The Second Massachusetts Cavalry included the only organized group (5 companies totaling 504 men) from California to fight in the east during the Civil War. Led by a young Boston aristocrat; Colonel Charles R. Lowell; these men began their wartime careers in Northern Virginia in 1862; clashing with the partisan rangers of Major John S. Mosby; in a deadly world of guerrilla warfare. In August of 1864; the regiment was assigned to Major General Phil Sheridans Army of Shenandoah and served through all of the battles in the victorious campaign to clear the valley of Confederates; witnessing the final surrender at Appomattox Courthouse. This account tells what these men from California and Massachusetts accomplished; how they communicated; and how they viewed themselves. The book contains three appendices that list the battle casualties of the regiment during its largest engagements. Photographs and a bibliography are also included.
#1961596 in Books 2005-05-25Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.50 x 1.30 x 6.00l; 1.42 #File Name: 0785816771260 pages
Review
2 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Decent Summary of the River battles in the WestBy Aussie ReaderThis book offers the reader a general overview of the Federal campaign in the West using the great water-ways to cut the Confederacy in half. The author presents a well told and interesting story; covering the river craft and tactics used by both sides.Overall I found it a half decent book to read but it does not offer an in-depth account of the battles and campaigns fought to gain Vicksburg. If that's what your after you will have to look else where but the book is well suited for a general reader.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Informative but disappointingBy Mark LongstrothThis book was an easy read. I am interested in the Mississippi Squadron so I bought this book. It was written by a Navy veteran and does a good job of reviewing the history of these gunboats and this is the strength of the book. There are good accounts of many of the river Navy's engagements; some well known and others obscure. I was disappointed in the author's attempts to tie the naval war into the ground war where I thought the author made mistakes; which I thought a more through treatment would have avoided. There are only a few maps. There are a good number of photos; and period lithographs that are placed on good paper for excellent reproduction; which looks much better than reproducing them on the ordinary paper with the text. If you can overlook some minor errors this is a good book about the naval war in the western theater.5 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Poorly Edited and Amateurish WritingBy A CustomerSeveral mistakes; inconsistencies; and typographical errors belie its otherwise scholarly attempt to document an important event which determined many courses of action during the Civil War: the capitulation of the Mississippi River Valley and its major tributaries. Examples: 1) page 62 - Fort Donelson is actually on the West side of the Cumberland River; not the East as the book states. 2) p. 96 - At the Battle of Shiloh; Sherman held the Federal right flank during the first day of battle; not the left flank as stated in this book. That honor fell to Hurlbut's forces. This is an error too basic to be made by anyone with any knowledge of the Civil War. This error tells me that the author is incompetent (or incomplete) in his research and/or the editor failed to catch the mistake. Either reason renders the book significantly less credible as a source of correct information regarding the Civil War. 3) p. 95 - the last sentence of the first paragraph contains a dangling preposition. There are; unfortunately; many instances of this type of error throughout the book which further lends to the notion that this is nothing but an amateurish; hastily constructed book. 4) p. 146 - the second paragraph on the page (which starts "After the battle was over...") is a run-on sentence. Unfortunately; there are more than just this one instance in the book. 5) p. 165 - "When the Union vessels hove into sight; Essex in the van; the fight was about to begin." This is an inane statement to make and insults the intelligence of the reader. What else would they be about to do? 6) p. 168 - I believe that the gentlemen's name is DAVID Dixon Porter; not DAVIS Dixon Porter. 7) p. 168 - Porter was appointed Commodore in April of 1862; not April of 1866 as stated in the book. The book is correct in stating that he gained command of the Mississippi River fleet in October of 1862 yet in the same paragraph the book states this occurred in October of 1861. These are troubling errors for a book which deals with a subject that was so pivotal in determining the course of the Civil War. The book is not credible; but readable nevertheless. My final criticism is the lack of detail surrounding some of the more important issues impinging upon the Union's successful prosecution of the Mississippi campaign: for example; there is only cursory treatment of the long-standing; bitter rivalry between the Army and Navy; exhibited with the battle over control of the Mississippi River Brigade (COL Alfred Ellet; Commanding) within ADM Porter's fleet. This controversy reached all the way into Lincoln's cabinet where a dispute raged between Stanton and Welles over influences exerted on the course of the war by their respective departments. This important controversy is not discussed but in a very cursory fashion which further calls into question the depth of research conducted or the knowledge desired to be disseminated. In any event; this book is not worth the time spent to read it for serious students of the Civil War; and specifically the Mississippi River Campaign. It is entertaining if only to discover what the editors overlooked but should be considered nothing more than an inept; incomplete treatment of an otherwise fascinating and important subject.
