The Vermont Brigade, sometimes referred to as the “First Vermont Brigade” or the “Old Brigade,” fought its first full-brigade engagement in the Seven Days’ battles. The leaders, as well as the rank and file, were inexperienced in warfare, but through sheer grit and determination they made a name for themselves as one of the hardest-fighting units in the Army of the Potomac. Using soldiers’ letters, diaries, and service and pension records, this book gives a soldier’s-eye-view of the Virginia summer heat, days of marching with very little rest or nourishment, and the fear and exhilaration of combat. Also included are the stories of 29 men that were wounded or killed and how the tragedies affected their families.

The Vermont Brigade, sometimes referred to as the "First Vermont Brigade" or the "Old Brigade," fought its first full-brigade engagement in the Seven Days' battles. The leaders, as well as the rank and file, were inexperienced in warfare, but through sheer grit and determination they made a name for themselves as one of the hardest-fighting units in the Army of the Potomac. Using soldiers' letters, diaries, and service and pension records, this book gives a soldier's-eye-view of the Virginia summer heat, days of marching with very little rest or nourishment, and the fear and exhilaration of combat. Also included are the stories of 29 men that were wounded or killed and how the tragedies affected their families.

The many regiments that fought in the Civil War each had their own stories to tell about what they saw, smelled, tasted, heard and felt while serving in war. The Second Vermont Volunteer Infantry Regiment saw its first combat at the Battle of Bull Run and fought on to Lee's surrender. This richly illustrated work draws from service, pension and court-martial records, and personal letters and diaries to portray the junior officers, noncommissioned officers, and privates of the regiment as they were in battle, on the march, and in camp. Some were heroes, like Private William W. Noyes, awarded the Medal of Honor, and others were not, like Private George E. Blowers, executed for desertion. A roster of the 1,858 men who served in the regiment is provided.

This work provides an organizational history of the maneuver brigade and case studies of its employment throughout the various wars. Apart from the text, the appendices at the end of the work provide a ready reference to all brigade organizations used in the Army since 1917 and the history of the brigade colors.

An expert in world conflicts, Jones brings the sounds and sights of battle to life, detailing each charge, the evolution of battle tactics, and the importance of diplomacy for both sides. In these two volumes Terry Jones provides impressively clear coverage of the underlying economic causes, the progressively divisive political developments, the outbreak of the war itself, and, finally, the military campaigns year-by-year and battle-by-battle. He clarifies complex issues as he explains the various factions, their interests, and their hidden agendas. Entries cover: o Military and political leaders o Names, places, and events o Individual battles o Diplomatic encounters o Statistics on numbers of combatants o Armaments and weaponry o Imprisonment o Casualties from both war and disease From the hopelessly impotent Congressional votes to the spilling of blood on the battlefield, Jones makes this period of American history compelling reading. Extensively cross-referenced; includes a substantial bibliography; illustrated with maps and photos.