The regimental or battery set of colours was more than simply a unit designation; issued for the ease of a commander in identifying his units in the field. It was the very symbol of the regiment; it was its heart; the thing that drew its members together. As such it was fiercely defended in action; where it flew in the centre of the line. Complemented by numerous illustrations; including eight full page colour plates by Rick Scollins; this book by Philip Katcher provides a fascinating examination of the Union flags of the American Civil War (1861-1865).
#554958 in Books Bloomsbury Academic 2005-03-15 2005-02-10Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 233.93 x 28.57 x 6.14l; 1.95 #File Name: 1852854448482 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A New Stahr in American BiographiesBy CatManWalter Stahr is becoming one of the best American historical biographist. This one about John Jay is superb. Jay is one of; if not the most forgotten; of the founding fathers of the United States. Stahr has painted a vivid portrait of who Jay was and his importance to the American Revolution and subsequent years of infancy for this country. The book flows very well. It doesn't go off on any tangents or other parts of American history. It always centered around Jay and his contributions to an early America. This book is well worth anyone's time and effort to read if you want to know more about Jay or early America. This was the first of Stahr's biographies to this point. He has since written one about Seward and Edwin Stanton of Lincoln's cabinet. I read the one about Seward and it is wonderful too. I highly recommend any of Stahr's book.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A unique historyBy Robert KnottsNot a page turner; the book reads a bit dry as if a series of lectures were strung together. On the other hand we learn a lot about the international situation during the Revolution from Jay's angle instead of by following Jefferson or Franklin's better known trails. The book is unique in its attention to the genesis of the judiciary; particularly the early moves by Jay to make the Supreme Court the supreme arbiter of the law of the land and to define the proper operation of the legislative; executive; and judicial pillars upon which the US stands. It's well-worth reading.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. In this book; John Jay gets the recognition he deserves.By earlybirdyOn Independence Day; I was doing a bit of "patriotic reading;" and I came across an article mentioning John Jay and this new biography. I decided to get it in Kindle format to take along on vacation. I thoroughly appreciated the author's work in presenting the life of this overlooked founding father. The writer expectedly brings out Jay's strengths and accomplishments but also honestly addresses some of his weaknesses and inconsistencies of character. I did find some of the book to be a little dry in the parts that go into the law cases that Jay worked on. But the better part of the work is interesting and very informative. The most fascinating sections; to me; related the work John Jay did on the peace treaty with Britain to end the war. As Amercians; we tend to focus on the Declaration of Independence and the battles and heroic deeds. But this book brings alive the intrigue of the behind-the-scenes cat-and-mouse stategies of the diplomats involved in the negotiation process. Jay and his wife showed great fortitude and patience in the way they conducted themselves abroad. I was also interested in the glimpses the author gave into the characters of the other; better-known key figures of the independence effort like Hamilton; Adams; and Washington. Altogether; it is a very informative and enjoyable book which has fostered for me a new appreciation for John Jay.
