Unit Histories

[wsurugby10]

I'm looking to read a new unit history and I have no idea what to read. I'm from Ohio but don't have to read an Ohio Unit History. What are some good unit histories that you've read and suggest I look at? Thanks for your time and help


Dan Ketterman

[Rob Weaver]

Re: Unit Histories

One of the best unit histories to start with is John Pullen's classic "The 20th Maine." This is the book, first published in the late 1950s, started the modern period of regimental history writing. Pullen's book is distinguished by simple good writing. Alan Gaff's "On Many a Bloody Field: Four Years with the Iron Brigade" is an excellent treatment of the 19th Indiana, is meticulous but yet still full of human interest, quotes and photos.
One of the great traps of unit histories is that the writer falls in love with the unit and is no longer able to view it objectively anymore. Watch out for the histories which make it sound like that unit saved or lost the War all by itself. As interesting as they may be, the histories written by the veterans themselves are an acquired taste. Victorian prose is thick, to say the least, and sometimes these amateur historians emphasized things which have turned out to be less important over time. Sometimes, the writing is so bad that they're barely readable. (I'm thinking of the tome called "The History of the 24th Michigan.)
As you can see, my interests in the Iron Brigade are coloring this post. That'll happen as you develop an interest in certain units. I hope the first two I recommended will give you a good start.

[Dignann]

Re: Unit Histories

My personal favorite, which I highly recommend, is Warren Wilkinson's Mother May You Never See the Sights I've Seen: The Fifty Seventh Massachusetts Veteran Volunteers in the Last Year of the Civil War (New York: Harper Collins, 1990).

Of all the regimental histories that I've read, this is the only one that drew me in and really made me feel for the men being described. It also includes one of the most painstakingly researched roster I have ever seen in a regimental history.

Eric

[Charles Heath]

Re: Unit Histories

Dan,

A good way to pick and choose regimental histories is to look at the units selected for specific portrayal or the guiding impression for upcoming events. Even if you don't plan to attend those events, the books are usually worth reading. For example, the Fredericksburg event right around the corner suggests these two classic works:

History of the Eleventh New Jersey Volunteers by Thomas B. Marbaker, originally published in 1898, and reprinted in 199o.

One of Jackson's Foot Cavalry by John H. Worsham, and the copy I own is a 1982 reprint of the 1912 edition.

Neither of this works spend extensive time on that battle, but both are good background material, and the antics in the 11th NJVI winter camp will make you laugh out loud.

Let me pimp another book I really enjoyed. While not a regimental history, this work does contain some Ohio connections: Shenandoah Summer by Scott Patchan. I read about 2/3 of it last weekend, and it is a darned good look at the largely ignored 1864 Valley Campaign.

http://unp.unl.edu/bookinfo/5188.html

Enjoy some good reading this summer.

[reb290]

Re: Unit Histories

One of Jackson's Foot Cavalry by John H. Worsham, and the copy I own is a 1982 reprint of the 1912 edition.

That is a Great book to read.

[MarkTK36thIL]

Re: Unit Histories

If you'd like a western federal take on things, try the 36th Illinois Inf.'s unit history. Comes up cheap on Ebay, but the reprint does not have an index.

Easy read, and covers movements from Sept. of '61 in Aurora, Missouri and Pea Ridge, Perryville , Stone River , Tullahoma Campaign through Tenn., Chickamuaga, Seige of Chattanooga and Mission Ridge, Atlanta and Kennasaw Mountain, and Franklin. They didn't return until late of '65 and all of their actions were around key points of the battlefield.

Covers a lot of the AoC's movements and the authors' words aren't very biased.

The best day to day account I've read was "The Rough Side of War," which covers an officer in the 59th Illinois Inf. "It rained today, no blanket as the wagons have not been brought up." Definately makes you realize why they carried what they needed and learned how to be better soldiers as the war progressed.

[GrumpyDave]

Re: Unit Histories

"Under The Red Patch" 63rd Pa. It's on line and it's free for the reading.

http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/text-idx?c=pitttext;view=toc;idno=00hc08750m

[Texyank]

Re: Unit Histories

Great link Dave.

I will throw in two.

The Last Full Measure (1st Minnesota) Richard Moe is the author

Alan Nolan's "The Iron Brigade" is a pretty good history of the five regiments of the brigade, though it doesn't have much material following Gettysburg.

yer pard

[wsurugby10]

Re: Unit Histories

Has anyone read, From Huntsville to Appomattox: R. T. Coles's History of 4th Regiment, Alabama Volunteer Infantry, C.S.A., Army of Northern Virginia (Voices of the Civil War)? I hear it was written by the 4th's Adjutant so I'm sure he's a little bias.

Dan Ketterman

[Mark Susnis]

Re: Unit Histories

Dan,
If you are looking for specific unit info start with the U.S. Army's Military History Institute Civil War Unit Bibliographical List at this link:

http://www.ahco.army.mil/site/finding_aids_brief.jsp

A good source for reprinted regimentals as at Ward House books at

http://www.wardhousebooks.com

Regards,
Mark Susnis

[Gary of CA]

Re: Unit Histories

Another vote for Worsham. John Worsham's "One of Jackson's Foot Cavalry" is the book that got me hooked on Civil War literature.

I also enjoyed William Owen's book on the Washington Light Artillery.