Union Soldier in Battle

A fascinating look at the men who fought and how they coped with the horrors of the battlefield. This is the only book of its type that I have found which provides an in-depth look at the range of emotions that soldiers felt as they headed into battle. It has quickly become one of my favorite books about the Civil War. Highly recommended.

Author Earl Hess has defined the Union soldier in this interesting book covering many topics. Hess has taken a fresh look at soldiering and has brought the psychology of the soldier mind together with insightful material. Topics facing soldiers such as enlisting, fighting battles, defining courage, knowing war, memories and the daily grind of war has been presented in a great format. Hess adds quotes from soldiers that enhance the chapters and bring things to a closer personal level. Hess also explains how soldiers coped after the war and how they filtered back into society. This an excellent book that gets into the psychological mind set of the Union soldier and is not a book like Hardtack Coffee that covers more material topics. To understand the Union soldier this a great reference tool that helps get inside of the minds of these fighting men. 5 STARS!

This study of combat during the Civil War is perhaps the best of the books on the soldiers during that war--and I wrote two of the others. Hess brings the "face of battle" approach pioneered by John Keegan to the Civil War.

Earl Hess brings his deep knowledge of Civil War history to bear in this study of the Union soldier in combat. Hess describes in great detail the shock and horror of battle, and how soldiers attempted to cope with this surreal world. Right down the alley of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN; those interested in warfare and the fate of the individual soldier will find this book to be fascinating.

This book gives a wonderful overview of the experience of the combat soldier in the Civil War. It is not as broad as "Embattled Courage," and therefore holds the reader on the battlefield, and away from the distractions of home, school, church, etc. Down to the comraderie, and the comfort of "the touch of the elbow," this book, I feel, should be required reading for every Civil War reenactment group, North or South