Twenty-four stories of the Irish in the U.S. Civil War—true tales of sacrifice; gallantry; and chanceThis is the story of the forgotten role of the 200;000 Irish men and women who were involved in various ways in the U.S. Civil War. It includes the story of James Shields; who challenged Abraham Lincoln to a duel in Illinois before the war began; and James O'Beirne; whose job was to hunt Lincoln's assassin. The stories are divided into "beginnings;" "realities;" "the wider war;" and "aftermath." Each section contains six true stories of gallantry; sacrifice; and bravery; from the flag bearer who saved his regimental colors at the cost of his arms; to the story of Jennie Hodgers; who successfully passed as a man to serve throughout the war in the 95th. All photos come from the Library of Congress.
#2559122 in Books 2008-03-24Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.47 x .86 x 6.48l; 1.08 #File Name: 1844156338224 pages
Review
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A great read on a subject not well knownBy Dr. William H. MooreThe greatest navy in the world at the time was engaged in fighting the evil slave trade. These are their stories... A well documented history of fighting the trade to both the Americas and the Middle East.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. The end of the bloodiest of trades.By Ned MiddletonIn 1807 Britain abolished the Slave Trade and in 1808 the Royal Navy formed it's African Squadron. Their task was to seek out those ships suspected of carrying slaves from Africa to the Americas and elsewhere. In true Nelsonian style; the Royal Navy took the fight to the enemy and sailed their ships right into the heartland through un-chartered rivers in order to destroy the slave ships at close quarters. But the enemy fought back.For ninety years the Royal Navy fought alone and forgotten. They fought against African chiefs who sold their own people into slavery and against powerful Arabs who made great fortunes. They also fought against well armed and well trained private warships sent to deal with this self-appointed British force. This was a time when masters of slave ships would so arrange the chaining of the slaves below decks that; should a British warship approach; they would open a hatch on the blind side of their ship and drop a heavy weight attached to those shackles sending hundreds of slaves to a watery grave below at a stroke - just so that they could deny having had slaves on board.It was a long and hard war which cost the British many men and ships until; eventually; Empires within Africa changed over to the export of locally grown produce. Only then had this war been won.In a thrilling; yet often disturbing account of the final years of the slave trade; author Bernard Edwards provides the reader with a well-balanced account of this little-known period from British naval history.NM1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Stopping The SlaversBy Fife and DrummerNice short history of the Royal Navy's little-known; decades long (although finally successful) effort to halt the Atlantic slave trade; and then the Arab slave trade on the East African coast. Many swashbuckling anecdotes. The book has three decent area maps and a few interesting illustrations.The Royal Navy's Africa station got the cast-off warships that could be spared. Each chapter begins with a memorial inscription (from various churches in England) memorializing a naval officer who lost his life while performing this honorable but hazardous duty. The battle at Lagos in 1851 was all new to me.The slave ships were often fast sailors; and surprisingly well-armed - hunting them down was no lark. Most impressive is not so much the scale of the British effort; but its longevity and cost; in both blood and gold.Naval history publishing skews heavily towards the big battles and great leaders; so Mr. Edwards (and Pen Sword) is to be commended for a history of this almost unknown campaign.
