The Source

The Union Army

By Michael K. Shaffer · Originally published July 2016 · p. 7

The Source By Michael K. Shaffer

The Union Army An often overlooked, yet valuable source in researching Federal troops, exists in Selwyn Brant’s The Union Army. Originally printed in 1908, under the full title: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States, 1861-65 – Records of the Regiments in the Union Army – Cyclopedia of Battles – Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers, thanks to the work of Broadfoot Publishing - http://www.broadfootpublishing. com/ - one may buy the nine-volume set today. Brant’s original collection contained eight volumes, but when Broadfoot began reprinting in the late 1990s, they created a ninth, a helpful index to the entire set.

Following the regimental volumes, Brant included two books, five and six, which offered, in alphabetical order, a brief-narrative of skirmishes, engagements, and battles. (See example page shown.) Entitled ‘Cyclopedia of Battles,’ if a particular affair had more than one name, the editor provided a crossreference; for example, “North Anna River, Va., July 23, 1862 (See Carmel Church.)” These two volumes provide a quick-reference on the various military actions during the war, units engaged, and can direct researchers to other sources for more information. Rear Admiral George Brown served as associate editor of volume seven, which covers naval operations. Writing in story format, Brown recapped the status of the U.S. Navy at the beginning of the war. He detailed the various parts of the blockade; covered expeditions, brown water included; and closed the work with a review of the Confederate cruisers. Biographical Sketches – volume eight – contains brief biographies and photographs of hundreds of Federal officers, as the example shown illustrates. In writing the 1998 introduction to the index, volume nine, Dr. Richard Sauers suggested the Broadfoot edition would “…allow The Union Army to gain some of the fame that has eluded the set for the past several decades.” Now, almost 20 years later, perhaps, in some small way, this article will do likewise. Remember to check WorldCat http://www.worldcat.org/ for help in finding this work in a local library. Search: ‘The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States,’ and take advantage of this helpful source! Next month, we will continue to examine other primary source materials, and please keep suggestions for future ‘The Source’ columns coming! You may send them to the email address [email protected].

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Biographical Sketches Page Michael K. Shaffer: a Civil War historian, author, lecturer, and instructor, remains a member of the Society of Civil War Historians, Historians of the Civil War Western Theater, and the Georgia Association of Historians. Readers may contact him at [email protected], or

The Union Army Nine-volume Set A few of the original volumes contained an index, but the master index will direct users to the information they seek. Beginning with volume one, and running through the first four books, the collection contains a summary of military affairs in each Northern state, and a record of each regiment raised in the respective states. The regimental section provides a summary of each unit’s officers, date and location of muster, various service attachments, and a listing of battles the regiment took part in during their term of service. Each state’s history – Maine, for example - begins in providing a brief summary of the veteran whom Brant enlisted to serve as an associate editor; Joshua L. Chamberlain edited the Maine section. This table provides a breakdown of the states covered in the first four volumes.

Cyclopedia of Battles Page

States/Territories Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Delaware New York, Maryland, West Virginia, and Ohio New Jersey, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, California, Oregon, District of Columbia, Washington, Nevada, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Dakota