Product Description

In the heady days of the rush to arms in 1861, comparatively few Southern men volunteered for service in the artillery: most preferred the easily accessible glory of the infantry or cavalry. Yet those that did quickly earned the respect of their fellow soldiers, and a reputation for being able to "pull through deeper mud, ford deeper springs, shoot faster, swear louder ... than any other class of men in the service". Given that field artillery was invariably deployed in front of the troops that it was supporting, the artillerymen were exposed to a high level of enemy fire, and losses were significant. This title guides the reader through the life and experiences of the Confederate cannoneer - where he came from; how he trained and lived; how he dressed, ate and was equipped; and how he fought.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #687692 in Books
• Published on: 2001-08-25
• Released on: 2001-08-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 64 pages

From the Publisher
Insights into the real lives of history's fighting men, packed with full colour illustrations, highly detailed cutaways, exploded artwork of weaponry and armour, and action-packed battle scenes.

About the Author
Philip Katcher lives and works in Pennsylvania, USA, and is a recognized expert on the history of American armed forces. Philip has written many titles in the Men-at-Arms series including the highly successful books on the armies and flags of the American Civil War. For the Osprey Warrior series, he has previously written the well-received Union Cavalryman 1861-65.

Customer Reviews

Confederate Artilleryman
This Warrior title from Osprey Publishing examines the training and combat experiences of the cannoneers of the Confederate Army for the entire duration of the Civil War. Early in the war, being an artilleryman was not considered very glamorous, and most recruits joined the infantry or especially the cavalry. The artillerymen would soon prove their worth, however, and would forge a reputation for valor and tenacity as much so as their comrades in the cavalry and infantry.

The book is divided into the following sections: enlistment, training, daily life, appearance, campaign life, and the artilleryman in battle. It is an absorbing read, as historical books should be; it discusses such varied topics as the artilleryman's spirituality, his relationship with women, and the nervous breakdowns he might suffer before a battle.

The color plates, usually considered the most useful part of an Osprey book (I agree with this claim with men-at-arms and elite titles, but beg to differ with some of the Warrior titles like this one), are up to the usual excellent standards in this volume. Six plates illustrate the men moving or operating the artillery, while two others show the uniforms of individual men, and the last two illustrate camp life and a battalion's winter headquarters.

This book is in short a good source on an essential yet somewhat overlooked type of soldier in the Civil War.