Irish Rebels, Confederate Tigers: A History Of The 6th Louisiana Volunteers [Hardcover]

James Gannon (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1882810163 | ISBN-13: 978-1882810161 | Publication Date: May 22, 1998 | Edition: 1

The first book-length treatment of an important Confederate regiment composed mostly of Irish immigrants who were involved in most of the important Civil War battles in the East.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James P. Gannon is a former reporter and bureau chief with the Wall Street Journal and former editor of the Des Moines Register. Jim and his wife Joan run the Old Sperryville Bookshop in Sperryville, Virginia.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 388 pages
• Publisher: Savas Publishing Company; 1 edition (May 22, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1882810163
• ISBN-13: 978-1882810161
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,285,035 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars After 130 years, the Confederate Irish get their due., April 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Irish Rebels, Confederate Tigers: A History Of The 6th Louisiana Volunteers (Hardcover)

As the author of this book, it is not my place to review it. However, I thought Amazon customers would be interested in what some published reviews have said about my book. Here are some quotes from reviews of Irish Rebels, Confederate Tigers, with the publication noted: "Irish Rebels, Confederate Tigers ....is a full-blown regimental history of a Confederate regiment that stands second to none in the Confederate Army. Raised in New Orleans, this unit fought from First Manassas to Appomattox Court House....IRCT is a first-rate regimental history...There is no published history of the unit so the author had to dig hard and long to come up with many scraps of material to put this work together. He writes a smoothly flowing narrative....you can get to know the men and care about them....It is one of the best this reviewer has seen in a long time."--Mike Cavanaugh, in Civil War News, April 1999.

"James P. Gannon, a former Wall Street Journal editor fascinated with the role of Irish immigrants in the Confederacy, takes his place with other distinguished military historians by adopting, and even improving upon, this classic literary form....This is careful history, backed by more than 100 pages of notes, individual biographies and source material....meticulous research...." --Duncan Spencer, The Washington Times, Aug. 29, 1988.

"James Gannon makes this unit come alive. The book is that rare work which combines the prose of a good novel with the solid research of a piece of classic history. Gannon is a former editor of the Wall Street Journal and the Des Moines Register. His journalist background is evidence on every page." --Gary Joiner, The Shreveport (La.) Times.

"Gannon's book is one of the best I have ever seen on the history of a Civil War regiment. The listing of members is a great research aid for any family historian. This beautiful hardcover volume...contains 388 pages with photos and illustrations and maps." --Damon Veach, The New Orleans Times-Picayune.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Irish Rebels pays tribute to all members of the Regiment, January 23, 2001

By 

HistoBuff (Washington, LA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Irish Rebels, Confederate Tigers: A History Of The 6th Louisiana Volunteers (Hardcover)

This book is a fascinating and intriguing account of the 6th Louisiana. While Gannon named his book Irish Rebels and covered the majority Irish members, he does give due to the Louisianians and other immigrants who made up the regiment. I was grateful to see this as my ggggrandfather was one of those members in a company from outside of New Orleans, Company C, the St. Landry (Parish) Light Guards and to see the action his unit took part in on paper was a great experience. It gave a story to my grandfather's participation in the War I never knew!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Highlight of Irish From Louisiana Fighting for Lee & Jackson, September 26, 2002

By 

Daniel Hurley (Chesapeake, VA.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Irish Rebels, Confederate Tigers: A History Of The 6th Louisiana Volunteers (Hardcover)

A very personal portrayal of a predominately Irish brigade from New Orleans fighting for the south. The enigma is that this regiment had the highest percentage of Irish in any brigade plus they were linked with the famed Wheat's Tigers plus they fought in Virginia during the entire Civil War. This is particularly impressive since New Orleans was captured so early in the war and the 6th Louisiana virtually became orphans in regards to State support. Much like the famed Kentucky Brigade. Gannon is a excellent writer that through intensive research provides flowing first hand accounts particularly from the brigade priest and Captain Ring. The high point of the book is the close up look at where the brigade participated in major campaigns and battles. They were a key part of the Valley Campaign, particularly Port Republic, the Seven days, Cedar Mountain, both Bull runs, Gettysburg, Early's Valley campaign including the threat to Washington and the disasters at Cedar Creek and Fort Steadman. The best gem in the book is the section on the capture of Rappahannock Station, which was an isolated bridgehead for Lee's army located on the north side of the river. This fascinating break down in strategy and command is very well focused and told in detail because the luckless 6th is one of the 3,000 troops that virtually get overwhelmed and captured in a sudden attack by large numbers. This little told event precedes Grant's arrival but seems to reveal problems in southern command caused by the lost of key officers and the strain of a long war on the Confederate supplies. The sadness of the brigade is captured as it is progressively whittled to only 50 odd survivors at Appomattox.