The Iron Brigade: A Military History (Great Lakes Connections: The Civil War) [Paperback]

Alan T. Nolan (Author)

Book Description

Series: Great Lakes Connections: The Civil War | Publication Date: February 22, 1994

"I am immensely impressed... this particular Brigade needed a book of its own and now it has one which is definitely first-rate.... A fine book." —Bruce Catton

"One of the '100 best books ever written on the Civil War.'" —Civil War Times Illustrated

"... remains one of the best unit histories of the Union Army during the Civil War." —Southern Historian

"... The Iron Brigade is the title for anyone desiring complete information on this military unit..." —Spring Creek Packet, Chuck Hamsa

This is the story of the most famous unit in the Union Army, the only all-Western brigade in the Eastern armies of the Union—made up of troops from Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Alan T. Nolan's The Iron Brigade is a classic of Civil War literature." Gary W. Gallagher "I am immensely impressed ... This particular Brigade needed a book of its own and now it has one which is definitely first-rate... A fine book..." Bruce Catton "One of the '100 best books ever written on the Civil War.'" Civil War Times Illustrated "Alan Nolan has written a first-rate account of one of the most famous fighting outfits of the Army of the Potomac, the Iron Brigade... Nolan's book is unit history writing at its best, and it adds much to our knowledge of the larger story of the war..." T. Harry Williams " ... Remains one of the best unit histories of the Union Army during the Civil War." Southern Historian "... The Iron Brigade is the title for anyone desiring complete information on this military unit ..." Spring Creek Packet, Chuck Hamsa --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

ALAN T. NOLAN was born in Indiana and is a lawyer in Indianapolis. He is the author of Lee Considered: General Robert E. Lee and Civil War History.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Indiana University Press; 1st Indiana University Press Ed edition (February 22, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0253208637
• ISBN-13: 978-0253208637
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #352,687 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #78 in Books > History > Military > Regiments

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An fitting tribute to the valor of the Iron Brigade, May 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Iron Brigade: A Military History (Hardcover)

Nolan's work encompasses the formation of the Brigade until its literal destruction on the first day at Gettysburg, where it's valiant stand in the face of superior Confederate numbers allowed the Union Army to regroup on Cemetery Hill and eventually defeat Lee's Army of Northern Virginia for the very first time in a major battle.

Their first fight at Brawner's Farm established the westerners with the title of the book, and their action in the Cornfield at Antietam and then again at McPherson's Ridge on July 1st, 1863 firmly planted their place in history as the hardest fighting unit in the Army of the Potomac.

Their Hardee hats distinguished them from most of the other Union soldiers, but the Confederates respected the "black hats" who stood like iron in the face of their foe. An extremely good read, with enough detail to make the reader respect the patriotism, heroism and sacrifices made by all the soldiers involved in America's Civil War. The tremendous casualties taken by this unit are incredible by today's comparisons, where we have national debates on just one casualty being taken by our armed services.

Whle it has less detail on the enlisted personnel than Moe's work on the 1st Minnesota, it still brings you dramatically into the battlefield with some of the most notable heroes of the War Between the States.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent battle history of a Civil War unit, April 11, 1998

By 

Aussie Reader ""Rick"" (Canberra, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Iron Brigade: A Military History (Great Lakes Connections: The Civil War) (Paperback)

This is a excellent account of the Iron Brigade, the "Black Hat Brigade", the only all western brigade in the Eastern army. This Federal unit fought at 2nd Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg and they fought well. This book was a delight to read and is one of my favourite books on the American Civil War. The book is well written and the narrative of the battles is assisted by easy to understand maps. One of the best unit histories to be printed for some time.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Black Hats and White Gaiters, October 27, 2000

By 

Kevin F. Kiley - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Iron Brigade: A Military History (Great Lakes Connections: The Civil War) (Paperback)

This is the definitive history of what I consider the best brigade-sized unit in either army during the Civil War. Alan Nolan is THE authority on this famous, hard-hitting outfit and this book is a classic. Interesting, vivid, full of valor, heartbreaking losses, and gallant deeds, it chronicles the Army of the Potomac's sole western unit from its meager beginnings, its first engagement at Brawner's Farm the day before Second Bull Run, where it met and defeated the vaunted Stonewall Brigade in a vicious stand-up fight though outnumbered and still an untried unit of well-trained rookies. through the tough tutelage of veteran artilleryman John Gibbon, its first commander of note, to its moment of truth at Gettysburg, where, suffering almost 70% casualties, it goes into the fire unperturbed and outnumbered, both ruining and capturing opposing Confederate units, coming onto the field behind its tattered regimental flags like a wave of blue doom. I first became interested in the Iron Brigade while reading Bruce Catton's excellent trilogy on the Army of the Potomac. Not until this superb volume, however, did the whole story come out in gripping detail and hard-to-put-down narrative. The author paints a vivid picture of the realities of war, what losses can do to even a veteran, well-trained unit, and the value of personal valor and leadership. This book is highly recommended and should be on the book shelf of every Civil War reenactor, historian, and enthusiast.