The Fighting Men of the Civil War

by William C. Davis, Russ A. Pritchard (Technical Editor)

A must for any Civil War library. The sweeping histories of the War Between the States often overlook the men in whose blood that history was written. This account goes a long way toward redressing the balance in favor of the men in the ranks. The reader follows the soldiers from enlistment and training to campaigning. Attention is also given to oft-forgotten groups such as the sailors and black troops. No effort has been spared to include rare war era photographs and color photos of rare artifacts. Engagingly written by William C. Davis, the author of more than thirty books on the American Civil War. Writes professor James M. McPherson, "The most readable, authoritative, and beautifully designed illustrated history of the American Civil War." Also in the series: Battlefields and Commanders.

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

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Currently professor of history at Virginia Tech, William C. Davis has written over fifty books, most about the American Civil War. He has won the Jefferson Davis Prize for southern history three times, the Jules F. Landry Award for Southern history once, and has been twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.

For several years, he was the editor of the magazine Civil War Times Illustrated. He has also served as a consultant on the A&E television series Civil War Journal.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Steven "Steve" · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing documentation of the lives of Johnny Reb and Billy Yank during the Civil War. A thorough exploration of pictures, letters, weapons, and uniforms, with quotations from letters in their original language and grammar. A must-read for any student.

[Rowan Ashton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic illustrations, good content, panoramic view of the conflict from many angles

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a gift from my parents when I was a boy. In purchasing the book I am sure my parents thought I would enjoy the photographs and illustrations that fill its pages. My parents could not have been more right. I have acquired many books about the military and the American Civil War since my parents gave me Rebels and Yankees, however, few have conveyed the ins and outs, the minutiae of nineteenth century warfare so well.

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is part of the Rebels and Yankees Series published by Salamander in the early 1990's. As a series the books served as wonderful primers on the American Civil War. The added bonus for me was prints of various units.

[Victor Orozco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book. Full of full-color as well as black and white pictures of Civil War Memorabilia as well as beautiful drawings of the uniforms and soldiers who fought in the Civil War. B+.

[Chad Lamb · Rating 2 out of 5]

More dull pictures of uniforms, weapons, etc. This just isn't my interest, I guess.