Philip Katcher

The American Civil War was a turning point in the evolution of the world's most successful nation and, as such, is profusely studied beyond the US as well as within it. The war accounted for 650,000 lives and this is just one of a myriad of statistics that accompany such major events: this excellent reference work provides all the data required for a complete study of the action and does so in a logical, compact and convenient style. The author's carefully devised information is presented in a manner and style that aids widespread use by students, historians and researchers at all levels and may well become the most valuable reference source on their library shelves. In sequence with future volumes in this series the contents are set out as: Introduction, Reasons for War, Chronology, The Participants, The Combatant Forces, Weapons and Equipment, and Aids to Further Study. In addition, tables of statistics feature throughout the book that also includes illustrations and maps.

The American Civil War was one of the last wars in which generals often led from the front, risking death at the head of their men. It was a war of larger-than-life characters, generals who earned colourful reputations and strong opinions among their soldiers and colleagues. This book outlines the careers and characters - and illustrates the appearance, in their authentic uniforms - of famous Confederate commanders who fought in the Western theatre of operations, including Beauregard, Johnston, Jackson, Cheatham and nearly 20 more.

The American Civil War was one of the last wars in which generals often led from the front, risking death at the head of their men. It was a war of larger-than-life characters, generals who earned colourful reputations and strong opinions among their soldiers and colleagues. This book outlines the careers and characters - and illustrates the appearance, in their authentic uniforms - of famous Union commanders who fought in the Western theatre of operations, including Grant, Kilpatrick, Sherman, Wilson, McPherson and nearly 20 more.

The American Civil War was one of the last wars in which generals often led from the front, risking death at the head of their men. It was a war of larger-than-life characters, generals who earned colourful reputations and strong opinions among their soldiers and colleagues. These men were not stamped out as identical products of a professional military machine; some were veterans, others men of limited experience promoted to high rank for a variety of reasons, good and bad. This title outlines the careers and characters - and illustrates the appearance, in their authentic uniforms - of famous Confederate commanders who fought in the Eastern theatre of operations, Lee, Garland, Stuart, Pendleton, Blair and nearly 20 more.

Sharpshooters were highly trained marksmen who served in a front-line role in the American Civil War. By the mid-1850s, technological developments meant that weapons were now available that could guarantee greater accuracy over increased range than traditional muskets. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, both Confederate and Union experts decided that specialized sharpshooter units should be formed, with focused training and superior weaponry. This title examines the recruitment, training, tactics and deployment of sharpshooters from both sides of the conflict. It also takes a close look at the specialized personal weaponry of the sharpshooter, the rifle and its accoutrements, as well as the sharpshooters' unique insignia and identification patches.

The Southerner of the mid-19th century had been bred to ride horses. Men rode horseback wherever they wanted to go. Added to this, the period Southerner had long been used to firearms, whether for hunting for pleasure or food or simply sport. Putting the two together promised that when the Southern states seceded, beginning in December 1860, the cavalry would be a major combat arm: in fact, Robert E. Lee and Albert Sidney Johnston both came from the 2nd US Cavalry just before the war. This title looks at how the men of the Confederate cavalry were recruited, trained, lived and fought. Both routine and campaign life are covered, as well as the weapons and equipment that served them in their combat roles. Key encounters such as the 1863 clash at Brandy Station are also covered.

The American Civil War was one of the last wars in which generals often led from the front, risking death at the head of their troops. It was a war of larger-than-life characters, generals who earned colourful reputations and strong opions among their soldiers and colleagues. This book outlines the careers and characters - and illustrates the appearance, in their authentic uniforms - of famous Union commanders who fought in the eastern theatre of operations, including Barlow, Custer, Sickles, Chamberlain, Couch and nearly 20 more.

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. 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 - at such moments, the drill and discipline installed on the training ground were all that held fear and cowardice at bay. 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 was equipped, dressed and fed; and how he fought.

Because of the length of the coastline of the United States, from the beginning American ordnance and engineers placed an emphasis on heavy artillery mounted in coastal defences. The Union army organised its 'Heavy Artillery' into separate regiments, uniformed and equipped differently. While the Field Artillery was assigned across the fighting fronts Heavy Artillery units served the big guns in the forts and the defences of Washington. The Confederates did not differentiate types of artillery and those that became known as Heavy Artillery did so through informal association rather than formal designation. This book details the development and usage of the big guns.

Perhaps the most influential arm of either army in the prosecution of the American Civil War, the artillery of both sides grew to be highly professional organizations, centralizing their artillery, organizing artillery battalions from individual batteries and giving their commanders higher ranks than field artillerymen had previously held. In battle, the introduction of the 12-pdr. Napoieon, followed closely by rifled cannon, provided a range and power previously unknown on American soil. This book details this vital cog in the war-machine of both sides.

This volume describes the uniforms, weaponry, military practices and daily life of the Union Army's cavalry troopers during the American Civil War, a fighting force whose initial inexperience and lack of training was overcome as the campaign progressed and new weaponry was introduced. It is illustrated with contemporary images, detailed diagrams and colour plates.

Most Civil War soldiers, although they served in a national Union or Confederate Army, fought under a state designation and often felt that they were representing their state as much as their country. So it was only natural that many carried state flags, or national flags with state seals and mottos, as their regimental colours. Complemented by many photographs and illustrations, incuding eight full page colour plates by Rick Scollins and Gerry Embleton, Philip Katcher's engaging and informative text explores the flags of the State and Volunteer troops of the American Civil War. Men-at-Arms 252, 258 and 265 are also available in a single volume special edition as 'Flags of the Civil War'.

The regimental or battery set of colours was more than simply a unit designation, issued for the ease of a commander in identifying his units in the field. It was the very symbol of the regiment; it was its heart, the thing that drew its members together. As such it was fiercely defended in action, where it flew in the centre of the line. Complemented by numerous illustrations, including eight full page colour plates by Rick Scollins, this book by Philip Katcher provides a fascinating examination of the Union flags of the American Civil War. Men-at-Arms 252, 258 and 265 are also available in a single volume special edition as 'Flags of the Civil War'.

The very heart of the Confederate fighting unit was its flag, which came in a variety of designs and colours. The flag was the rallying point on the field of battle and it marked the unit headquarters in camp. In 1865, at the war's conclusion, the furling of the defeated Confederate banners signalled the end of that episode in history. As the first of three books focusing on flags of the Civil War, Philip Katcher's text provides a detailed look into Confederate flags. Full colour illustrations and rare photographs portray the myriad variations of flags used to represent the seceding southern states.

A concise, illustrated study of the US cavalrymen of the American West in the late nineteenth century.Two events in the 19th century turned the minds of Americans westwards towards eventual and inevitable conflict with the Plains Indians. The first was victory in the Mexican-American War, which brought millions of acres of new land in the West. The second was the discovery of gold in California. One of the results of this migration was conflict with the Indians who inhabited the Plains. So it was natural that the Army, the nation's armed peace-keepers, should be sent to garrison the West.This book by Philip Katcher tells the absorbing story of the US cavalrymen who patrolled the Plains from 1850 to 1890, supported by photographs and detailed original colour artwork.

The wars between whites and Indians, the most famous of which were fought on the great Western plains between 1860 and 1890, were among the most tragic of all conflicts ever fought. To the victor went no less than the complete domination of the continent, to the loser total extinction. Accustomed only to small scale skirmishing and raiding, the Indians were doomed from the start. They had never fought a European-style war with its constant pressure and co-ordinated strategies. Philip Katcher details the armies of both sides, paying particular attention to their organisation and uniforms.

Between 1890 and 1920 the US Army underwent profound changes in organization, function, composition and appearance.The Army was transformed from a small, blue-clad force whose primary weapon was the single-shot rifle, into a mighty host of men dressed in dirt-coloured combat uniforms, using automatic weapons, tanks and aircraft to fight enemies on fields across the world. This book details the Army's developments during its involvement in the Spanish-American War, the Boxer Rebellion and World War I.Particular attention is given to the evolution of the Army's uniforms, which are illustrated vividly throughout the book.

Typically the United States is said to have declared war on Great Britain in 1812 because of the Royal Navy's impressment of American seamen and the British desire to create an Indian buffer state. An Englishman William Cobbett, described the real cause of the conflict: 'There seemed to be wanting just such a war as this to complete the separation of England from America; and to make the latter feel that she had no safety against the former but in the arms of her free citizens.' Regardless of the reasons, however, on 4 June 1812, U.S.President James Madison, asked Congress to declare war.

‘There never was so fine an American army,’ wrote second-lieutenant, John Sedgwick, in describing the troops under Major-General Zachary Taylor in 1846. Another then second-lieutenant, destined to see many more armies; U.S. Grant, also thought highly of them: ‘The rank and file were probably inferior … to the volunteers that participated in all the later battles of the war; but they were brave men, and then drill and discipline brought out all there was in them.’ Philip Katcher writes the story of the regulars and volunteers who fought in the Mexican-American War, detailing the infantry, cavalry, artillery and staff of both the American and Mexican armies.

A concise illustrated study of the uniforms of the volunteer militias of the US Civil War. Uniformed volunteer units were raised by individuals, usually from an area's social élite who had enough spare money and time to spend on such enthusiasms. They voted on their unit designation, their officers and non-commissioned officers, their unit rules, and their uniform. Many future leaders learned their skills in these ranks, and volunteer militia units formed the core of many fighting units on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line. With the help of numerous photographs and illustrations, including eight full page colour plates by Ron Volstad, Philip Katcher does a fine job of detailing the uniforms of the volunteer militia of the American Civil War.