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Advance
the Colors! Pennsylvania Civil War Battle Flags
By
Richard A. Sauers
Civil War
battle flags symbolized the heart and soul of
regiments and were defended at a terrible cost in
flesh and blood. The inspirational "Advance the
Colors!" issued by a battlefield commander would
often spur a faltering charge. In spite of these
flags' significance, most state collections have
been inaccessible to researchers. However, in a
program that has gained worldwide attention, the
Capitol Preservation Committee has documented
Pennsylvania's battle flags in two colorful volumes
that also provide valuable historical background on
the regiments. The books present color photos of
Pennsylvania battle flags, regiment by regiment,
along with a brief history of each unit's service
in the war. It also includes a background of the
Pennsylvania flags and how they were procured, plus
a history of United States Colored Troops from
Pennsylvania. Maps outline the theaters of
operations of Pennsylvania troops, and appendices
list the composition of all regiments. Historic
black and white photos of soldiers appear
throughout. On
amazon.com
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Confederates
in the Attic
By
Tony Horwitz
Pulitzer
Prize-winning journalist Tony Horwitz returned from
years of traipsing through war zones as a foreign
correspondent only to find that his childhood
obsession with the Civil War had caught up with
him. Near his house in Virginia, he happened to
encounter people who reenact the Civil War--men who
dress up in period costumes and live as Johnny Rebs
and Billy Yanks. Intrigued, he wound up having some
odd adventures with the "hardcores," the fellows
who try to immerse themselves in the war, hoping to
get what they lovingly term a "period rush."
Horwitz spent two years reporting on why Americans
are still so obsessed with the war, and the ways in
which it resonates today. In the course of his
work, he made a sobering side trip to cover a
murder that was provoked by the display of the
Confederate flag, and he spoke to a number of
people seeking to honor their ancestors who fought
for the Confederacy. Horwitz has a flair for odd
details that spark insights, and Confederates in
the Attic is a thoughtful and entertaining book
that does much to explain America's continuing
obsession with the Civil War. It's a good laugh.
On
amazon.com
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Echoes
of Glory Series
This boxed
set of three books is a must have for the
reenactor. Two of the books, Arms and Equipment
of the Union and Arms and Equipment of the
Confederacy, are packed with full color
pictures of original uniforms, equipment, and
weapons. The third book, Illustrated Atlas of
the Civil War, is a comprehensive guide to most
of the major battles of the war, including maps and
full accounts of the events. These are great
reference books since it makes photos of original
items are right on the bookshelf. These books are
commonly referred to by other reenactors who study
details in uniforms and equipment.
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Hardtack
and Coffee: the Unwritten Story of Army Life
By
John D. Billings
Hardtack
and Coffee is a humorous account of a soldier's
life during the Civil War, as told by a veteran of
the Union Army of the Potomac. The author expounds
on the most interesting topics NOT usually found in
history books - clothing and shelter, the many
aspects of life in camp and on the march, offenses
and punishments, and how the soldiers dealt with
such adversities as body lice and army food. Though
originally published in 1888, Hardtack and
Coffee has lost nothing of its original charm.
John Billings' keen eye, his sparkling, fresh style
and seemingly unlimited supply of fascinating Civil
War anecdotes made Hardtack and Coffee an instant
bestseller in 1888. This is The Bible of Civil War
reenacting. On
amazon.com
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The
Life of Billy Yank: The Common Soldier of the
Union
By
Bell Irvin Wiley
Through
excerpted letters, diary entries, newspaper
accounts, and official records, Wiley offers the
reader a complete portrait of the ordinary foot
soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War.
On
amazon.com
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Sealed
with Their Lives: The Battle for Crampton's
Gap
By
Timothy Reese
Three days
before the Battle of Antietam in September, 1862, a
small series of battles proceeded on nearby South
Mountain. Of the three individual fights was
Crampton's Gap, and this is what Reese's
comprehensive book is all about. The book is
masterfully written and includes diary excerpt
describing the battle as well as battle maps which
are detailed down to the company level. Crampton's
Gap was perhaps the worst battle for the 96th
Pennsylvania, and Sealed with Their Lives
does an excellent job of covering all the ground in
every aspect of the battle. This book is a must
read for any 96er for its incredibly clear
description of the Battle for Crampton's Gap.
On
amazon.com
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