From its first major engagement at Harpers Ferry; Virginia; to the campaigns against Confederates in the swamps of occupied Louisiana; the 12th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry fought more than twenty battles in three theaters of combat. So great was the regiment's contribution to the Union victory that a monument at Gettysburg honors the unit for its place "in the first line of battle."The campaigns of the 12th Illinois reflect the larger shape of the war. In 1862 and early 1863; the 12th Illinois defended Union supply lines against the lightning raids of J. E. B. Stuart's Confederate Cavalry in Virginia and Maryland. In 1863; it helped to turn back the tide of the Confederate advance at Gettysburg. And in 1864–1865 the unit went on the offensive and raided deep into the Southern heartland as the Union pursued a strategy of "hard war."Drawing upon firsthand accounts from letters; diaries; memoirs; and official service records; Blackwell brings the soldiers of the 12th Illinois to life. As with other militia units in the heady first months of the war; the 12th Illinois assembled quickly; and its officers had at best only rudimentary military training. They were little prepared for the rigors of leading men into war or coping with desertions and horrific casualties.In the First Line of Battle tells the story of how the 12th Illinois Cavalry came through the war with its colors intact. Tracking the regiment from its first muster early in 1862 through its service in Texas during Reconstruction; Blackwell shows readers the war as it was lived by men who fought across the length and breadth of the Confederacy. Tracing the path of the 12th Illinois; he sheds new light on the role of the Union cavalry in the Civil War.
#456573 in Books Behrman House 1976-09Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 10.36 x 1.74 x 7.58l; 3.51 #File Name: 0874411203541 pages
Review
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. DatedBy Mrs Prairie BearWeighty tome that was once a staple in many American Jewish homes. Reflecting the time period; only twenty years after WWII; there is a lot of space devoted to the Holocaust. The many articles on Israel are totally out of date; but still useful for the history buff who wants to get a sense of that pre-PC time period following the 1967 War when everything seemed a lot simpler. The strength of the book is its many biographies of influential Jewish figures: famous rabbis; prominent businessmen; Zionists; Bundists; Yiddishists; biblical personalities; writers; artists; cantors; actors and politicians. There are also (too) brief descriptions of Jewish communities; some of which are no more; Jewish practices; beliefs and ritual objects. There are many photographs; all in black and white; unfortunately. The writing is a bit clunky; the layout is haphazard (there is inexplicably a full page picture of Anne Frank) and some articles seem to have been awkwardly translated from the German. Has some useful information; but is no match for the web.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Francis NGreat collection item0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Emmanuel FrimpongThanks
