THE 24TH WISCONSIN INFANTRY IN THE CIVIL WAR: THE BIOGRAPHY OF A REGIMENT

by William J. K. Beaudot

Winner of Milwaukee County Historical Society's coveted Gambrinus Prize for the best book-length contribution to Milwaukee historiography in 2003 Profiles the courageous 24th Wisconsin Infantry and features the personal stories of members of the 24th, including Arthur McArthur, the father of Gen. Douglas MacArthur Utilizes hundreds of primary sources--letters, diaries, and contemporary newspaper articles Formed in the summer of 1862, the 24th Wisconsin Infantry participated in many major battles of the Western theater, earning a reputation as a brave, hard-fighting unit. Unlike other unit histories, this book makes no attempt, as the author freely admits, to provide "an objective history" of the regiment. Rather, the book digs deeper, following the personal stories of the soldiers themselves, providing hundreds of individual vignettes that, taken together, paint a vivid picture of the life of a Union soldier.

Genres: Civil War

448 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2002

Reviews

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stirring and moving history of the 24th Wisconsin Infantry in the Civil War. Composed mainly of men from Milwaukee and nearby communities, the 24th fought in battles in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia. This splendid and well-researched chronicle focuses on the experiences of the soldiers, and packed with excerpts from letters, diaries, and newspaper stories. Highly recommended!