A catastrophic and ruinous civil war raged across the fledgling United States between 1861 and 1865. The conflict pitted brother against brother, father against son and friend against friend. This book minutely examines the uniforms and equipment of the Confederacy, a patchwork of states, comprising of the southern aristocracy, farm hands and state militiamen. Often hopelessly outnumbered, they held back the inevitable tide of blue of the Union for four years. This book not only examines the uniforms, but also the equipment, weapons, battle flags, tactics and organization of the Confederate armies. Indispensable for military historians, collectors, wargamers and re-enactors.

A catastrophic and ruinous civil war raged across the fledgling United States between 1861 and 1865. The conflict pitted brother against brother, father against son and friend against friend. This book minutely examines the uniforms and equipment of the Union troops of, primarily, the northern United States. 'Billy Yanks' were recruited in vast numbers. First, second or third generation European immigrants flooded the ranks of the Union armies. Although they often outnumbered the Confederates, the Union troops were poorly led and trained, yet by force of arms they crushed the rebellion, culminating in Robert E Lee's surrender at Appomattox in 1865.

The development of US Army infantry equipment has been a story of trial and error, of adopting new designs to meet new problems. It was not until 1910 that a whole system of equipment, including everything from the waist belts to the canteens to the cartridge-carriers to the haversack, was officially adopted. Prior to that, each piece of equipment was designed to meet a specific need, without any consideration of anything else the soldier had to carry. Packed with photographs and illustrations, this book explores the history of US Infantry equipments from 1775 to 1910, covering everything from blankets to bayonets.

[This book combines Men-at-Arms 252: "Flags of the American Civil War 1: Confederate," Men-at-Arms 258: "Flags of the American Civil War 2: Union" and Men-at-Arms 265: "Flags of the American Civil War 3: Specialist Troops."]

The flags of the Civil War were no mere unit designations—they represented the very hearts of their regiments. The formal ceremony in which a regiment received its colors constituted an initiation into the world of the soldier, and the flag became the symbol which drew the regiment's members together. In camp, regimental colors flew over unit headquarters as a guidepost to members and outsiders alike; in action, it flew in the center of the line, drawing enemy fire upon its carriers. Few things were more disgraceful than losing one's colors in battle, and extreme sacrifices were often made to save them.

Since the Civil War ended, the uniforms of the Union Soldiers have been portrayed as basically blue with the gold buttons going down the center. While this is marginally accurate, the uniforms of the Union Soldiers that fought in the Civil War were actually unique and had various patterns. In this excellent book, the uniforms are shown in color, and they are quite different, yet the same in general appearance. It is informative, interesting and enjoyable to view the wide variety of Officer and Enlisted Uniforms that were worn during the Civil War.

Also presented in this fine book are the various flags that were flown by regiments in battle. Flags made by Tiffany's to Women from throughout the Union, these flags were in fierce battle and were held by brave men who in quite a few instances gave the ultimate sacrifice by waving their regimental flags.

Cannons, Swords, Pistols, Rifles and other arms are shown as well as Cannons, Canteens, and various other equipment that was used by Union Soldiers are displayed.

This is the companion book to the Arms and Equipment of the Confederacy and both books are a MUST have in the serious Civil War Historian, and aficionado's library.

This book provides invaluable material to anyone who has a serious interest in the Civil War. This book was put together by the editors of Time/Life and they did their research accurately. This book describes the arms (weapons) and the equipment (from canteens to buttons) that the average Confederate enlisted soldier to the Confederate General used during the Civil War.

Each section of the book is divided into weapons (Pistols, Rifles, etc) and tells not only the type (with great photographs that are in color) but who issued them as well. From Rifles, Guns, Knives, Swords (Officer and Enlisted), to regular camp knives, they are in this book if they were issued by the Confederate Government. Even those that were homemade are listed in here as well.

The most interesting parts in my opinion are the Uniforms that the Confederate Soldier wore and the flags that were flown by individual regiments. The Confederate Soldier wore a uniform that was diverse as to the regiment each one served in. From home-spun uniforms to those acquired overseas and in stylish clothing stores, those that the editors could find and be able to use are in here (a lot of Uniforms, Flags, etc were supplied for the book by the Museum Of The Confederacy). Some of the hats that are in this book, show the holes where bullets either killed the wearer of the hat, or made it a VERY close call. Uniforms great and small are in this as well.

There is also a narrative throughout the book that is easy to follow and VERY interesting. There is a background story to some of the uniforms that tell of the wearer of them, if they died in battle, or lived to a prosperous old age.

The division/regimental flags are also in here and give the story to how they were made, if they were captured, or if they survived the war.

Uniformed volunteer units were raised by individuals, usually from an area's social élite who had enough spare money and time to spend on such enthusiasms. They voted on their unit designation, their officers and non-commissioned officers, their unit rules, and their uniform. Many future leaders learned their skills in these ranks, and volunteer militia units formed the core of many fighting units on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line. With the help of numerous photographs and illustrations, including eight full page colour plates by Ron Volstad, Philip Katcher does a fine job of detailing the uniforms of the volunteer militia of the American Civil War (1861-1865).

"The War between the States" is the term used for the American Civil War (1861-1865) throughout much of the South even today. Many on both sides – not just the South – felt that they were serving their states as much, if not more, than their central governments. Many of the states agreed; the state governments raising their own units, commissioning their officers, and supplying their men. Indeed, many of the units that fought the Civil War were supplied in large part by their own states rather than by the central government's quartermasters. Philip Katcher's fascinating text explores the uniforms of 32 states; from Alabama to Wisconsin.

At the time of the American Civil War (1861-1865), with two million men under arms, a US Army that in pre-war days had depended upon a minute number of technical troops now required virtually an army of specialists alone. Special sharpshooters were recruited for skirmishing duty; men whose wounds would have led to their discharge in the past now found themselves guarding important posts in the Veteran Reserve Corps; and large numbers of civilians found themselves in uniform as members of the Telegraph or Hospital Corps. Philip Katcher examines the organization and uniforms of the specialist troops who served in the armies of both sides.

The US Army during the Civil War was the largest the country had raised in its brief history; and it would remain the largest ever raised until World War I. In all, 2,772,408 men served in some branch or other of the US Army. This detailed work by Philip Katcher is a comprehensive guide to the uniforms, accoutrements, insignia and weapons of the Union Troops who fought the American Civil War (1861-1865), with a wealth of illustrations, including contemporary photographs and eight full page colour plates by Ron Volstad.

When the Southern states seceded to form their own government in 1861, one of their first moves was to organize an army. The South's fighting men served from the time of their enlistment until the end of the war, receiving poor rations, and even worse clothing--and this despite the fact that one of the first steps taken by the new army was to design a uniform and establish standards for accoutrements and weapons. In this first of five volumes examining American Civil War armies, Philip Katcher profiles the uniforms issued by the national Confederate government to its artillery, cavalry and infantry troops.

For General George B. McClellan, the dejected Union troops who poured into Washington fresh from defeat at Bull Run on Monday, July 22, 1861, were to provide the raw material which he would train, equip, organize and ultimately transform from a mere mob into an effective fighting force. In October 1861, the Army of the Potomac officially came into being. This entertaining volume from the same team of author Philip Katcher and artist Michael Youens who produced Men-at-Arms 37, The Army of Northern Virginia, explores how this transition came about, with a particular emphasis on weapons, uniforms and equipment.

On June 27, 1862, with the American Civil War already a year old, General Robert E. Lee assumed personal command of troops engaged in driving the Federal Army of the Potomac out of Richmond – troops which would henceforth be known as The Army of Northern Virginia. Philip Katcher explores in absorbing detail all aspects of the army, including infantry, cavalry, artillery, technical and medical corps, paying particular attention to equipment, weapons and uniforms. Contemporary and museum photographs, together with the author's expert text, combine to paint a vivid and accurate picture of what life was like for the average confederate soldier.

"Look! There is Jackson standing like a stone wall. Rally behind the Virginians!" With these words General Bee ensured the reputation of Thomas Jonathan Jackson and his troops who were fighting alongside him at the battle of the First Bull Run. This reputation was enhanced in Jackson's Shenandoah Valley campaign and other operations where the Stonewall Brigade's actions gained the praise of their Confederate compatriots and the respect of their enemies. This book examines the uniforms, equipment, history and organization of the Brigade and its combat experience during the American Civil War. Detailed maps and contemporary illustrations accompany this account of their major engagements.

This book examines the uniforms and equipment, history and organization of the Iron Brigade during the American Civil War (1861-1865). The major battles of Fredericksburg (1862), Chancellorsville (1863) and Gettysburg (1863)--are all covered. Uniforms are shown in full color artwork.

When the American Civil War broke out in 1861 both Confederate and Union experts decided that specialized sharpshooter units should be formed. These highly trained marksmen served in a front-line role and, due to the technological developments of the 1850s, were equipped with weapons that could guarantee greater accuracy over increased range than traditional muskets. This title examines the recruitment, training, tactics and deployment of sharpshooters from both sides of the conflict. It also takes a close look at the specialized personal weaponry of the sharpshooter, the rifle and its accoutrements, as well as the sharpshooters' unique insignia and identification patches.

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.

The bombardment by Confederate artillery of Fort Sumter on 12 April 1861 was the spark that finally ignited the American Civil War, quickly bringing thousands of eager volunteers for the Union cause. It proved especially easy to raise cavalry, since recruits naively believed that their military duties would be easier than in the infantry. This book investigates all aspects of the life and experiences of a Union trooper, covering enlistment, training, uniforms, weapons, cavalry tactics and the discrepancy between the recruit's view of swashbuckling charges and heroic hand-to-hand combat and the less glorious reality.

The southerner of the mid-19th century had been bred to ride horses. In addition the period southerner had long been used to handling firearms, through hunting for pleasure, food or simply for sport. The combination of these factors promised that when the southern states began to secede in December 1860, the cavalry would be a major combat arm. This title looks at how the men of the Confederate cavalry were recruited, trained, lived and fought. Both routine and campaign life are covered, as well as the weapons and equipment that served them in their combat roles. Key encounters such as the 1863 clash at Brandy Station are also covered in this authoritative text.

The Union infantrymen were the 1,700 regiments of foot soldiers who became the mainstay of "Mr Lincoln's Army." These long-suffering, hard-fighting Yankees from farmsteads, hamlets, and urban centers, saved the Union. Their hopes and fears, joy and sorrow, cowardice and bravery were recorded in diaries, letters, memoirs and legions of histories. Drawing on these narratives, contemporary images and photographs and meticulous archival research, this title provides a vivid account of how the common Union infantryman was recruited and trained, and how he lived and fought. The soldier's struggle was not insignificant--it was to preserve a nation torn asunder, where brother fought against brother.

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.

The part played in the Civil War (1861-1865) by the small Marine Corps of the United and Confederate States is overshadowed by the confrontations of the great armies. Nevertheless, the coastal and riverine campaigns were of real importance, given the strategic significance of the Federal blockade of southern ports, and of the struggle for the Mississippi River. Marines wearing blue and grey fought in many dramatic actions afloat and ashore – ship-to-ship engagements, cutting-out expeditions, and coastal landings. This book offers a comprehensive summary of all such battles, illustrated with rare early photographs, and meticulously researched color plates detailing the often obscure minutiae of Marine uniforms and equipment.

Among the mass of units formed in the early months of the American Civil War were several of the colorful Zouave units. Inspired by the French colonial units raised in North Africa with their distinctive uniforms and reputation as hard fighters, units with names as colorful as their uniforms began to appear. In this volume Robin Smith details the uniforms and battles of these flamboyant units. Bill Young husband is rapidly establishing himself as one of the most popular illustrators of 18th and 19th century military subjects, and has already contributed to a number of Osprey titles.

Les Jensen well known from his series of articles relating to Confederate uniforms in the Journal of the Company of Military Historians provides an excellent overview of the uniforms of the Confederate soldier. Using often over looked issue records he lifts the veil on obscure facts relating the to the Confederate soldier's clothing and issues. His work dealing with the little understood Columbus Depot pattern is a real eye opener. Great detail is shown of the existing examples. He does not stop there, great photos and facts regarding the Richmond Arsenal issues are included in this work.

Micheal J. McAfee, the first author, has been a curator at the West Point Military Academy Museum for many years. He is a Fellow of the Company of Military Historians, has been at times a governor of the same, and is internationally known as an expert on the uniforms styled Zouaves, worn by U.S. forces in the Civil War, and based on those worn by French forces raised in North Africa, which in turn were influenced by the natives of the area and cut in the manner of their clothing. He is well qualified to cover this subject.

The second author, J. Phillip Langellier, has produced a slew of photo studies with incisive text on the life and times of the U.S. soldier, and his Spanish and Mexican californio predecessors also. His specialty is in gathering together contemporary source material for the illustrations. This method has the great virtue of showing what was what and when. But if no photos are available, then something may be omitted. All of these books are vertical studies covering a period of years. Though sometimes the illustrations serve to identify individual items of equipment, these works are not intended for that purpose. They are not catalogs intended for materiel collectors. They are of such a length and of such a level of detail that they will serve the purposes of the general reader with a curiousity about what grandaddy did in WW II or great great great grandaddy in the Civil War and what he looked like and how he lived. This is not to say that the specialist cannot find useful nuggets herein. He can.

Thousands of American Civil War "re-enactment" enthusiasts were used as models in this photo-essay of the American Civil War. Whole regiments of the infantry, squadrons of mounted cavalry, and batteries of working cannon camp and manoeuvre over the actual battlefields of the 1860s.