Like Men of War - by Noah Andre Trudeau (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Like Men of War, originally published in 1998 by Little, Brown, was a groundbreaking early study of Black troops in the Civil War that It is still considered a major contribution to the literature on the USCT. This is a chronological operational history. Trudeau covers every major engagement in which the United States Colored Troops (USCT) participated, as well as some minor ones. He quotes generously from primary documents, including Black soldiers' letters. John David Smith said of the first edition, "Like Men of War is important and relevant because it remains the only extant narrative history of Black troops in the Union Army aimed at both general readers and scholars and students. William A. Dobak's Freedom by the Sword (2011), although an excellent work, is a finely-tuned tactical and strategic study, but one that omits the human element and fine writing that Trudeau's book exudes. It serves more as a tactical manual, not a monograph. Also, Dobak's logistical and institutional study is "dry as dust" whereas Trudeau's book breathes life into the men and battles of the USCT." What's new in the second edition: Updated language, e.g., "owner" to "enslaver"; Text changes throughout - words, sentences, paragraphs; New photographs (we're only using five from the first edition), and placed throughout rather than gathered together; New chapters/sections: see TOC"--

Book Synopsis

Originally published in 1998, Like Men of War was a groundbreaking early study of Black troops in the Civil War that is still considered a major contribution to the literature on the United States Colored Troops (USCT). In this chronological operational history, Trudeau covers every major engagement--and a few minor ones--that the USCT participated in. By quoting generously from primary documents, including Black soldiers' letters, Trudeau tells the combat history of African American troops in the Civil War largely through the voices of the soldiers themselves.

This fresh, expanded second edition adds material on additional engagements and other aspects of Black soldiers' experiences, and features a new selection of photographs. The updated bibliography is extensive, providing a rich selection of source materials for further study and exploration. Like Men of War is essential reading for anyone seeking a thorough understanding of the US Civil War.

Review Quotes

"Trudeau's work represents one of the most modern and comprehensive narrative histories of Black soldiers' service throughout the Civil War. The new edition documents additional skirmishes and actions not included in the first, as well as a generous number of illustrations."--Emerging Civil War

"Noah Andre Trudeau's Like Men of War became an instant classic when it was first published in 1998. No other book offered the scope and depth of the Black military experience during the Civil War era and even with all the research that we've seen over the past twenty-five years, the book remains essential reading. Historians and general readers will no doubt enjoy and profit from this updated and revised edition."--Kevin M. Levin, author of Searching for Black Confederates: The Civil War's Most Persistent Myth

"Like Men of War is important and relevant because it remains the only extant narrative history of Black troops in the Union Army aimed at both general readers and scholars and students. Not a logistical or institutional study, Trudeau's book breathes life into the men and battles of the U.S. Colored Troops."--John David Smith, coauthor of Soldiering for Freedom: How the Union Army Recruited, Trained, and Deployed the U.S. Colored Troops

"Two distinguishing features of this book make it the most valuable compendium of the important role of Black soldiers in the Civil War. Every combat operation in which these units participated, including major battles as well as minor skirmishes, is described. And much of the evidence consists of enlisted men's letters, diaries, reports, and memoirs. Readers will find here the most complete account of these events."--James M. McPherson, author of Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era

"Like Men of War remains the best traditional military history of the service of African Americans in the Union Army during the Civil War. It is wonderful that Noah Andre Trudeau and the University Press of Kansas are publishing a new edition of this classic work. No doubt the second edition will help acquaint a new generation of readers with the battlefield story of Black Union soldiers."--Donald R. Shaffer, author of After the Glory: The Struggles of Black Civil War Veterans