The Confederate Army, 1861-1865, Volumes 5 & 6.
Bibliography, index, softcover 48 pp. each, 2007 & 2008. Osprey Publishing Ltd., 443 Park Ave. South, New York, NY 10016, $15.95 and $17.95 plus shipping. Two more volumes have been added to the Osprey Men-at-Arms series focusing on the Confederate Army, 1861-1865. Volumes 5 and 6 cover the uniforms worn by units from Tennessee and North Carolina (Volume 5) and Missouri, Kentucky and Maryland (Volume 6). The format follows that in the previous issues of the series, Volumes 1-4, in the way the text presents the material and in the well-executed color plates. Though not in any way an in-depth study of any of the Confederate States and how their military personnel were uniformed or clothed, these volumes add to our knowledge of what the Confederate soldier wore and, in many cases, the prewar and militia (uniformed volunteers) as well. Taken state by state, using what materials have been found from many printed sources, photographs and actual garments, the volumes give a word-picture for the reader’s perusal. A background of the prewar militia organization of each state and its principle prewar uniformed units leads to their Confederate service. Many of the units went to war wearing their handsome and colorful attire. A discussion follows of the units that were formed as volunteers in each state seceded. How they were uniformed and who supplied them with all of the trappings of headgear, coats or jackets, trousers, accoutrements and weapons offers the Civil War buff much elusive information heretofore not readily available to the average reader. In many cases neither the Confederate central government nor the states were able to supply the needs of the influx of volunteers. Individual tailors, ladies aid societies and private military regalia suppliers often were the sources for the early war units to gain a modicum of soldierly appearance and arms, even if what was worn or carried as a weapon was not serviceable for a campaign. The volumes’ extensive use of soldier photographs helps to embellish and elucidate the text. Each photo is clear in presentation and the whole throughout illustrates just how varied the Southern soldier’s clothing was. One slight drawback to the text is the author’s presumption as to color of a certain garment or its trim when there is no factual collaboration extant. There is still very much to be studied and researched when it comes to the cut, color and trim of the uniforms and clothing worn during our late unpleasantness by the Confederate soldier. The color plates, each containing eight pages, usually with three figures per plate, are very well executed and are the crème de la crème of the volumes. The artist shows his skill in presenting the color renditions of Confederate soldiers in uniform. For the uniform buff, reenactor and miniature figure painter the colors prints are a real delight. They are worth the price of the books in and of themselves. I can definitely recommend these two volumes (as I have the other two I have reviewed previously) of the Confederate Army series. They are excellent supplements to Frederick P. Todd’s seminal volumes, American Military Equipage, 1851-1872. You need to add the Confederate Army series published by Osprey to your Civil War uniforms files. Reviewer: Michael J. Winey, who has a BS in history and MS in history museum training, was a curator for more than 25 years and is retired from the U.S. Army Military History Institute in Carlisle, Pa.
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