Library's review
Hess has written a marvel of a brigade history with just the right mix of biography of its leaders and men, a description of its organization and logistics as well as the events in camp, on the march and on the battle field. The addition of colorful vignettes about the 26th NC band and the original voices of its members create period flair and sympathy for the poor devils. "The bois sais they can whip five a peace." Which turned out to be wildly optimistic and soon turned into a defiant "they may over pour us, but they cant scear us." The boys paid a high price in blood, which makes it completely unnecessary for Hess to bloat the casualty numbers with the men captured. POWs may be casualties from an organizational point of view, but may not destroy unit morale (as the separation is temporary). This is just a minor distraction of an otherwise exemplary work.
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The Pettigrew-Kirkland-MacRae Brigade was one of North Carolina's best-known and most successful units during the Civil War. Formed in 1862, the brigade spent nearly a year protecting supply lines before being thrust into its first major combat at Gettysburg. There, James Johnston Pettigrew's men pushed back the Union's famed Iron Brigade in vicious fighting on July 1 and played a key role in Pickett's Charge on July 3, in the process earning a reputation as one of the hardest-fighting units in Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Despite suffering heavy losses during the Gettysburg campaign, the brigade went on to prove its valor in a host of other engagements. It marched with Lee to Appomattox and was among the last Confederate units to lay down arms in the surrender ceremony. Earl Hess tells the story of the men of the Pettigrew-Kirkland-MacRae Brigade, and especially the famous 26th North Carolina, chronicling the brigade's formation and growth under Pettigrew and its subsequent exploits under William W. Kirkland and William MacRae. Beyond recounting the brigade's military engagements, Hess draws on letters, diaries, memoirs, and service records to explore the camp life, medical care, social backgrounds, and political attitudes of these gallant Tar Heels. He also addresses the continuing debate between North Carolinians and Virginians over the failure of Pickett's Charge.… (more)