Leather & Steel: The 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry in the Civil War

Rating:
Summary: "Leather and Steel"
Review: After One Hundred and Thirty Six years it is nice to see a regimental history finally written about the men of the 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Although the 12th. was not a unit that received adulation and claims of glory like the regiments of the Army of the Potomac, it's story does need to be told. Larry B. Maier has done an excellent job of giving insight into the 12th. Pennsylvania Cavalry's history. In my opinion this work is a very entertaining and educational narrative as well as a scholarly work. I tip my kepi to you Sir:

One can understand better the ability of the 12th. to perform their duty when you see how the political backstabbing and inability of those in command to train and lead their men. One also gets a better understanding of the mindset of these men when you are faced with occupying the enemies' territory and are threatened with bushwhackers that can attack at any time and anywhere. Unlike the men in the Army of the Potomac who in large armies faced the enemy in most cases, known to all the men, the 12th. lived with the fear of being attacked 24-7 occupying enemy territory through out almost their entire service.

The diary excerpts of Sergeant Henry B. Petrikin give you the sense and insight of how these men felt about daily life in the 12th. Pennsylvania Cavalry.

I want to repeat the words of the Author Larry B. Maier.
"The Regiment was given only a small, but necessary, role in the Civil War. To a great extent the Hussars performed their parts with courage and patriotism, and although they never attained glory, they are certainly deserving of our respect."

I want to thank Larry B. Maier for his love of this subject and his dedication and tireless effort in putting this regimental history together.

Rating:
Summary: A Hard Luck Unit
Review: In that the 12th PA was not a front line regiment this work sheds new light on a little known but hard fought unit. Not only did this unit participate in many engagements but they had the pleasure of handling internal strife and accusations of embezzlement and incompetent leadership. This book gives excellent accounts in regards to the poor training the men received along with the specifics of almost non-stop fighting and deployment, or to use a phrase from today, 24/7 fear of attack. The author's detailed Bibliography gives the reader some excellent sources for finding more information as well as corroborating the sources within this work. Two works in particular; the William P. Graham Letters and Henry B. Petrikin's Diary add some great information and take the reader into the daily life and struggle of the 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry.
The detail of life listed by the soldiers' shows through in this work and the author does an excellent job weaving Official Records with personal accounts. His report of Antietam is quite interesting and enjoyable to read in that I've traversed that battlefield more than many others. I'll certainly have a new appreciation for the terrain in the areas hard fought by the cavalry units. Corporal James P Stewart's account about the dead and dying really brings out the horror of the day. His longing to see the field of battle and then describing the fresh burials; (if a few shovels of dirt can actually be described as burial), and the subsequent look as if the fields had been plowed had a very striking impact in his life. Men and wheat became one and they fell where they once marched and looked as if they themselves were fields of wheat just harvested by death himself.
The work is well written and gives the reader a wonderful trip into the life of a hard luck cavalry unit. Mr. Mairer did his homework and has put forth some great effort in researching this subject matter and it show through in every page. Cover to cover the reader will find that human interest has been successfully merged with historical research. This work reads well, was hard to put down, and did not drag on into over exacting details. I highly recommend this book to anyone curious about cavalry operations during the Civil War.

Rating:
Summary: A Hard Luck Unit
Review: In that the 12th PA was not a front line regiment this work sheds new light on a little known but hard fought unit. Not only did this unit participate in many engagements but they had the pleasure of handling internal strife and accusations of embezzlement and incompetent leadership. This book gives excellent accounts in regards to the poor training the men received along with the specifics of almost non-stop fighting and deployment, or to use a phrase from today, 24/7 fear of attack. The author's detailed Bibliography gives the reader some excellent sources for finding more information as well as corroborating the sources within this work. Two works in particular; the William P. Graham Letters and Henry B. Petrikin's Diary add some great information and take the reader into the daily life and struggle of the 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry.
The detail of life listed by the soldiers' shows through in this work and the author does an excellent job weaving Official Records with personal accounts. His report of Antietam is quite interesting and enjoyable to read in that I've traversed that battlefield more than many others. I'll certainly have a new appreciation for the terrain in the areas hard fought by the cavalry units. Corporal James P Stewart's account about the dead and dying really brings out the horror of the day. His longing to see the field of battle and then describing the fresh burials; (if a few shovels of dirt can actually be described as burial), and the subsequent look as if the fields had been plowed had a very striking impact in his life. Men and wheat became one and they fell where they once marched and looked as if they themselves were fields of wheat just harvested by death himself.
The work is well written and gives the reader a wonderful trip into the life of a hard luck cavalry unit. Mr. Mairer did his homework and has put forth some great effort in researching this subject matter and it show through in every page. Cover to cover the reader will find that human interest has been successfully merged with historical research. This work reads well, was hard to put down, and did not drag on into over exacting details. I highly recommend this book to anyone curious about cavalry operations during the Civil War.

Rating:
Summary: A recommended contribution to Civil War Studies
Review: Leather & Steel: The 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry In The Civil War by Civil War enthusiast and historian Larry B. Maier is a gritty, accurate account of a northern cavalry unit that was besieged with strife, not only from fighting the Rebel troops, but also plagued with internal problems such as accusations of embezzlement, a lieutenant colonel cashiered for his drunken rages, and incompetent leadership that contributed to devastating military disasters. Leather & Steel is an especially recommended contribution to Civil War Studies for its informed and informative presentation of the hardships and turmoil of arising from the conditions of war -- and the worst of human nature.

Rating:
Summary: A recommended contribution to Civil War Studies
Review: Leather & Steel: The 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry In The Civil War by Civil War enthusiast and historian Larry B. Maier is a gritty, accurate account of a northern cavalry unit that was besieged with strife, not only from fighting the Rebel troops, but also plagued with internal problems such as accusations of embezzlement, a lieutenant colonel cashiered for his drunken rages, and incompetent leadership that contributed to devastating military disasters. Leather & Steel is an especially recommended contribution to Civil War Studies for its informed and informative presentation of the hardships and turmoil of arising from the conditions of war -- and the worst of human nature.