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Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Stillwater Public Library | J 973.7 COX | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
Describes the formation of the all-black 54th Massachusetts Regiment and its valiant battle history from 1863 to 1865.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 7-12-- As does the recent movie Glory , this book details the history of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment, a black regiment that served with valor and distinction in the Civil War. The account begins with the formation of the unit in 1863 and follows it throughout the remainder of the war. Cox clearly documents the difficulties that black soldiers faced: pay unequal to that of whites, severe prejudice, and an unwillingness on the part of many in power to allow them to engage in actual battle. The narrative is replete with quotations from diaries, letters, newspapers, and the comments of people present at the events described. It is unquestionably a well-researched book: the bibliography consists of almost four full pages of citations from books and scholarly articles. The problem is that there are almost too many facts. They tumble over one another, as though Cox could not bring himself to leave anything out. And indeed, much of the information is fascinating. Because of the density of material, however, this is not an easy book to read. Also, the narrative does not flow smoothly because of the numerous quotations and frequent digressions to supply necessary background. The book does provide a valuable and well-documented treatment of a topic that has been too long neglected. It deserves a place in any collection that needs material on American history or black studies. --Bruce Anne Shook, Mendenhall Middle School, Greensboro, NC (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Phot. When the famed and controversial Massachusetts 54th - or 'Glory' regiment - was finally ready to fight for the Union, it was composed of one thousand African-American soldiers and twenty-nine white officers. Cox vividly brings to life the history of this regiment in a text that resonates with conviction and passion. Bib., ind. From HORN BOOK 1991, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
A moving account of the formation and valiant record of the first black regiment (a story also told in the film Glory), from the firing on Fort Sumter to an 1887 reunion. Cox, a prize-winning journalist, has woven an impressive amount of research into his straightforward narrative; battle details put readers on the scene with compelling immediacy, while they also learn how these men proved their competence and dignity against incredible odds--including not only their struggles with the Confederacy (which at first planned to treat black prisoners of war as mutinous slaves) but also the cruel effects of racism on their own side (e.g., the devastating hardship inflicted on soldiers' families by the government's failure to honor its promise to give them the same pay as whites). There are frequent, effective quotes from participants and from luminaries, including Charlotte Forten and Frederick Douglass, whose son was a member of the 54th. A distinguished presentation of the historical record. Bibliography of sources; b&w photos and index not seen. (Nonfiction. 12+)
Booklist Review
Gr. 6-9. In a dramatic account of the all-black Massachusetts Fifty-fourth Regiment, whose story was popularized in the film Glory, Cox smoothly integrates extensive quotes from primary and secondary sources into an articulate, detailed, and thought-provoking narrative. The Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist allows editors and politicians, soldiers and abolitionists to speak about the discrimination suffered by these pioneers whose heroic efforts during a thwarted campaign to capture Charleston paved the way for the 200,000 black troops who followed. The cast of characters--including Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Clara Barton, and Charlotte Forten--is as impressive as the scholarship. Highly recommended for middle and junior high school libraries where the Civil War is an essential part of the curriculum. (Reviewed Nov. 15, 1991)0590441701Julie Corsaro
