Upton’s Regulars: The 121st New York Infantry in the Civil War
Blue and gray regimental histories have been with us ever since the guns fell silent and have been a regular staple of Civil War historiography ever since. Many were slender, perhaps poorly written and mainly anecdotal in their study. Others are rigorously researched, well-written works that offer an in-depth analysis of the particular regiment to the reader. Salvatore Cilella’s history of the 121st New York Infantry, titled Upton’s Regulars: The 121st New York Infantry in the Civil War, most certainly belongs in the latter category. At almost 600 pages, it is a veritable tour de force of lucid prose and primary source research that raises the bar significantly for future regimental histories. Such works are not produced overnight and, in this case, the author certainly took his time in crafting his work. He writes that its genesis dates back to 1971 when he completed a graduate thesis pertaining to the 121st New York. In 1996, a new edition of the regiment’s original 1921 history by Isaac Best rekindled the author’s interest. That, in turn, ultimately led Cilella in 2001 to start the heavy lifting that resulted in this book nine years later. Along the way, the author mined the letters and diaries of over 120 of the regiment’s members in order to tell their tale. And what a story it is. It begins in July 1862 when the new unit’s recruitment began in Herkimer and Otsego counties from upstate New York. For almost the next three years and in 25 officially recognized engagements from Crampton’s Gap through Appomattox, this Sixth Corps regiment was everywhere the Army of the Potomac went. As would be expected, the author presents ample tactical descriptions of the regiment’s military movements and also provides a seldom seen glimpse into the regimental politics both at home and in the field that ultimately shaped the 121st New York. Considerable biographical space is also devoted to the three colonels who commanded the 121st at one time or another. Leading the way was Republican Congressman-turned-soldier Richard Franchot, whose ability to recruit and raise the regiment was unquestioned, but also a man whose military abilities were next to nil. His resignation after only one month in the field in September 1862 led to West Point-trained Emory Upton taking over in October and his leadership would ultimately give the 121st a reputation that was second to none. When Upton advanced to brigade command, Egbert Olcott, another combat veteran, took the helm and led the regiment through the end of the war. The book not only tells the tale of the regiment’s service during the Civil War, but also considerably explores its veterans’ postwar activities. Another 80 pages of narrative delve into how the 121st’s reunion association came about and its activities in the decades following the war. As Cilella explains, these men knew they were engaged in a second battle, one that was shaping the “history” and memory of the war both with battlefield monuments and in ink. More than three dozen illustrations consisting of veterans’ portraits and period drawings round out the text. One minor critique is that other than two 1860s maps of Otsego and Herkimer counties, there are no maps to help the reader understand the regiment’s movements. In spite of that small disappointment, this is a first-rate work that should appeal to anyone with an interest in regimentals in general and New York units in particular. Highly recommended. Reviewer: Paul Taylor Paul Taylor is the author of five books on the American Civil War. Visit his Web site at www.paulrtaylor.com.
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Illustrated, bibliography, index, hardcover, 592 pp., 2009. University Press of Kansas, 2502 Westbrooke Circle, Lawrence, Ks, 66045,