Synopsis:
This volume is part of a multi-volume work, organized by state. The first nine volumes are devoted to the regional histories of Alabama, Arkansas and Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee and Virginia. The tenth volume covers the border states of Kentucky, Maryland and Missouri, plus Indian units serving the Confederacy and multi-state units designated as "Confederates". The final volume is comprised of tables of brigades and higher commands, including names and ranks of their commanders and dates of their commands. In all, the "Compendium" will document a total of some 2000 regimental histories. Each volume's coverage is divided into groups for artillery (including heavy artillery, horse artillery, light artillery and siege artillery); cavalry (including dragoons, lancers, mounted rifles and partisan rangers); infantry (including mounted infantry, rifles and sharp-shooters). Within each of these groupings, units are arranged by numerical designations, followed by unnumbered units which are organized alphabetically by unit name. Each individual entry includes organizational information (including, where appropriate, the date and place of the unit's organization, muster-in, reorganization and final disposition - ie. disbandment or surrender); the name of the first colonel of the regiment, first commander of a battalion or first captain of an artillery battalion, followed by an alphabetical listing of all field officers of the command, with their ranks; the higher assignments of the unit - a complete listing of the various campaigns, battles and skirmishes in which the unit was engaged, complete with dates; furthur reading suggestions, as available, of unit histories and personal memoirs.
From Library Journal:
With the release of five new volumes, Facts on File's landmark survey of the Confederacy's military units is nearly complete. This survey (see LJ 12/91 for a review of several early volumes) compares most favorably with Frederick Dyer's A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion (Morningside Bookshop, 1994), the standard reference for regiments of the Union armies since its original publication in 1908. For the most part, "Compendium of the Confederate Armies" is organized into individual volumes for each large state of the Confederacy; smaller states and miscellaneous forces are grouped as appropriate. Units are categorized by service branch. Entries are provided for every known Confederate unit, establishing its identity and presenting a brief narrative of its service, war record, and commanders. Information given for several South Carolina regiments was found to be consistent with Augustus Dickert's History of Kershaw's Brigade, published circa 1899. Although this does not assure the accuracy of Sifakis's facts, it is indicative of the resources he consulted. And therein lies the strength of the series: information from a wide variety of relatively inaccessible or little-known Confederate sources is now available in a single, well-organized work. Researchers at all levels of Civil War scholarship, including enthusiasts and genealogists, will find the series an invaluable reference. Highly recommended for all academic and larger public libraries.
Lawrence E. Ellis, Newberry Coll., S.C.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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