Under Custer's Command: The Civil War Journal of James Henry Avery

by Karla Jean Husby, Karla Jean Husby (Compiler)

George Armstrong Custer’s fabled Fifth Regiment fought with great distinction throughout the war and suffered the thrid highest total of men killed in the entire Union cavalry. A twenty-four-year-old farmer and new father from Hopkins, Michigan, named James Henry Avery was one of Custer’s feared “Wolverines.” Besides eloquently describing his personal experiences, Sergeant Avery’s wartime journals and postwar reminiscences provide uniquely detailed descriptions of Civil War cavalry movements and the only known account that addresses the escape of elements of the Fifth Michigan Cavalry on the first day of the Battle of Trevilian Station.

Genres: History, Civil War, American Civil War, War

208 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 13, 2006

Reviews

[Jack]

Enjoyed this book about the 5th Michigan Cavalry during the Civil War.
What I especially found interesting is the last two chapters - his trip to Baltimore and Wash DC to get his discharge papers. Loved his description of the first time he saw a drunken woman.

[David Engel]

Engaging personal account of a cavalryman from Michigan. I enjoyed the quaint writing style and tidbits about military life in the cavalry.

[Fredrick Danysh]

A good account of an enlisted man in Michigan's Union cavalry during the American Civil War. It describes both camp life and several battles that the original journal keeper was present at. For a period of time, George Armstrong Custer commanded the cavalry brigade that Avery took part in. The work helps to describe Custer's leadership style and ambitions.