African American Soldiers in the Civil War, USCT 1862-1866 Irish-American Units in the Civil War
Notes, selected bibliographies, indexes, softcover, 64 & 48 pp. respectively, 2006 & 2008. Osprey Publishing Ltd., c/o Random House Distribution Center, 400 Hahn Rd., Westminster, MD 21157, $17.95 each. Two books from Osprey Publishing Ltd. that deal with specific ethnic groups that participated in the strife of the Civil War have come to this reviewer for evaluation. One deals with African American soldiers, the other with Irish-American soldiers and units in the conflict. Both are what I would call primers on the subjects. Enough information is given to tell the general history of the groups and some elucidation on their activities, yet these volumes are not full-fledged, in-depth coverage of either group. For the general reader on the subject of specific ethnic groups these will certainly suffice to give a basic knowledge and perhaps whet the appetite for further reading. Although each volume follows its own modus operandi of structural layout, both start with a short Preface of background history and the groups’ introduction to the American scene. Their contributions to the overall Civil War panorama are interjected within the texts, showing the reader that both groups had more than a passing influence on the outcome of the war for a number of reasons. The text for the African American volume follows basically a chronological format from the soldier’s enlistment and training through life in camp and on campaign, belief and belonging and the soldier in battle. A chapter also deals with the African American soldier’s appearance — his uniforms, equipment and ordnance (firearms and various pieces of artillery). Eight color pages depict uniforms and accoutrements and several illustrations of battles in which the African American soldier fought, viz. “Capture of Overton’s Hill,” “The Battle of Honey Springs” and “The Fort Pillow Massacre.” Three other color illustrations are titled “Training Vignettes,” “Introduction to One’s Kit,” and “Life in the USCT”—a camp scene. All of the color artwork is well done. The illustrator is a master of his craft. The black and white photographs and engravings taken from newspapers or old book illustrations are mostly not new to the average reader of Civil War literature but do enhance the text. Anecdotes, some of first-person accounts, help enliven the text and make the whole an enjoyable read. You can make this book of 60 pages of text a one-evening’s study. One subject given only scant attention is African American participation in Southern war effort. Yes, there were black Confederate soldiers and thousands of other blacks who were used in labor capacities, as teamsters, aides to their masters, and the like. The Irish-American volume has a different thrust. Much of this volume is devoted to specific Irish units, both North and South, and their uniforms. The color illustrations are all of individual figures in uniform, several antebellum, where specific uniform information was available, and a goodly number of distinctive uniform types for units during the war. Eleven Northern states having Irish units (some wearing distinctive uniforms) are discussed chronologically, from Connecticut to Wisconsin. Individual regiments and their participation in the war are covered in several paragraphs for each state. Interestingly, 11 Southern states are also chronicled, from Alabama to Virginia, again each state having a short overview of its Irish units. A discussion of various uniforms, when that specific information was found, is offered for the Confederate contingents as well. A final chapter on the Irish-American units deals with the ebbing morale of the Irish soldiers following the bloody battles of Antietam and Fredericksburg. Their use as “cannon fodder” was questioned. Also the Emancipation Proclamation soured the Irish in the North, many of whom were unskilled laborers who saw free African Americans as competition for jobs following the war. The Irish soldiers’ last hurrah came to a quick and bloodied end when the Fenian Brotherhood, never a large organization, had in mind invading Canada. The few small incursions in 1866 were quickly overcome by British regular and Canadian militia battalions that had been warned of the proposed invasion by the very visible gathering of Fenians at Buffalo, N.Y. The price is “right” and both are good starts for further reading on the subject of ethnic groups in the Civil War. I can justly recommend both volumes to the readers and especially to young folks who are just getting started on their voyage with the Civil War. Mine is now 57 years going and I don’t see any stopping of the rewarding adventure. 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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