The Greatest Brigade is an exciting journey through the major battles of the Civil War alongside the members of the famed Irish Brigade. Well researched; compellingly written; filled with fascinating illustrations; and with a story that holds the reader with a 'bulldog grip;' Thomas Craughwell has written a regimental history that deserves to be on every Civil War lover’s bookshelf.—Jason Emerson; author of The Madness of Mary Lincoln and Lincoln the Inventor"Lavishly illustrated and bursting with excitement; The Greatest Brigade is a vivid account; populated by larger-than-life characters. It’s a story of heroism and gallantry that every Civil War buff will want to know."—History Book ClubFaugh a Ballagh! Clear the Way!This is the story of a band of heroes that covered the Yankee retreat at Bull Run; drove the Confederates from the Sunken Road at Antietam; and made charge after charge up Marye's Heights at Fredericksburg. The gallantry of the Irish Brigade won them the admiration of the high command of both North and South; earned them seven Medals of Honor; and after the war; went a long way to helping the Irish assimilate into the American mainstream.Shouting their Gaelic battle cry; the men of the Irish Brigade charged across the bloodiest battlefields of the Civil War and into the realm of legend. The Greatest Brigade is a grand narrative history of these Irishmen who fought in every major battle in the Eastern Theater of the Civil War; including Bull Run; Antietam; Fredericksburg; Gettysburg; the Wilderness; and Appomattox.Thomas J. Craughwell; author Stealing Lincoln’s Body and The Buck Stops Here: The 28 Toughest Presidential Decisions and How They Changed History; reveals the reasons why thousands of Irish Catholics—the most despised immigrant group in America at the time—rallied to the Union cause and proved themselves to be among the most ferocious fighters of the war. He examines the character of the Irish Brigade’s two most popular commanders; Michael Corcoran; a man of unshakable principles; and Thomas Francis Meagher; a complex man with many fine qualities—and almost as many flaws.
#1441498 in Books Naval Institute Press 2003-03-31Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.18 x .86 x 6.06l; 1.23 #File Name: 1591147484344 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Anyone interested in the U.S. space program should read thisBy JohnI like learning how air travel led to space travel. Obviously the test flight programs of the late 40s to late 50s plays a large part as did the Cold War in its need for intercontinental ballistic missiles; however more interesting; is the low level research probing the boundaries of Earth and space. This book chronicles the search for "out there" and does so extremely well.A great story is told and I enjoyed reading it thoroughly. The only dry section for me was the history of ballooning; as I'm not very interested in that aspect. The rest of the book transports me back to the heady days of unabashed research for the sake of learning. The story delivers not just the romanticism of aerial research in the 50s but the technical details I crave as an engineer.I consider this one of the best books I have. On nice summer days when I daydream of flying through the great puffy white clouds in the sky; I grab it and start reading.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. One of the Best Books I Have Ever Read.By Mike SmithThis book is about; as its title suggests; the pre-astronauts--the men who braved the edges of space before those more famous men who went into orbit; and to the moon--the men who took balloons above the Earth's atmosphere; above the blue of the sky; above the curve of the world.The people you will meet within this book are unforgettable. There's Joseph Kittinger; of course; who took a balloon 103;000 feet above the Earth and then jumped. There's Clifton McClure; one of the bravest and most indomitable people ever; who managed to stay conscious during temperatures that would have killed others. And there's Scott Stapp whose experiments in high speeds and high-speed braking literally emblazoned images onto his retinas.In addition to the people; the book will give you a great idea of the complexities and dangers of the upper atmosphere; the fragility of earth; the progression of technology; the importance of courage and daring and discovery.THE PRE-ASTRONAUTS is; without exaggeration; among the very best books I have ever read. I can think of few non-fiction books that tell a more compelling story in a more compelling way. In fact; off the top of my head; I can think of none. Craig Ryan keeps the story speeding along; the story he has to tell is just mind-blowing; and every detail feels valid and necessary; fascinating and exciting.After reading this; not only did I buy just about every other book on the subject; but I bought all of Ryan's other books as well. This book is potentially life-changing. After reading about what these guys did; it will make you want to do something huge and meaningful yourself. It will drive home reality of the closeness of space to where you are right now; and will very likely make you want to go there yourself.Buy this. Read it. It really is amazing; and I wish there were more books like it.12 of 14 people found the following review helpful. Joe W. Kittinger; Jr -- Biggest Balls Ever!By M.Craig Ryan's history of high-altitude manned ballooning is one of the most compelling books I have ever read. Taking place on the fledgling edge of the space age; this is the true story of men who; on an almost non-existent budget; originated the hitherto unknown fields of space medicine and safety. Dr. Stapp and the men and women who worked with him pioneered new technology and conducted valuable research that; in the end; was largely lost to history -- research and technology that might have saved lives in the Apollo 1 and Challenger disasters. This book is a tribute to their almost-unknown accomplishments and a reminder never to let something so valuable be lost or forgotten.And if you don't care for the science side of the story; just as incredible are the tales of personal courage. This book also tells the story of Joe Kittinger; who stepped out of an open balloon gondola in his pressure suit nearly 20 MILES above the surface of the Earth and parachuted safely to the ground after almost 5 minutes of freefall (a feat never since equalled or exceeded). Personally; Mr. Kittinger gets my vote for the biggest balls ever. You have to admire the man who was the first person ever to break the sound barrier... WITHOUT a vehicle!
