The Galvanized Yankees

by Dee Brown

Here is the fascinating and little-known story of the Galvanized Yankees, who stood watch over a nation that they had once sought to destroy. They were Confederate soldiers who were recruited from Union prison camps in the North to serve in the West. On the condition they would not be sent south to fight their former comrades, they exchanged gray for blue uniforms. From 1864 to 1866 six regiments of Galvanized Yankees fought Indians, escorted supply trains along the Oregon and Sante Fe trails, accompanied expeditions, guarded surveying parties for the Union Pacific Railroad, and manned lonely outposts on the frontier. Dee Brown, the author of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee , tells what happened to a lost legion, unhonored and unsung.

Genres: Civil War, History, American Civil War, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, American History, War

255 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

AKA: Dee Alexander Brown

Dorris Alexander “Dee” Brown (1908–2002) was a celebrated author of both fiction and nonfiction, whose classic study Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee is widely credited with exposing the systematic destruction of American Indian tribes to a world audience.

Brown was born in Louisiana and grew up in Arkansas. He worked as a reporter and a printer before enrolling at Arkansas State Teachers College, where he met his future wife, Sally Stroud. He later earned two degrees in library science, and worked as a librarian while beginning his career as a writer. He went on to research and write more than thirty books, often centered on frontier history or overlooked moments of the Civil War. Brown continued writing until his death in 2002.

Reviews

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Dee Brown so hard. This book is about Confederate POWs during the ACW, LOL, who volunteer for frontier duty chasing Indians, Mormons, and the mail in exchange for not dying in a Union prison camp. It's colorful and fascinating. Weird times and weirder people. This is the only book I ever stole from a library.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Galvanized Yankees were Confederate prisoners of war who joined the Union Army and went west to fight Indians. Brown mentioned them several times in Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee and this book, written in 1963, was the first book length examination of the Galvanized Yankees. There has not been much written since then so this remains the primary source of information. [return][return]The vast majority of former Confederates made up the 1st -6th U.S. Volunteer Regiments and Brown discusses the actions and activities of each in turn. He also explains how and why this happened. He then goes on to discuss other former Confederates who served in units outside of the USV regiments, the most notable being Henry Morgan Stanley, who served in the Confederate Army, the Union Army, and the Union Navy.[return][return]An interesting and well-documented book about a little known group. Recommended if you have an interest in the U.S. Civil War or the Indian Wars.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book looks at a remarkable group of men who history has all but forgotten. It certainly is a topic which bears further analysis as time goes on.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know Dee Brown most from his appearances on the History Channel's "The Real West", but this is the first book of his I've read. I have read a few history books on The Old West, most covering Billy the Kid. This book covers the little known "Galvanized Yankees" who were Confederate prisoners recruited from Northern Prisons for service on the Western frontier. I came across this story a few years ago from a brief mention in another book and was curious to learn more about these men. These men, who effectively switch sides during the War, had various reasons for doing so. This book details the service of the 6,000 men recruited in six regiments to replace regular units in the West.
Dee Brown follows the events of each westward trail and the forts occupied by various units of the United States Volunteers who manned those forts to protect wagon trains, the telegraph wire and the stagecoach lines. In this way he covers all six regiments in an organized manner that is easy to follow as the units are moved across the West from fort to fort.
The writing in this book is very good and Dee keeps the story moving at a good pace keeping the reader very interested without overloading the reader with details. While some stories are more interesting than others, the stories are very interesting. It is good to know that these men left behind enough writings to tell this often overlooked part of history.

[Talmadge Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dee Brown's history of Confederate POWs who took the oath of allegiance and joined Federal regiments policing the prairie in order to get out of prison. Predates Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by several years. One thing these regiments had to deal with was Cheyenne reaction to the horrendous Sand Creek Massacre, and it's possible that Brown's research of that event inspired his later and more well known book. Detailed look at men imprisoned at Camp Morton, Rock Island and other prison camps, and how they fared when shipped out west.

[Mark Singer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dee Brown relates the little-known story of Confederate prisoners during the American Civil War who switched sides and joined the "United States Volunteer Cavalry". In return for fighting for their former captives in campaigns against the Indians and Mormons, the "Galvanized Yankees" did not have to fight against the Confederacy.

[Michael Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book by a very readable author relating the adventures of a body of men sometimes regarded as turncoats by their comrades.
I would recommend reading this book as a prelude to Dee Browns more well known title, "The Fetterman Massacre"

[Dr. Steve Pollock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

Did not realize that some confederate and union prisoner-of-war soldiers served their captors. More confederates took advantage of this opportunity for release. The Indian wars of the mid 1860s largely were fought by confederates.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

During the American Civil War, many captured Confederate soldiers were offered a choice of rotting in a Union prisoner of war camp or entering the Union army to fight Indians on the Western frontier.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Bob Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lesser known chapter of Western History

As pointed out by the author of this book there is not much being written on this chapter of American History. However Dee Brown brings this chapter to life for the reader. If you are looking for a lot of glorious adventure stories then look to fiction because this book tells the story like it was very little glory just men serving their country on the frontier with the knowledge of it being a job that needed to be done. Although not a lot has been written the author has managed to find the papers of the men, who served at times under assumed names, and create an interesting story. If you are a history loved them this book will be enjoyable to read, however if you aren't a history loved then I would say skip this one and read something else.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Galvanized Blue and Grey

Till now I had never heard about the Galvanized Yankees (Confederate prisoners sent to the West to assist Union troops). Very interesting, and generally a good joint venture between North and South. In addition, many known and unknown period characters who fought for American expansion from the Mississippi to the Pacific coast. The ONLY bad part, was the unfortunate lack of coexistence between American Indians and frontier settlers. Of course, the Indians should have had attorneys to assure they wouldn't have been relegated to reservations! A VERY interesting story! Thank you!

[Dann Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second Brown book I've read. Galvanized Yankees moves at a slower pace than Bury My Heart mostly for the subject matter. Confederate soldiers pressed into service for the Union Army isn't wholly exciting as a topic. Where this book stands out is the descriptions of life as a prisoner then as a soldier in some very terrible places. The glimpses into life then serve well too fill out the whole picture of life as a soldier during the Second War for Independence. Brown's research is, as always, top notch. His skill at turning the static details into compelling narrative is why this book is such an important read.

[Al Lock · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, Dee Brown finds subjects of interest to write about. In this case, about POWs from the Confederacy who were enlisted in the service of the US Army in order to fight against the Indians in the west. It is an interesting story, with a wide variety of quality and problems that faced them. Also mentioned is the brief effort that the Confederates made to recruit from Union Soldiers held in POW camps in the South. The lack of a western frontier with Indian problems didn't give the Confederacy the place to employ such troops as the Union did in Utah and elsewhere in the west.

[Bob Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Galvanized Yankees.

Excellent reading of a period in United States history that many Americans only know about from TV.
I knew a little about Confederate Soldiers joining the Union Army, but I don't know much about them.
I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in U.S.history in the mid 1860s. Besides being an excellent read the book has an extensive bibliography and list of reference sources.

[Francis X DuFour · Rating 5 out of 5]

The little known saga of the imprisoned Confederate soldiers who, during the American Civil War, volunteered to join the US Army and fight on the western frontier. Giving these men an opportunity to exchange the horrors of the war’s POW camps for the danger of fighting native Americans attracted many prisoners. Though some took the opportunity to escape back to the Confederacy, most served bravely valiantly under the extreme conditions of the wild west. A fascinating book!

[Pegeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dee Brown’s history of Confederate POWs who volunteered to join the Union Army and head West to protect the Santa Fe trail and the mail routes to California , man the western forts such as Fort Bridger and Fort Laramie, fight the Sioux and Cheyenne and the Mormon’s and protect against a nascent invasion from Mexico by the Emperor Napoleon . Well- written exploration of the mostly forgotten part of the American Civil War out West.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brown still does an excellent job with history - quite fascinating. The Galvanized Yankees were Federal prisoners who were allowed to enlist in the Federal army to be assigned to fight the Indians in the West rather than having to fight their former compatriots in the East. Apparently it was a pretty successful venture.

[Debbie Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great research and interesting story, but sometimes I felt the story got bogged down in just following army units all over the place. It would have been a bit more reader friendly if it would have been possible to follow a few key individuals and feature them more than the units themselves. Thoroughly enjoyed the chapter on Henry Stanley.

[Doug Hohbein · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book since I live in the area where it takes place. I learned a little but mostly ended up wanting more, a lot more. Some stories had potential but just didn't seem to go anywhere. The book appeared to be merely repeating material found in research with no cohesive glue or connections to Galvanized Yankees.

[Mark Moxley-Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting summary of a lesser-known aspect of the Civil War. Focuses on individual units of Confederate prisoners sworn into the Union army, mainly for Indian fighting in the West. Many details and excerpts from diaries, etc. Well written and edited, with a good index. Also briefly mentions the occasional use of Union prisoners in Confederate forces.

[Lou Florio · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like history of the West and Indian Wars along with Civil War history, you might like this. The book primarily draws from primary sources and has many appropriate citations. The story is quite episodic, so don’t expect a flowing, narrative tale. The author throws in a short conversation of Galvanized Confederates as well.

[Samuel Steffen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dee Brown gives excellent accounts of confederate pows serving out west on behalf of the Union. Giving readers insight onto the complicated era the United States was in at the time regarding resolving the civil war and dealing with Native American resistance towards encroachment onto their lands. The US government agreed to recruit pows to deal with manpower shortages.

[Iain · Rating 4 out of 5]

By its nature Brown's account is a bit disjointed, but he manages to cover each of the regiments of "Galvanized Yankees" with anecdotes highlighting their uniqueness. A fantastic account for those interested in the Western Frontier during and immediately after the American Civil War.

[Tom Sells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting

Manpower was needed everywhere during the war between the states. The Union needed fighting men, in the north; in the south; in the west and on the seas. Leaders recognized the opportunity to activate proven warriors; even prisoners.

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had no idea about how POW confederate soldiers from the civil war were recruited to help tame the expanding western prairie. About 600 of them. A very interesting read about how the west was developed during the expansion years.

[Don Paske · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like 3 1/2 stars, but I'll round up. I had never heard of the Galvanized Yankees before, so most of it was interesting reading.

[Steve · Rating 1 out of 5]

BORING !!!

Indian fight, another indian fight....oh way...another indian fight. I stopped after a third of the way...could not finish.

[Sammy Duncan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting topic but it was rather dry at points. If you are a student of the US Civil War and the Indian Wars, this book is worth your time. This is not a good introductory book.

[Mark Luongo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boy, oh boy these guys did a lot of marching!