Campaigning with the Irish Brigade: Pvt. John Ryan, 28th Massachusetts edited by Sandy Barnard. Hardcover, 187 pp., Illustrated, Index.

Campaigning with the Irish Brigade: Pvt. John Ryan, 28th Massachusetts

Edited by Sandy Barnard

Although the exploits of the Irish Brigade continue to elicit deep interest among aficionados and casual students of the Civil War alike, it is remarkable how little primary material on the unit actually exists. Well, followers of the Wild Geese can take heart. Editor Sandy Barnard expertly steps into the breech to bring up Campaigning with the Irish Brigade: Pvt. John Ryan, 28th Massachusetts, the Civil War memoirs of infantryman John Ryan. Previously, Barnard published Ryan's reminiscences as a non-commissioned officer in the 7th U.S. Cavalry on the Great Plains (Ten Years with Custer, A 7th Cavalryman's Memoirs), a satisfying extensive manuscript that climaxed on Reno's Hill at the Little Bighorn. Now the reader can discover Ryan's Civil War exploits, a tour of duty that winds from the marshes of South Carolina through the wheat fields of Gettysburg. Especially interesting are Ryan's memories of camp life, a blend of wide-eyed innocenceñRyan was 16 when he enlistedñtempered by the bloodied realities of war. And while the Irishman's words colorfully narrate his passage, editor Barnard meticulously details the nooks and the crannies of the story, creating an illuminating sweep of shade and substance. With Campaigning with the Irish Brigade: Pvt. John Ryan, 28th Massachusetts, Sandy Barnard has produced both a fascinating tale of a young man's war and a worthy addition to the undersized bookshelf of the Irish Brigade in the American Civil War.

Patrick Brennan

Author, Secessionville: Assault on Charleston

Best known to historians as a stalwart first sergeant in Custer's 7th U.S. Cavalry Regiment at the Battle of Little Bighorn, John Ryan was also a proud veteran of the Civil War. Ryan's account of those four years of service trace his evolution from naive volunteer to battle-scarred veteran in the ranks of the 28th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantryña regiment of the famed Irish Brigade. His recently discovered memoir is a significant contribution to the historical record of those who followed the green banner through some of the bloodiest combat of America's bloodiest conflict.

Brian Pohanka, Historical Consultant