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The Bucktail Brothers of the Fighting 149th
Lieutenant Colonel Walton Dwight inherited the difficult task of whipping the green 149th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry into battle shape before the summer campaign of 1863. Through brutal drilling, he instilled in his raw Bucktails the discipline to withstand the horrors of the first day's action at bloody Gettysburg. Fearing Dwight more than the Rebels, the 149th held their ground despite relentless artillery cross fire and Confederate charges that decimated them for over two hours.
Among the ranks of Dwight's regiment were Henry and Willie Cole, farm boys who had as much to learn about being men as they did about being soldiers. Henry was too cocky for his own good, while his younger brother lacked assertiveness. Two dogged charges to the railroad cut near McPherson's farm changed all that as their comrades fell dead and wounded around them. Gettysburg was not only the crowning moment for the Fighting 149th. It also brought to age a contingent of brave lads who endured the lethal rain of bullets and canister to write a new chapter in the glorious history of the Pennsylvania Bucktails.
Among the ranks of Dwight's regiment were Henry and Willie Cole, farm boys who had as much to learn about being men as they did about being soldiers. Henry was too cocky for his own good, while his younger brother lacked assertiveness. Two dogged charges to the railroad cut near McPherson's farm changed all that as their comrades fell dead and wounded around them. Gettysburg was not only the crowning moment for the Fighting 149th. It also brought to age a contingent of brave lads who endured the lethal rain of bullets and canister to write a new chapter in the glorious history of the Pennsylvania Bucktails.
212 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 10, 2012
originally appeared on:Bookshelf Confessions
Even if I hadn’t read the other series, I already know , they were all good.
Among the ranks of Dwight's regiment were Henry and Willie Cole, farm boys who had as much to learn about being men as they did about being soldiers. Henry was too cocky for his own good, while his younger brother lacked assertiveness. Two dogged charges to the railroad cut near McPherson's farm changed all that as their comrades fell dead and wounded around them. Gettysburg was not only the crowning moment for the Fighting 149th. It also brought to age a contingent of brave lads who endured the lethal rain of bullets and canister to write a new chapter in the glorious history of the Pennsylvania Bucktails.
The story is readable and well-described. Life at the time of war are presented. The author proved to be skilled in this genre, transporting readers to a time, where the story exist.
Using pictures serves not only as an ice-breaker, but it also provides information and another sight on the book.
Using also the younger generation as the center of the story pulls a great impact to the younger generation. It enables them to connect to what the characters are really feeling at that time, how one feels under the pressure of life and death, and to grow and become a true person in the middle of a Civil War.
The book is more like an educational tool than entertainment, but they were both. I’m being informed and at the same time, I enjoyed reading.
This is an easy way to educate people about America’s history not by giving long and tedious lectures, but by letting them read a book/series/novel that would entertain them and keep them reading.
I recommend this to all historians or should I say educators out there. Since using this tool to teach kids would be enjoyable. And to teenagers too, who want to virtually experience the Civil War.
Even if I hadn’t read the other series, I already know , they were all good.
Among the ranks of Dwight's regiment were Henry and Willie Cole, farm boys who had as much to learn about being men as they did about being soldiers. Henry was too cocky for his own good, while his younger brother lacked assertiveness. Two dogged charges to the railroad cut near McPherson's farm changed all that as their comrades fell dead and wounded around them. Gettysburg was not only the crowning moment for the Fighting 149th. It also brought to age a contingent of brave lads who endured the lethal rain of bullets and canister to write a new chapter in the glorious history of the Pennsylvania Bucktails.
The story is readable and well-described. Life at the time of war are presented. The author proved to be skilled in this genre, transporting readers to a time, where the story exist.
Using pictures serves not only as an ice-breaker, but it also provides information and another sight on the book.
Using also the younger generation as the center of the story pulls a great impact to the younger generation. It enables them to connect to what the characters are really feeling at that time, how one feels under the pressure of life and death, and to grow and become a true person in the middle of a Civil War.
The book is more like an educational tool than entertainment, but they were both. I’m being informed and at the same time, I enjoyed reading.
This is an easy way to educate people about America’s history not by giving long and tedious lectures, but by letting them read a book/series/novel that would entertain them and keep them reading.
I recommend this to all historians or should I say educators out there. Since using this tool to teach kids would be enjoyable. And to teenagers too, who want to virtually experience the Civil War.
February 14, 2016
Times were hard on families during the Civil War years. In The Bucktail Brothers of the Fighting 149th, the Cole family’s barn burns down to the ground. Money is tight and they don't know where they are going to get the money to rebuild the barn, until their sons Henry and Willie Cole decide to join the 149th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry lead by Lieutenant Colonel Walton Dwight. Their mother is distraught at the thought of her two teenage sons going off to war. Their father felt that way at first but the $100 cash for the boys joining would help raise a new barn and keep the farm going for awhile.
Henry and Willie say goodbye to their parents and head off with their infantry. They quickly learn the ways of being a solider, even though Henry is a little cocky at times and Willie is stubborn. The two brothers become part of the Pennsylvania Bucktails that fought on the fields of Gettysburg. Their fellow soldiers fell dead and others are wounded, but with great courage the boys fought forward.
I love anything about the Civil War and reading book one in The Bucktail series was a wonderful treat for me. The book is aimed for middle graders and young adults, but adults can enjoy the historical accuracy of it. I felt for Henry and Willie as they are far too young to be in the middle of a battlefield. The majority of the photos throughout the book are of real Civil War reenactor, which gives you an idea of how people dressed during the Civil War. This is a wonderful book for kids to read and it should be a mandatory to read in school classes that are studying the Civil War. Kids will be instantly interested in the Cole brothers because they are about the same age. I recommend The Bucktail Brothers of the Fighting 149th to all readers.
Henry and Willie say goodbye to their parents and head off with their infantry. They quickly learn the ways of being a solider, even though Henry is a little cocky at times and Willie is stubborn. The two brothers become part of the Pennsylvania Bucktails that fought on the fields of Gettysburg. Their fellow soldiers fell dead and others are wounded, but with great courage the boys fought forward.
I love anything about the Civil War and reading book one in The Bucktail series was a wonderful treat for me. The book is aimed for middle graders and young adults, but adults can enjoy the historical accuracy of it. I felt for Henry and Willie as they are far too young to be in the middle of a battlefield. The majority of the photos throughout the book are of real Civil War reenactor, which gives you an idea of how people dressed during the Civil War. This is a wonderful book for kids to read and it should be a mandatory to read in school classes that are studying the Civil War. Kids will be instantly interested in the Cole brothers because they are about the same age. I recommend The Bucktail Brothers of the Fighting 149th to all readers.
October 23, 2011
I won this book thru Library Thing and it was a very quick read. It follows two fictional characters who are brothers, Henry and Willie Cole. I really did like the writing style of this author and felt like I was there along with the characters seeing and experiencing what they were doing. I have never read any books by this author before and I was really impressed by it. This book was fiction, but based upon actual events that took place at Gettysburg. I highly recommend this one to all history buffs.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews