The American Civil War was a time of change in the US, but for the units that fought, they were very much a product of the state from which they were formed.

The 'Men-at Arms' series is as much about the units and uniforms/equipment of these soldiers as it is about the conflict itself. The author has chosen to portray the units of the Confederate Army in the order that the states in which they served joined the Confederacy.

This particular volume covers the uniforms and units of Tennessee and North Carolina. While not matching the gaudiness of the Napoleonic French army, the various dress of Confederate militias do match it for complexity and changes in design. Unlike today's uniformed services, the range of acceptable livery was quite broad and undoubtedly adds to the fascination of uniforms of the period.

What you will find in these pages are superb descriptions of these units/dress along with some unique photographs taken of some of the soldiers in their uniforms. This is further enhanced by the outstanding illustrations of Richard Hook which add some real color to these old greyscale images from the distant past.

A book that rightly belongs on the shelf of any US Civil War enthusiast and one that provides a bit more insight into what is called the first modern war. Highly recommended.

February 2008

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