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Rating: 
Summary: Valuable, concise and an excellent resource!
Review: Author Alan Nolan has brought the story of the Iron Brigade to life in this excellent study of this famous group of hard fighting midwesterners. Nolan's information is valuable and everything is backed by references. Nolan's style is concise. It was nice that he didn't dwell on subjects like battles or politics not involving the Iron Brigade. He kept the book's chapters flowing and informative. He kept biographies short while the movements and changes in command structure through out the book were covered very well. The fighting at Gettysburg was probably the best coverage and most descriptive although it was most fitting considering it was the brigade's crescendo in battle. Overall, Nolan's book is a valuable tool, reference and history of the Iron Brigade that many people could benefit from reading. 5 STARS!
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Summary: Fitting Tribute to Bravery and Valor
Review: In the history of the American Civil War, various fighting units of both sides distinguished themselves with their skill and valor - Hood's Texas Brigade, Meagher's Irish Brigade and the Stonewall Brigade come to mind - however, the men of the Old Northwest who fought in the Iron Brigade stand in no other's shadow. Forged into an efficient, disciplined fighting unit by John Gibbon, the Iron Brigade fought, with distinction, through most of the fiercest battles of the eastern theatre - Brawner Farm (Second Manassas), South Mountain, Antietam, and Gettysburg being their most significant actions, ending with Grant's overland campaign. Nolan's history of this proud fighting unit shines with praise - but the story is so thoroughly researched (from home state mustering in to an appendix detailing postwar histories of some of the officers) and convincingly told that the reader can easily forgive the subjectivity and give thanks that such a worthwhile story has been told so well. As the Iron Brigade marched past their battleground over the National Road at South Mountain on their way north following Lee's army in June 1863, they sank into melancholy that their fallen comrades were already being forgotten, graves overgrown, wooden markers fallen away. Give thanks to Nolan (among others) that the Iron Brigade's history has not been forgotten. Give thanks to the Iron Brigade that brave men did great service to their country during our most terrible conflict.
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Summary: Wondeful History of the "Black Hat Brigage"
Review: Nolan's "biography" of the battle-torn Iron Brigade contains the most stirring description of the 1st day of battle at Gettysburg that I have ever read. His account of the bravery and heroism of these men is exceptional. At times I got a bit confused trying to keep track with whom was in charge of which regiment/brigade/division, etc., but this information is vital to the history of the brigade. This book also made me aware of the under-appreciated accomplishments of Lt. Col. Rufus Dawes who should be accorded the same recognition as other noble Union leaders during this battle, such as Chamberlain, Hancock and Warren.
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Summary: Great Military History for a Great Brigade
Review: Nolan's book about the Iron Brigade is a fantastic account of the brigade's history, covering its intriguing stories off the field as much as on it. The book is very easy to follow as it begins with the creation of every regiment in the brigade and ends months after Appomattox. By using primary accounts and concise analysis, Nolan covers the relationships between the ordinary men and their officers, the relationships between the regiments, the relationships between the brigades and divisional/corps commanders all the way up to McClellan/Hooker and more. In addition, the politics in the brigade and the Army of the Potomac as a whole are covered, and all of this without even getting into the combat history of the brigade. Nolan covers in depth every combat the Iron Brigade was engaged in while it consisted of just Westerners, and the Epilogue in the book deals with the addition of non Western units to the Brigade, the dissolution of some of the regiments and the mustering out of notable officers through discharges, wounds and death. In Nolan's interpretation, although it keeps its name, the Iron Brigade is no longer THE Iron Brigade after all the casualties at Gettysburg and the addition of Eastern troops to the brigade on July 18, 1863. Thus the combat from Brawner's Farm to Gettysburg is covered in depth concerning the brigade's actions. The book has exceptional maps for the actions of the brigade on the battlefields and casualty counts for every regiment. The chapter dealing with Day 1 of Gettysburg is the book's most poignant and gripping battle account. The notes in the book are nearly 100 pages and are nearly as interesting as the narrative itself. In the notes are extended discussions on casualty %s (the Iron Brigade as a whole suffered the most battle casualties by % than any Federal brigade during the war, the 2nd Wisconsin suffered the most by % of any regiment, the 24th Michigan suffered 80% casualties on July 1 etc.) and Nolan's explanation in how he dealt with discrepancies in battle records and accounts. In the epilogue's notes, Nolan offers up post-war details of the officers in the 5 regiments. One of the best parts of the book is how Nolan really takes issue with Glenn Turner's book on Gettysburg due to its pro-Confederate slant. Turner claims the Iron Brigade was "swept off" the field and calls Old Man Burns, the old citizen who came onto the field and fought with the Iron Brigade, a "cowardly" "bushwhacker" despite fighting in line and being wounded three times during the battle. This book is perfect for anyone interested in the Civil War or anyone interested in the military history of Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan.
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Summary: definitive history of the Republic's finest
Review: Special praise is reserved for the historian who tells well-researched history as an interesting story, because its appeal is broader. When he succeeds in capturing the mood of a past era in the process, the result is something special. Meet Alan T. Nolan, who has achieved the above in this definitive work on the famous Iron Brigade (an elite unit consisting of Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan troops). We get to know its officers and its soldiers; we see it well handled and mishandled; we see (for example) the 24th Michigan earn its right to the distinctive black hat, then suffer 80% casualties--without routing, mind you--to prove to history that it surely lived up (or died up, one might say) to the proud reputation of this Western unit. Recommended to Civil War buffs, those interested in the psyche of elite units, and to those who love the West.
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Summary: A Classic Reference Work & A Good Read
Review: The author successfully weaves together regimental histories with grand strategic movements and anecdotal observations of the common soldier. All this gives a feel for the the tension and struggle faced by the "heroes" of this story-- the officers and common soldiers of the Iron Brigade. Common men of uncommon bravery and valor. The reader is able to follow the progress of each regiment within the Brigade through Nolan's fast paced, dramatic narrative. A fine reference and requisite companion to Herdegen's "Four Years with the Iron Brigade," since it puts the diaries in the larger context of Brigade movements. I appreciated Nolan's work all the more after Herdegen's book, and wished I had read them together.
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Summary: An fitting tribute to the valor of the Iron Brigade
Review: The Iron Brigade....Just the mention of those 3 words should bring a nod of acknowledgement and of praise for the boys who were the only completely Western Brigade in the Army of the Potomac. Although written in 1961...Alan T. Nolan's book on these American heroes still stands out as one of the best brigade histories ever written on the Civil War. We get the whole story from Mr. Nolan, from the mens' answer to Lincoln's call after Fort Sumter, to the harrowing engagements at Brawner's Farm, and South Mountain, plus the unbelievable struggle on September 17th, 1862, in a cornfield and woods north of the town of Sharpsburg, Maryland. Mr. Nolan brings this story to his readers in a very dynamic way...We get to meet the officers and more importantly the soldiers of this fine Brigade. One of the best unit histories ever written on the Civil War... This book is a must have!!!
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Summary: Excellent battle history of a Civil War unit
Review: This is a excellent account of the Iron Brigade, the "Black Hat Brigade", the only all western brigade in the Eastern army. This Federal unit fought at 2nd Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg and they fought well. This book was a delight to read and is one of my favourite books on the American Civil War. The book is well written and the narrative of the battles is assisted by easy to understand maps. One of the best unit histories to be printed for some time.
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Summary: Black Hats and White Gaiters
Review: This is the definitive history of what I consider the best brigade-sized unit in either army during the Civil War. Alan Nolan is THE authority on this famous, hard-hitting outfit and this book is a classic. Interesting, vivid, full of valor, heartbreaking losses, and gallant deeds, it chronicles the Army of the Potomac's sole western unit from its meager beginnings, its first engagement at Brawner's Farm the day before Second Bull Run, where it met and defeated the vaunted Stonewall Brigade in a vicious stand-up fight though outnumbered and still an untried unit of well-trained rookies. through the tough tutelage of veteran artilleryman John Gibbon, its first commander of note, to its moment of truth at Gettysburg, where, suffering almost 70% casualties, it goes into the fire unperturbed and outnumbered, both ruining and capturing opposing Confederate units, coming onto the field behind its tattered regimental flags like a wave of blue doom. I first became interested in the Iron Brigade while reading Bruce Catton's excellent trilogy on the Army of the Potomac. Not until this superb volume, however, did the whole story come out in gripping detail and hard-to-put-down narrative. The author paints a vivid picture of the realities of war, what losses can do to even a veteran, well-trained unit, and the value of personal valor and leadership. This book is highly recommended and should be on the book shelf of every Civil War reenactor, historian, and enthusiast.
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Summary: The Best Brigade History
Review: What is amazing about the history of the Iron Brigade is the courage repeatedly shown by ordinary Americans on numerous occassions. The Iron Brigade suffered the highest rate of casualties of any Union brigade. Their heroism at numerous battles, including Antietam and Gettysburg, should be remembered by all. Nolan does a masteful job of bringing the Brigade to life. After the chapter on Gettysburg one could feel the anguish and pride that was felt by the Brigade as a result of their stand against overwhelming odds. This book is not only a fine military history, but a human one as well.
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