Brooklyn’s Finest Goes to War.

Having researched the 14^th New York State Militia – the “14^th Brooklyn” or the “Red Legged Devils” or the “84th New York Volunteer Infantry” – since the 1970s, James McLean, the author of Cutler’s Brigade at Gettysburg (https://www.strategypage.com/bookreviews/2467), gives us the definitive history of a very distinguished regiment. Drawing upon many sources not hitherto explored by historians, found “at many libraries, museums, archives . . . national parks, Volunteer Service Records, and historians’ collections and newspapers,” has led McLean to make some conclusions that are not “mainstream” yet not necessarily "revisionist." 

McLean’s main purposes, of course, in what is the first of a projected three volume history of the regiment, is to examine its service from the outbreak of the war, under fire from First Bull Run, through the battles of Falmouth, Brawner’s Farm, Groveton, to Second Bull Run, during which period it transferred from militia duty to the Volunteer Army.

Mclean does a wonderful job of allowing the soldiers to speak for themselves. Early on he takes a close look at why they chose to go to war. Then he gives us insights into their experiences of military life, thoughts of home, and, of course, coping with the horrors of combat, injury, and death.

Mclean tries to get the reader to feel what it was like to be a Civil War soldier. And not only in battle, as he discusses the men’s lives and experiences between the battles in great depth. Overall, he attains his goal, giving readers a good story about the common soldiers of a notable regiment.

McLean writes not just for other historians, but also for the Civil War Buff, and even for ordinary people seeking to learn a bit about the war

McLean makes the interesting observation that the relative neglect of the 14^th Brooklyn in the literature is due to the failure of the regiment’s veterans to write about their experiences in the postwar era, during which many publications regularly ran soldiers’ memoirs, the lack of which allowed the unit to drift into obscurity.

McLean makes clear that 14^th Brooklyn performed gallantly, and argues that it was the best combat unit in the Army of the Potomac, which may stir some controversy.

McLean’s book is easy to read, flows well, offering a concise narrative that readers will enjoy, perhaps finding it hard to put down.

Those who enjoy reading about the Eastern Theater and regimental histories, will find this book quite good, and for the novice it will prove a good introduction to the soldier experience in the Civil War

Highly recommended

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Note: The 14th New York State Militia in the Civil War, Volume 1is also available in e-editions.

StrategyPage reviews are published in cooperation with The New York Military Affairs Symposium

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