African American Soldier in the American Civil War: USCT 1862-66 (Warrior) [Paperback]

Mark Lardas (Author), Peter Dennis (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Warrior | Publication Date: December 26, 2006

Osprey's study of African Americans who participated in the American Civil War (1861-1865). Approximately 200,000 African Americans fought for the Union during the Civil War. Initially, many white soldiers doubted their bravery and skill; they were soon proved wrong.

The Civil War battlefields bore witness to countless acts of courage from the United States Colored Troops, most famously the battle of Fort Wagner where the 54th Massachusetts marched forth and scaled the parapets, only to be driven back in fierce hand-to-hand combat, and the battle of Honey Springs where lines of African American troops advanced regardless of deadly enemy fire and succeeded in repelling the Confederates. African Americans were even conscripted into the Confederate Army towards the war's end to plug the damaging shortages of manpower.
African American troops comprised 10 percent of the Union Army and approximately one-third of those men lost their lives on the field of battle.

Through fascinating first-hand accounts, this title examines the journey of the African American from slave to soldier to free man, ultimately providing a fascinating insight into the impact that these brave men had on the war and how it influenced their lives thereafter.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This brief study examines the USCT experience, from recruiting and training to camp life and the troops’ performance in battle. The presentation is largely in the form of the troops’ own words, in the form of extracts from their memoirs and oral histories, many of which are from the “Slave Narratives” collected by the Federal Writers’ Project in the 1930s...For those interested in pursuing the topic, there is a helpful list of further reading and a summary of museum and web site resources." -Doug C. Bister, Military Trader Magazine

"This excellent new military history is a recommended pick for any specialty collection strong in in-depth coverage." -Library Bookwatch (July 2007)

About the Author

Mark Lardas holds a degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, but spent his early career at the Johnson Space Center doing Space Shuttle structural analysis, and space navigation. An amateur historian and a long-time ship modeller, Mark Lardas is currently working in League City, Texas. He has written extensively about modelling as well as naval, maritime, and military history. The author lives in Texas, USA.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing; First Edition edition (December 26, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1846030927
• ISBN-13: 978-1846030925
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 0.2 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #894,186 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars African American Soldier in the Civil War, May 27, 2009

By 

K. Murphy "Fortune favors the Bold" (The thriving metropolis of Masury, OH) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: African American Soldier in the American Civil War: USCT 1862-66 (Warrior) (Paperback)

Before starting my own review, I'd like to comment on a previous "reviewer's" comments on this book. He remarked that he refused to even open the book, on account of the fact that the title's designation of these soldiers as `African Americans' offended him. You cannot review a book if you've never read it! This brings to mind the old adage about not judging books by their cover - something Mr. Cagle has done here - to his own loss.

I found this book to be well-written and well-researched, describing the troops of the USCT at every level of their careers, from recruitment until the end of the war. Many of the colored troops were `contraband', slaves who had been captured or run away during campaigns against the South, though some were free Northern blacks who had enlisted - or even been forcibly conscripted - for service.

By 1865 ten percent of the Union's soldiers were of African descent, and these regiments found themselves in possession of some of the smartest uniforms and highest quality weapons in the Army. Their reputations were equally excellent - they were just as capable of acts of bravery and self-sacrifice as their white comrades, but were also more dutiful, compliant, and well-behaved in camp. Time that many troops of European descent spent making drunken nuisances of themselves Colored troops spent learning to read and listening to preachers.

Overall, this is a good resource on the African American soldiers of the US Army during the Civil War and its immediate aftermath - for those who can stand to look past the cover without being offended.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surveys the history of the U.S. Colored Troops who fought bravely during the war., April 9, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: African American Soldier in the American Civil War: USCT 1862-66 (Warrior) (Paperback)

Mark Lardas' AFRICAN AMERICAN SOLDIER IN THE CIVIL WAR surveys the history of the U.S. Colored Troops who fought bravely during the war. Chapters consider their transition from slave to warrior to free man and provide insights on how they fought the war, and their lives thereafter. Black and white drawings and photos throughout supplement details.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A brief Overview of the Topic, October 3, 2011

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Reviewer in Colorado - See all my reviews

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This review is from: African American Soldier in the American Civil War: USCT 1862-66 (Warrior) (Paperback)

This book provides a very brief overview of African Americans soldiers in the Civil War. I would probably be tempted to say it's more a pamphlet than a book (64 pages including index)--which may be the planned nature of the entire series (Warrior Series from Osprey Publishing). It provides a 30,000-foot view of the subject, only briefly descending to closer looks through individual quotes. It's brevity did not provide me added insight into the emotional experience of soldiers in their challenges, successes and tragedies, nor did I get added appreciation for profound changes in attitude the country experienced as it leaned more and more on African American soldiers.

The book might well serve young readers. It has a section of color illustrations that might appeal particularly to young people who are just beginning to learn about the Civil War. The book may also appeal to youthful students who are looking for facts for a school report.

Other options that give more detail and more insights into the emotions involved among African Americans and the nation as a whole include Dudley Taylor Cornish's classic "The Sable Arm," and Ira Berlin's books on the subject.