Under Custer's Command: The Civil War Journal of James Henry Avery

185 Pages Indexed. Black boards with gold spine lettering. No defects noted. dust jacket price $24.95 is unclipped. James Henry Avery answered President Abraham Lincoln's call for Civil War volunteers in August 1862. Enlisting in the Fifth Michigan Cavalry, he became one of General George Armstrong Custer's feared Wolverines, serving in a unit that fought with great distinction throughout the Civil War. In this book the battlefield journals and postwar remembrances of Sergeant Avery, compiled by Karla Jean Husby and edited by Eric J. Wittenberg, offer detailed descriptions of Civil War cavalry movements and daily life in the Fifth Regiment. The text is augmented with notes that provide useful historical context for the reader. Avery eloquently describes his personal experiences in battles that include Gettysburg, The Wilderness, Yellow Tavern, and Cedar Creek. Under Custer's Command also contains the only known account of the torturous two-week march back to friendly lines made by elements of the Fifth Regiment after they were separated from their comrades on the first day of battle at Trevilian Station, Virginia. This unique account highlights the dedication and spirit of the men who fought under General Custer. Avery provides an astute perspective on the life of a Union cavalryman in the Civil War.…