Confederate Infantryman 1861-65 (Warrior) [Paperback]

Ian Drury (Author), Gerry Embleton (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Warrior | Publication Date: November 25, 1993

The American Civil War (1861-1865) was predominantly an infantryman's war. Artillery had improved substantially since 1815 and guns could inflict murderous losses if they had a clear field of fire. But most Civil War battlefields were characterised by sprawling forests and broken ground. Cavalry were important for reconnaissance, raiding and rearguard actions but there was little scope for sabre charges in the grand old manner when infantrymen armed with muzzle-loading rifles could face such tactics with confidence. Ultimately, the Confederacy's survival as a nation would largely depend on the fighting ability of its 642 infantry regiments.

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

Ian Drury, an experienced editor and military writer, has published a number of books and articles on aspects of military history as varied as the Russo-Turkish War, German WWI Stormtroopers and World War II on the Russian Front. He has made a particular study of the battle of Verdun over a number of years, one result of which has been his now legendary Verdun wargame Hommes Soupes.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (November 25, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1855324016
• ISBN-13: 978-1855324015
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 0.2 x 9.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,058,500 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Confederate Infantryman 1861-5, February 11, 2008

By 

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

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Confederate Infantryman 1861-65 (Trade Editions) (Paperback)

'Confederate Infantryman 1861-1865' is an invaluable look into the daily life, appearance, and battle experiences of the infantry of the American Confederacy for the entire duration of the American Civi War. The book can be obtained pretty cheap and is a relatively short read (a mere 64 pages) but provides an excellent foundation as well as information relevant for experienced students of the Civil War. Ian Drury, the author, is an experienced military historian knowledgeable of the 19th and 20th Centuries. G A Embleton needs no introduction as one of Osprey's first and best known illustrators.

The first part of the book is an introduction to the Civil War and the background and thoughts of the average infantryman early in the war. A brief chronology follows. Recruitment is the first topic dealt with, and is touched on only with relative brevity. Following this are a short section on equipment and more substantial ones on the appearance and clothing of the soldiers, and their weapons. This latter section contains a chart of the major manufacturing spots for Confederate rifles.

The next sections discussed are training and tactics. The latter one is particularly rewarding, discussing how the Confederate infantry faced all sorts of situations and enemies as both skirmishers and infantry of the line. The book then looks at several typical engagements and the morale and fighting spirit of the troops. The career of an infantryman-turned Major-General, Patrick ('Pat') Ronayne Cleburne is then looked at to illustrate the experiences of the infantry of all ranks. The final division of the book is on logistics, and ends with a sobering estimate of roughly how many of the Confederate infantrymen died during their careers.

Embleton's artwork is good as usual, though it suffers from his bizarre trait to show most of his characters smiling, even when in a situation in which real men would most likely be grumbling and cussing (such as marching to join the army, training, or retreating from a defeat). As with all good Civil War books, there are haunting photographs of many soldiers, both live and dead, throughout the book. Overall, this book is a fine source on the infantrymen of the South, and would be a must for reenactors, Civil War enthusiasts, and history teachers.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Excellent Reference Book!!, April 10, 2007

By 

Gregory J. Baumbach (Baldwinsville, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Confederate Infantryman 1861-65 (Warrior) (Paperback)

Osprey continues to provide some outstanding overview reference books on historic fighting men and battles, and this is probably the twenty-fifth or twenty-sixth book I've purchased from them! Color renderings and well researched details make these books indispensible for historians, toy soldier collectors, hobbyists, and anyone else with an interest in the Civil War (or WW II, or whatever period interests you!) Fast read, excellent photos, color graphic renderings - what else could you want?