audiobook In the Words of Napoleon: The Emperor Day by Day (The Napoleonic Library) by Edited by R.M. Johnston in History

Description

In January 1863; a long-anticipated military order arrived on the desk of Massachusetts Governor John Andrew. President Lincoln's secretary of war; Edwin Stanton; had granted the governor authority to raise regiments of black soldiers. Two units--the 54th and 55th Massachusetts Infantry--were soon mustered and in December; Andrew issued General Order No. 44; announcing "a Regiment of Cavalry Volunteers; to be composed of men of color...is now in the process of recruitment in the Commonwealth." Drawing on letters; diaries; memoirs and official reports; this book provides the first full-length regimental history of the Fifth Massachusetts Cavalry--its organization; participation in the Petersburg campaign and the guarding of prisoners at Point Lookout; Maryland; and its triumphant ride into Richmond. Accounts of the postwar lives of many of the men are included.