Banners at Shenandoah: A Story of Sheridan's Fighting Cavalry

by Bruce Catton

Enlisting in the Union Army, a seventeen-year-old from Michigan ends up in the cavalry under "Fighting Phil" Sheridan headed for Virginia.

Genres: Civil War, Fiction, Historical Fiction, American History

254 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1955

About the author

Bruce Catton was a distinguished American historian and journalist, best known for his influential writings on the American Civil War. Renowned for his narrative style, Catton brought history to life through richly drawn characters, vivid battlefield descriptions, and a deep understanding of the political and emotional forces that shaped the era. His accessible yet meticulously researched books made him one of the most popular historians of the twentieth century.
Born in Petoskey, Michigan, and raised in the small town of Benzonia, Catton grew up surrounded by Civil War veterans whose personal stories sparked a lifelong fascination with the conflict. Though he briefly attended Oberlin College, Catton left during World War I and served in the U.S. Navy. He later began a career in journalism, working as a reporter, editor, and Washington correspondent. His experience in government service during World War II inspired his first book, The War Lords of Washington (1948).
Catton achieved national acclaim with his Army of the Potomac trilogy—Mr. Lincoln’s Army (1951), Glory Road (1952), and A Stillness at Appomattox (1953)—the last of which earned him the Pulitzer Prize for History and the National Book Award. He went on to publish a second trilogy, The Centennial History of the Civil War, and contributed two volumes to a biography of Ulysses S. Grant, begun by Lloyd Lewis. His other notable works include This Hallowed Ground, The American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War, and Waiting for the Morning Train, a memoir of his Michigan boyhood.
In 1954, Catton became the founding editor of American Heritage magazine, further shaping the public’s understanding of U.S. history. In 1977, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Catton’s legacy endures through his vivid portrayals of America’s most defining conflict and his enduring influence on historical writing.

Reviews

[Mark Luongo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice little novel by one of the most noted Civil War historians of all time, Bruce Catton. We all cut our teeth on his Civil War histories. He does a fine job of telling the tale of a young Union soldier who rides with Phil Sheridan throughout the war carrying the general's flag. Reads like Catton's histories, entertaining and enlightening at the same time. A little romance too for those who care for such things.
I enjoyed it very much.

[Kendrick Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is historical fiction. Very easy read. Probably intended for younger audience. Entertaining.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a history, like most other Catton books. This turned out to be an historical novel. While the main characters seem fictional, it does track with Civil War events. The title is also misleading, since this covers events from 1861 (late) through to the end of the war, with Sheridan appearing first as a regimental commander.
This does not mean that it is a bad read. It is a thin book, probably meant for a younger audience. But enjoyable all the same.

[Steven Yoder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a story about a young man who decided to join the Union Army in the Civil War and ended up as part of Phil Sheridan's cavalry. It was an easy read and exciting.