Confederate Artilleryman 1861-65 (Warrior) [Paperback]

Philip Katcher (Author), Bill Younghusband (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Warrior | Publication Date: August 25, 2001

In the heady days of the rush to arms in 1861, comparatively few Southern men volunteered for service in the artillery: most preferred the easily accessible glory of the infantry or cavalry. Yet those that did, quickly earned the respect of their fellow soldiers, and a reputation for being able to "pull through deeper mud, ford deeper springs, shoot faster, swear louder ... than any other class of men in the service" during the American Civil War (1861-1865). Given that field artillery was invariably deployed in front of the troops that it was supporting, the artillerymen were exposed to a high level of enemy fire, and losses were significant. This title guides the reader through the life and experiences of the Confederate cannoneer - where he came from; how he trained and lived; how he dressed, ate and was equipped; and how he fought.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Insights into the real lives of history's fighting men, packed with full colour illustrations, highly detailed cutaways, exploded artwork of weaponry and armour, and action-packed battle scenes.

About the Author

Philip Katcher lives and works in Pennsylvania, USA, and is a recognized expert on the history of American armed forces. Philip has written many titles in the Men-at-Arms series including the highly successful books on the armies and flags of the American Civil War. For the Osprey Warrior series, he has previously written the well-received Union Cavalryman 1861-65.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (August 25, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841763004
• ISBN-13: 978-1841763002
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,735,960 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Confederate Artilleryman, February 9, 2008

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: Confederate Artilleryman 1861-65 (Warrior) (Paperback)

This Warrior title from Osprey Publishing examines the training and combat experiences of the cannoneers of the Confederate Army for the entire duration of the Civil War. Early in the war, being an artilleryman was not considered very glamorous, and most recruits joined the infantry or especially the cavalry. The artillerymen would soon prove their worth, however, and would forge a reputation for valor and tenacity as much so as their comrades in the cavalry and infantry.

The book is divided into the following sections: enlistment, training, daily life, appearance, campaign life, and the artilleryman in battle. It is an absorbing read, as historical books should be; it discusses such varied topics as the artilleryman's spirituality, his relationship with women, and the nervous breakdowns he might suffer before a battle.

The color plates, usually considered the most useful part of an Osprey book (I agree with this claim with men-at-arms and elite titles, but beg to differ with some of the Warrior titles like this one), are up to the usual excellent standards in this volume. Six plates illustrate the men moving or operating the artillery, while two others show the uniforms of individual men, and the last two illustrate camp life and a battalion's winter headquarters.

This book is in short a good source on an essential yet somewhat overlooked type of soldier in the Civil War.