On the 12th day of April, 1861, Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter. War! It had finally come, and new recruits on both sides had been stirred with emotional oratory; however, these young men who raced to answer the call to arms were not prepared for the grim realities of war. They expected a quick battle of a few days with hard fighting and a triumphal return.
Alabama's young men flocked to the colors of the Stars and Bars willingly as Alabama began organizing and officering them in a somewhat haphazard manner. The ideals for which the war was being fought held glamour, courage and fascination for the idealistic young men-their dreams of glory as yet untouched by the deadly reality of the coming conflict where so many would perish. States' rights and slavery were not issues for a majority of these young men who served Alabama and the South so gallantly. These southern soldiers were deeply religious and concerned for the welfare of their families and the education of their children.
In the first half of the book, readers will join the Eighth Alabama Infantry on its arduous journey beginning with its organization, followed by the Peninsula Campaign, Second Manassas to Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg to Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Petersburg, and ultimately Appomattox. Researchers will appreciate the index to names, places and subjects that completes this portion of the book. The second half of the book contains appendices with multiple rosters; transcribed company, field and staff notes; and a bibliography.
Linda L. Green
2008, 6x9, paper, index, 270 pp.
ISBN: 9780788445538
101-G4553
