Product Description

Led by the enthralling and controversial colonel Charles H. T. Collis, the 114th Pennsylvania Infantry was in many ways unique among the regiments serving in the Union Army. In Collis' Zouaves, Edward J. Hagerty reconstructs the Civil War experiences of this unusual group of soldiers who embraced the flamboyant uniform style made famous by the French army's Zouaves. Recruited in the summer of 1862 from Philadelphia and surrounding counties, the regiment battled Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley campaign and went on to participate in many of the major battles of the war, including Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Petersburg.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1782287 in Books
• Published on: 2005-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 357 pages

Review
"Hagerty writes that he formed a kind of kinship with the men of the regiment while working on his book. He lived in Philladelphia most of his life, trod the same streets as the soldiers, saw the same sights. . . . Through Hagerty's research and insightful analysis, we come to know this band of brothers, too."

About the Author
Edward J. Hagerty is an associate professor of history at American Military University

Customer Reviews

A scholarly, but absorbing work that reads like a novel.
While something of a "Civil War buff", I'm not onegiven to re-enactments and such. But I do enjoy books about the CivilWar that are historically accurate and most of all, do not bore me! Mr. Hagerty's tome fulfills both requirements. It's the story of the 114th Pennsylvania regiment, whose members were culled mostly from the Philadelphia area. They were a true cross-section of mid-19th century society, representing not only the trades and professions, but every degree of human courage (and cowardice) one can imagine. Much has changed since the 1860's, but the traits, trials, and frailties of Homosapiens remains a constant. This concept is key to the entertainment value of "Collis' Zouaves". Hagerty brings main characters to life, with an emphasis on historical accuracy. Letters, stories, and in many cases photographs, give the reader a "first-hand" feel to the narrative. For Civil War buffs, this book is a "must-have". For the rest of us, with or without a direct interest in the Civil War, Mr. Hagerty has accomplished what seems to be so rare: a history book that's meticulously researched, yet fun to read. In my book, it's a "must-have" for every American. I know I'll read it again.