is covered in depth concerning the brigade's actions. The book has exceptional maps for the actions of the brigade on the battlefields and casualty counts for every regiment. The chapter dealing with Day 1 of Gettysburg is the book's most poignant and gripping battle account.

The notes in the book are nearly 100 pages and are nearly as interesting as the narrative itself. In the notes are extended discussions on casualty %s (the Iron Brigade as a whole suffered the most battle casualties by % than any Federal brigade during the war, the 2nd Wisconsin suffered the most by % of any regiment, the 24th Michigan suffered 80% casualties on July 1 etc.) and Nolan's explanation in how he dealt with discrepancies in battle records and accounts. In the epilogue's notes, Nolan offers up post-war details of the officers in the 5 regiments.

One of the best parts of the book is how Nolan really takes issue with Glenn Turner's book on Gettysburg due to its pro-Confederate slant. Turner claims the Iron Brigade was "swept off" the field and calls Old Man Burns, the old citizen who came onto the field and fought with the Iron Brigade, a "cowardly" "bushwhacker" despite fighting in line and being wounded three times during the battle.

This book is perfect for anyone interested in the Civil War or anyone interested in the military history of Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan.

A Classic Reference Work & A Good Read.......2004-02-03

The author successfully weaves together regimental histories with grand strategic movements and anecdotal observations of the common soldier. All this gives a feel for the the tension and struggle faced by the "heroes" of this story-- the officers and common soldiers of the Iron Brigade. Common men of uncommon bravery and valor. The reader is able to follow the progress of each regiment within the Brigade through Nolan's fast paced, dramatic narrative. A fine reference and requisite companion to Herdegen's "Four Years with the Iron Brigade," since it puts the diaries in the larger context of Brigade movements. I appreciated Nolan's work all the more after Herdegen's book, and wished I had read them together.

Valuable, concise and an excellent resource!.......2004-02-03

Author Alan Nolan has brought the story of the Iron Brigade to life in this excellent study of this famous group of hard fighting midwesterners. Nolan's information is valuable and everything is backed by references. Nolan's style is concise. It was nice that he didn't dwell on subjects like battles or politics not involving the Iron Brigade. He kept the book's chapters flowing and informative. He kept biographies short while the movements and changes in command structure through out the book were covered very well. The fighting at Gettysburg was probably the best coverage and most descriptive although it was most fitting considering it was the brigade's crescendo in battle. Overall, Nolan's book is a valuable tool, reference and history of the Iron Brigade that many people could benefit from reading. 5 STARS!

Wondeful History of the "Black Hat Brigage".......2001-06-01

Nolan's "biography" of the battle-torn Iron Brigade contains the most stirring description of the 1st day of battle at Gettysburg that I have ever read. His account of the bravery and heroism of these men is exceptional. At times I got a bit confused trying to keep track with whom was in charge of which regiment/brigade/division, etc., but this information is vital to the history of the brigade. This book also made me aware of the under-appreciated accomplishments of Lt. Col. Rufus Dawes who should be accorded the same recognition as other noble Union leaders during this battle, such as Chamberlain, Hancock and Warren.

Black Hats and White Gaiters.......2000-10-27

This is the definitive history of what I consider the best brigade-sized unit in either army during the Civil War. Alan Nolan is THE authority on this famous, hard-hitting outfit and this book is a classic. Interesting, vivid, full of valor, heartbreaking losses, and gallant deeds, it chronicles the Army of the Potomac's sole western unit from its meager beginnings, its first engagement at Brawner's Farm the day before Second Bull Run, where it met and defeated the vaunted Stonewall Brigade in a vicious stand-up fight though outnumbered and still an untried unit of well-trained rookies. through the tough tutelage of veteran artilleryman John Gibbon, its first commander of note, to its moment of truth at Gettysburg, where, suffering almost 70% casualties, it goes into the fire unperturbed and outnumbered, both ruining and capturing opposing Confederate units, coming onto the field behind its tattered regimental flags like a wave of blue doom. I first became interested in the Iron Brigade while reading Bruce Catton's excellent trilogy on the Army of the Potomac. Not until this superb volume, however, did the whole story come out in gripping detail and hard-to-put-down narrative. The author paints a vivid picture of the realities of war, what losses can do to even a veteran, well-trained unit, and the value of personal valor and leadership. This book is highly recommended and should be on the book shelf of every Civil War reenactor, historian, and enthusiast.

A Brotherhood Of Valor: The Common Soldiers Of The Stonewall Brigade C S A And The Iron Brigade U S A

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A Worthy Effort
Valor Indeed
Bringing the History of the Brigades Up-to-Date!
A rather dull effort, not very balanced
A historical look at two of the Civil War's top brigades!

A Brotherhood Of Valor: The Common Soldiers Of The Stonewall Brigade C S A And The Iron Brigade U S A
Jeffry D. Wert
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ASIN: 0684862441

Amazon.com

Confederate General Thomas J. Jackson was arguably the greatest commander of the Civil War. Yet "Stonewall" Jackson owed much of his success to the troops who served under him. He eagerly gave them their due: "You cannot praise these men of my brigade too much; they have fought, marched, and endured more than I even thought they would." The Stonewall Brigade, composed mainly of Virginians from the Shenandoah Valley, proved its mettle at First Manassas and never let up--even after its esteemed leader was shot down at Chancellorsville. Their equally elite counterparts in the Army of the Potomac were known as the Iron Brigade, hardy westerners drawn from Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan. By focusing on these two groups, historian Jeffry Wert retells the story of the Civil War's eastern theater as it was experienced by these ordinary men from North and South.

His battle descriptions are riveting, especially when he covers Antietam:

Three times the Georgians charged towards the guns, and three times they were repelled. Union infantry west of the battery ripped apart the attacker's flank, and the artillerists unleashed more canister.... Finally, the Georgians could withstand the punishment no longer, and as more Union infantry piled into the Cornfield, Hood's wrecked division retreated towards West Woods and Dunker Church. When asked later where his command was, Hood replied, "Dead on the field."

But the book is perhaps most notable for the way in which it describes the everyday hardships befalling each side. They often lacked food, shoes, blankets, and other military necessities. When the war began, the men believed deeply in their conflicting causes. Before it was over, writes Wert, "the war itself became their common enemy." Wert is slowly but surely gaining a reputation as one of the finest popular historians writing about the Civil War; A Brotherhood of Valor will undoubtedly advance his claim. --John J. Miller

Book Description

This unusual and moving chronicle covers some of the most important battles of the Civil War -- Sharpsburg (Antietam), Gettysburg, and Chancellorsville -- through the stories of the two brigades who confronted each other on the bloody fields of battle.

Drawing on original source material, Jeffry Wert reconstructs the drama and terrors of war through the eyes of the ordinary men who became members of two of the most respected fighting units of their respective armies, the Stonewall Brigade of the Confederacy and the Iron Brigade of the Union. There are tales of grueling marches and almost unbearable deprivations; eyewitness accounts of ferocious fighting and devastating losses on both sides; and portraits of acts of courage and valor performed by soldiers and officers who, despite the difficulties they faced, remained dedicated to the cause for which they were fighting.

Customer Reviews:

A Worthy Effort.......2006-11-19

I re-enact as a sergeant in Company "E", Bragg's Rifles, 6th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry (the Calicoboys). Other than Nolan's book on the Iron Brigade, Wert's book is the best on the entire history of the Iron Brigade. I have also studied the history of the Stonewall brigade. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is a serious scholar of the Civil War. Those d**n "black hats" gave as well as they got at Brawner's Farm. Considering that they were rookies, they handed out a pretty good lickin'. Even Stonewall Jackson said it was the worst he had been in. After the battle, the Black Hats gave out three loud huzzahs. There was no answer from the sesesh.

Calicoboy

Valor Indeed.......2006-09-17

There are a small number of brigades in the Civil War that earned a towering reputation because of their valor. Two of these are reviewed in this book: The Iron Brigade ("The Black Hats") of the Army of the Potomac and the Stonewall Brigade of the (in the end) Army of Northern Virginia. This volume does a nice job of indicating why these two brigades so justly earned their accolades.

It is also something of an irony that the first major action of the Iron Brigade (although not yet so named) came when it faced off against the Stonewall Brigade in the forerunner to Second Manassas--at Brawner's Farm or Groveton (take your choice as to the name of the battle). The two brigades, with other troops also being engaged, slugged it out. The veteran Stonewall Brigade versus the fairly untested Iron Brigade. In the end, both demonstrated their brotherhood of valor in this engagement.

The book describes the histories of the two brigades until they essentially lost their character and integrity. The Iron Brigade earned its name during the fight at the South Mountain pass before Antietam. It was destroyed as an elite fighting force at Gettysburg, as it fought itself out on the First Day, staving off the ultimate Confederate attack. It provided value during the rest of the battle and continued as an entity in the Army of the Potomac after that, but its legendary hitting power largely ended there.

Just so, the Stonewall Brigade (and Division) lost its integrity at the Mule Shoe at Spotsylvania.

Nonetheless, despite the damage done to these two units during the war, both well earned the honors given to them. This book does justice to both units and ought to be read by those interested in brigade level histories.

Bringing the History of the Brigades Up-to-Date!.......2004-12-13

If you are interested in the Iron Brigade, this is a book not to be missed. It is a book that draws on all the old scholarship on the Brigade and brings it into the modern era.

Where Nolan draws the broad brush strokes of the Brigade's history, Wert revisits that outline and fills in a lot of detail. Wert has scoured the archives and read all the correspondence he could find, and quotes it liberally to draw us close to the ground level action. His book is fast paced and accessible.

Not only has he done this with just one Brigade but two! It is a natural approach, since the two brigades clashed so often, or were on the same fields, one gets the perspective of both sides.

After reading this book, one can only ask, what research is left to be done now on the Brigade? Wert has done a fine job, and provided us a most up to date, short, yet definitive general history of the Iron Brigade.

A rather dull effort, not very balanced.......2004-12-11

I don't think Wert included enough on the common soldiers and spent too much time on filing in the broad strokes of the Civil War. Also I have seen nowhere else Wert's contention that the Stonewall Brigade was so plagued with desertions, a serious charge. Nolan's book on the Iron Brigade is vastly superior. Finally, given Wert's penchant for abusing the southern command it seems like a miracle the confederacy last one year much less five.

A historical look at two of the Civil War's top brigades!.......2003-04-16

Being a fan of author Jeffrey Wert's work I didn't have to decide on whether or not to buy this book when I came across it. Wert's writing flows well and he backs up quite a lot of his information with useful references as he has done in other books. Wert has taken two of the more popular brigades of the Civil War and has followed their enlistment and organization in 1861 to final muster in 1865. Wert documents each brigade's movements and battles while carefully explaining changes in command and regimental organization. I found this book quite intriging as these famous brigades met each other in battle three times at such places as Brawner Farm, Antietam and Gettysburg. Wert explains the battles quickly at times which was refreshing in cases where the brigades had little conflict or involvement. In times of battle, Wert gets to the point of the fighting and doesn't dwell in huge detail as you may find in some books covering a certain campaign or battle.

Book Description

Young Union corporal John Pardington, of the 24th Michigan Infantry of the famous Iron Brigade, wrote more than eighty letters to his wife and baby during campaigns from Fredericksburg to Chancellorsville. These touching love letters are made even more poignant because the reader is aware that Corporal Pardington will be killed at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Customer Reviews:

Letters home: simple and touching.......2006-12-08

This is a collection of the Civil War letters written by John Pardington to his wife Sarah. Pardington, from Michigan, was a member of the Iron Brigade, having enlisted in the summer of 1862. From camp life in and around Washingon to the Battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, Paddington faithfully writes his wife with particulars about army routines, concerns for staying healthy, and the misery of being so far away from her and their baby. He is rarely concerned with giving details about military maneuvers, his opinions about his officers, or with battle incidentals. He's a sensitive man and never fails to express his love for his family and the amount he misses them. He misses them so much that on a few occasions he thinks out loud to Sarah about deserting, but couldn't bare the disgrace. He worries about money and gives Sarah advice over the miles; he also warns her about friends and family members about whom he has questionable opinions. After Chancellorsville, his unit marches to Gettysburg, where the letters will suddenly end; Paddington was killed there on the first day of the battle. In one of his last letters he derides the activities of the Copperheads: "they seem bound for peace if it sacrifices the Union. It seems poor encouragement for us." (This has a haunting 2006 ring to it.) I found Pardington's patriotism admirable, though probably it was typical. The letters, which are unpolished and simple, are nevertheless heartfelt and compelling. Although not filled with the kind of information the historian might be interested in, they add a very human touch to a cause and conflict Pardington fought bravely for, and for which he finally gave his life.

Out of the Past: ACW Soldier Speaks to Us from His Heart.......2002-06-17

There are several published books of letters and diaries written by American Civil War (ACW) soldiers --from both sides of the conflict.

Enriching our understanding of the human heart in impossible circumstances is "Dear Sarah: Letters Home from a Soldier of the Iron Brigade," edited with loving care by the soldier's descendant Coralou Peel Lassen.

In my opinion it goes without saying that this recent contribution is refreshing, of great value to not only the modern reader but to posterity, too, to those who want to know more about the men --and women; the real human beings, who lived through and endured the American Civil War. This volume also illuminates the nature of not only the American Civil War but all war.

The Iron Brigade Soldier who wrote to Sarah was a young Union soldier named John Henry Pardington. The intense personal nature of his letters, what he writes about and how, is more than touching. The letters left by John Pardington offer a glimpse into the mind and soul of a man in the midst of a terrible situation and how he copes with it, how it defines him, shapes him, and how he continues to triumph over adversity.

After reading several pages I already felt like I was becoming familiar with the people "back home" that this soldier wrote about 140 years ago. I began to feel the pain of his separation from his wife and daughter, the pain of every aching joint and privation he endured. The more I opened up to John Pardington and the realities of his life at war, the more psychologically invested I became --and the more I read. Knowing the inevitable outcome made some letters particularly poignant. And painful. Often, I found the book emotionally overwhelming and put it down, reflecting. Sometimes I re-read passages with a fresh insight --from John's point of view. It isn't too much to say the book is, at turns and by its nature, not only a body blow but also eye-opening. Reading firsthand accounts of how soldiers of the Iron Brigade's 24th Michigan Infantry lived and died day by day in 1862-63 can leave one feeling "beat" inside, symptomatic of the tremendous impact the reality of John Pardington's life.

I think Ms. Lassen has really done an excellent job editing John's letters. One would think any student of history (or humanity) would want to read this book because John's words are universal. He was a Union soldier of the American Civil War, but his triumphs and failures, needs and wants, yearnings and hopes, etc., are an insight into the psyche of men away at war of all times. Her triumph is bringing John's words to the modern reader and to posterity. If one wanted to know how a soldier might be feeling or what he/she might be thinking, from Marathon to the Persian Gulf, one can find the essence of the human spirit, a soldier's dilemma, distilled and evolving in the letters of John Pardington.

John Pardington's human face on a large historical event; his evident love and longing; his deeply human and often tender observations made me again wonder why there must be conflict, wars that kill far too many John Pardingtons and leave the world a poorer place. Is there such a thing as a tragic triumph? If so, John Pardington's triumph in expressing himself, in his very being, is all the more tragic because of his death at Gettysburg. He probably never imagined his words would one-day reach out across the years to so many people. He would probably be surprised. Rather than flustered or embarrassed to have his innermost thoughts laid bare, I like to think he would ultimately see how his own life matters today, and always.

Customer Reviews:

A comprehensive look at the 19th!.......2003-05-03

It is difficult finding books that cover single regiments with solid information that only pertains to the unit itself sometimes. Author Craig Dunn has put together a very comprehensive book that covers the birth of the 19th Indiana to final muster in 1865. I liked the fact that Dunn didn't dwell on only officers but brought the private soldier to life as short biographies and the details of their involvement were written about. Dunn covers early exhaustive marches, campaigns, camp life, politics and explains the many personalities within the 19th. Dunn backs his material up well with references and also many statistics are added that enhance this book tremendously. This book serves as a great resource tool in learning about the hard fighting 19th and I recommend it to many interested in learning about the tough regiment of the famous Iron Brigade.

The Best Nineteenth Indiana Book.......2001-02-16

What a great book on the Nineteenth Indiana Volunteers of the Iron Brigade. The book was maticulously researched and documented. The best part about the book was that the documentation did not detract from the enjoyable reading. The pictures and roster were very helpful. I have personally read over 200 Civil War regimental histories and this one was my favorite. I have read two other books on the Nineteenth Indiana and found them to be lacking in documentation and in ease of reading. This book is the best.

A great read about a hard fighting unit.......2000-03-26

I've had this book for about 5 yrs. and just got around to reading it. Dunn's book is very readable and informative, he blends fact with a strong human element. I look forward to more of his work

Thoroughly Enjoyable Reading.......1999-12-14

This book was simply a pleasure to read. While it was well documented, the documentation did not grind the book to a halt. I would consider this more as an anecdotal history rather than a military history. The author puts a human face on a serious topic. I have now read all of the books in print on the Iron Brigade and the Nineteenth Indiana Volunteers and this one is the best.

Best History of the 19th Indiana.......1999-12-10

As an ardent student of history I found this book to be wonderfully documented and accurate. I have read all of the books about the 19th Indiana and the Iron Brigade and found this one to be the best by far. I was so intrigued with the book that I visited the critical archives and libraries cited in Mr. Dunn's book to verify their accuracy. Each entry which I checked was quoted exactly as I found them. I have heard through some Civil War circles that there has been an attempt to impugn this book in an attempt to increase sales of the other 19th Indiana books. If so, this is sad. I have recommended this book to all of my friends.

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