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Book Reviews These are some reviews from a recent issue of
The Civil War News:
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Shock Troops of the Confederacy: The Sharpshooter Battalions of the Army of Northern Virginia
Fred L. Ray
Illustrated, maps, appendix, endnotes, bibliography, index, 414 pp., 2005. CFS Press, 68 Finalee Ave., Asheville, NC 28803, $34.95 plus shipping.
Shock Troops of the Confederacy yields two very welcomed surprises. First, with the sheer number of books written about the Civil War, it is unusual to find a topic, especially about the Army of Northern Virginia, that is a new field of study. Second, normally self-published works tend to be synonymous with mediocrity. This volume is highly polished, well-researched, and it establishes a standard for small unit historiography. From the Keith Rocco print on the dust jacket to the final appendix, it is a marvelous piece of historical literature. While researching his family antecedents, Fred Ray discovered a great-grandfather, Lt. Jason O. Patton, who commanded a Confederate sharpshooter company. This discovery resulted in the writing of this book. Ray’s well-developed text follows the evolution of light infantry units from their inception during the 18th century. His work is divided into several parts focusing primarily on the use of sharpshooter units within the ranks of the Army of Northern Virginia. He traces the development of tactics based on the writings of future Confederate generals Henry Heth, Cadmus Wilcox and William Hardee to the practical application of these tactics on the battlefield under Robert Rodes, Eugene Blackford, John Gordon and others. Although the author examines the sharpshooter battalion concept from the beginning of the war, the finest section of his study is the account of the last year of the conflict, especially his detailed description and analysis of the small unit actions during the Petersburg Campaign. The chapters, and one appendix, dealing with the assault and counterattacks around Fort Stedman are particularly forceful. Detailed maps accompany each action described. The conclusion of the book is also of great importance. Ray provides an overview of weapons and uniforms and, albeit a study of Lee’s sharpshooters, the author presents a sketch and analysis of their Union counterparts and Confederate sharpshooter units in the Western Theater. He also follows the evolution of open order tactics and the use of sharpshooters during the Boer War and World War I. Finally, his three-part appendix, an evaluation of sharpshooter weapons, a listing of Confederate orders pertaining to the organization of sharpshooter units, and a detailing of unit organization during the Fort Stedman assault, greatly complement his text. Shock Troops of the Confederacy is highly recommended. It will long remain the seminal work of Confederate sharpshooter units in the Army of Northern Virginia, and it deserves to enter the realm of a classic study. Ray has made extensive use of unpublished first-hand accounts, especially the recently discovered writings of the Confederate innovator Eugene Blackford. In addition, the author draws upon numerous obscure Southern newspaper sources and over 30 manuscript collections. Ray displays a great command of his materials, along with an insightful knowledge of small unit tactics of the period. This book merits a place on the bookshelf of anyone interested in military history.
Michael Russert
Michael Russert, a member of the North Shore Round Table of Long Island and the Company of Military Historians, has a MALS plus 60 hours in American Studies. He is Coordinator of The New York State Veteran Oral History Program.
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