Thunder at the Gates
The Black Civil War Regiments That Redeemed America
New York : Basic Books, [2016]
Format: Book
Description: ix, 429 pages : illustrations, maps, portraits ; 25 cm
An intimate, authoritative history of the first black soldiers to fight in the Union Army during the Civil War
Soon after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, abolitionists began to call for the creation of black regiments. At first, the South and most of the North responded with outrage-southerners promised to execute any black soldiers captured in battle, while many northerners claimed that blacks lacked the necessary courage. Meanwhile, Massachusetts, long the center of abolitionist fervor, launched one of the greatest experiments in American history.
In Thunder at the Gates , Douglas Egerton chronicles the formation and battlefield triumphs of the 54th and 55th Massachusetts Infantry and the 5th Massachusetts Cavalry-regiments led by whites but composed of black men born free or into slavery. He argues that the most important battles of all were won on the field of public opinion, for in fighting with distinction the regiments realized the long-derided idea of full and equal citizenship for blacks.
A stirring evocation of this transformative episode, Thunder at the Gates offers a riveting new perspective on the Civil War and its legacy.
Soon after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, abolitionists began to call for the creation of black regiments. At first, the South and most of the North responded with outrage-southerners promised to execute any black soldiers captured in battle, while many northerners claimed that blacks lacked the necessary courage. Meanwhile, Massachusetts, long the center of abolitionist fervor, launched one of the greatest experiments in American history.
In Thunder at the Gates , Douglas Egerton chronicles the formation and battlefield triumphs of the 54th and 55th Massachusetts Infantry and the 5th Massachusetts Cavalry-regiments led by whites but composed of black men born free or into slavery. He argues that the most important battles of all were won on the field of public opinion, for in fighting with distinction the regiments realized the long-derided idea of full and equal citizenship for blacks.
A stirring evocation of this transformative episode, Thunder at the Gates offers a riveting new perspective on the Civil War and its legacy.
Contents:
The travelers -- The Brahmins -- Readville -- The Sea Islands -- Battery Wagner -- Hospitals and home fronts -- The siege -- Florida -- Liberation -- Occupation -- The veterans -- Epilogue: the legacy of the regiments.
Subjects:
United States. Army. Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, 54th (1863-1865)
United States. Army. Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, 55th (1863-1865)
United States. Army. Massachusetts Cavalry Regiment, 5th (1864-1865)
United States. Army -- African American troops -- History -- 19th century.
African American soldiers -- Massachusetts -- History -- 19th century.
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Participation, African American.
Massachusetts -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Participation, African American.
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns.
United States. Army. Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, 54th (1863-1865)
United States. Army. Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, 55th (1863-1865)
United States. Army. Massachusetts Cavalry Regiment, 5th (1864-1865)
United States. Army -- African American troops -- History -- 19th century.
African American soldiers -- Massachusetts -- History -- 19th century.
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Participation, African American.
Massachusetts -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Participation, African American.
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns.
ISBN:
9780465096640 (hardcover)
Availability | |||
---|---|---|---|
Call Number | Location | Shelf Location | Status |
HISTORY War Civil Ege | Main (Downtown) | Third Level, Nonfiction | In |
HISTORY War Civil Ege | Main (Downtown) | Third Level, Nonfiction | In |
HISTORY War Civil Ege | Cooper (Forest Acres) | Nonfiction | In |
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Includes bibliographical references (pages 355-409) and index.