The Confederate Army 1861-65 (4): Virginia & Arkansas (Men-at-Arms) (v. 4) (Paperback)

by Ron Field (Author), Richard Hook (Illustrator)
Key Phrases: blue seam stripes, plastron front, cap pouch, Arkansas Infantry, Virginia Infantry, Turner Collection (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"What you will find in these pages are superb descriptions of these units/dress along with some unique photographs taken of some of the soldiers in their uniforms. This is further enhanced by the outstanding illustrations of Richard Hook which add some real color to these old greyscale images from the distant past. A book that rightly belongs on the shelf at any US Civil War enthusiast and one that provides a bit more insight into what is called the first modern war. Highly recommended." -Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com

Product Description
Despite modern perceptions of the overwhelming image of Confederate soldiers dressed in their classic battledress gray, the Southern states of the Confederacy fielded many units of volunteer troops wearing a remarkably wide variety of uniforms, often reflecting foreign influences. In a spirit of independence many states also issued their own uniform regulations on the outbreak of the War Between the States; and these non-standard uniforms were often retained until well into the course of the war. The regulation patterns centrally prescribed by the Confederate Army were only ever followed unevenly, and state quartermasters continued to issue uniforms showing regional and state differences. This fourth of a series of six titles studies the archival and pictorial evidence for the infantry, cavalry and artillery of Virginia - the heart of the Confederacy and its richest, most populous and militarily strongest state; and of Arkansas, which despite its much smaller population, fielded several interesting units. The expert text, which draws extensively on contemporary documents, is illustrated largely with fascinating early photographic portraits showing the haunting faces of the young soldiers caught up in the horror of war and classic color artwork recreations of their uniforms.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (October 31, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1846030323
• ISBN-13: 978-1846030321
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #955,081 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another high quality effort from Osprey, November 5, 2007

By	Scott Mingus "Scott L. Mingus, Sr." (York County, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Confederate Army 1861-65 (5): Tennessee & North Carolina (Men-at-Arms) (v. 5) (Paperback)

Osprey Publishing has issued Volume 5 of their popular book, The Confederate Army 1861-65. A part of their sprawling Men-at-Arms series (this is book #441 in that series), this one covers the uniforms and arms of troops from Tennessee and North Carolina. Written by Ron Field and lavishly illustrated with Richard Hook's watercolors, this book is a worthy addition to the Osprey family. Retailing for $15.95 here in the USA ($21 in Canada), the book has 48 pages, nearly all of them with period photographs or full color drawings.

The new book focuses on each state's antebellum militia and the hastily organized volunteer regiments that were pressed into Confederate service in the initial stages of the war. Using contemporary newspaper accounts, letters, state and local records, and early photographs, Ron Field presents an extensive array of early war military units, their uniforms and accoutrements, drawing heavily upon primary descriptions. He also takes a cursory, but interesting look at how the transition occurred from locally supplied clothing and equipment (which often varied widely from company to company) to state-issued regulation Confederate uniforms, particularly in North Carolina, where, by the end of the war, the term "ragged Rebel" would be made obsolete from the vast stores of supplies held by the state.



Field starts with Tennessee, looking at the outfitting of the militia and early volunteers in 1861, and examines the role various ladies aid societies played in clothing the soldiers of the Volunteer State. He then discusses the role of the state's Military and Financial Board in taking over the administration and logistics of supplying the troops. Field then shifts his focus to North Carolina, again discussing and characterizing the antebellum militia and contrasting them to how the state later took charge and made its forces appear more uniform in appearance. He also briefly compares winter clothing to summer issue for troops from both states.



The book includes a select bibliography for readers wanting to dive a little deeper into the outfitting of Confederate troops from Tennessee and North Carolina. The index is comprehensive, as is the discussion that accompanies the Richard Hook's illustrations. All in all, The Confederate Army 1861-85 (5) Tennessee and North Carolina (ISBN: 9781846031878) maintains the tradition of excellence we have come to expect from Osprey, and is well worth the modest investment.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Confederate Army, February 9, 2008

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

This review is from: The Confederate Army 1861-65 (1): South Carolina & Mississippi (Men-at-Arms) (Paperback)

This is a most worthy men-at-arms series; like the book's description says, it shows the much more colorful side to the uniforms of the Confederate Army. One man depicted in the color plates for Volume One that I found particularly interesting was a soldier in the Union Light Infantry, a SC unit based on the British Black Watch (42nd Royal Highlanders).
The plates are pretty much the highlight of this series, and show realistic looking soldiers surrounded by beautiful women and scenery, and baring all their various weapons. The text, nonetheless, reveals numerous interesting details. This is an excellent source on the uniforms and appearances of the soldiers of the Confederacy.