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Rating: 
Summary: A historical look at two of the Civil War's top brigades!
Review: Being a fan of author Jeffrey Wert's work I didn't have to decide on whether or not to buy this book when I came across it. Wert's writing flows well and he backs up quite a lot of his information with useful references as he has done in other books. Wert has taken two of the more popular brigades of the Civil War and has followed their enlistment and organization in 1861 to final muster in 1865. Wert documents each brigade's movements and battles while carefully explaining changes in command and regimental organization. I found this book quite intriging as these famous brigades met each other in battle three times at such places as Brawner Farm, Antietam and Gettysburg. Wert explains the battles quickly at times which was refreshing in cases where the brigades had little conflict or involvement. In times of battle, Wert gets to the point of the fighting and doesn't dwell in huge detail as you may find in some books covering a certain campaign or battle. What I did find a bit disappointing in this book was the fact that under the title it reads, "The common soldiers of the Stonewall Brigade and the Iron Brigade". I was under the impression that more soldier life would be covered instead of regiment movements or the following of commanders. This book didn't quote too many soldiers or bring their diary writing as you may see in other books on soldiers. Overall, Wert has taken a great amount of information and packed it into 319 pages of material. Could more have been written? Perhaps, although the coverage was excellent and I can recommend this book to many who are seeking additional information regarding these famous and hard fighting brigades.
Rating: 
Summary: A worthy addition to these famed brigades history
Review: I have read alot of articles, books and biographies of the soldiers both officer and enlisted in these famed brigades and I must say that this book is a welcome addition to the story of these famous and tragic brigades of the Civil War. Jeffry Wert does a good job describing the formation of these brigades during the beginning months of the Civil War and both brigades early losses and victories. Named after Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, the Stonewall brigade is famous for fighting ferociously after a 15-25 mile march often in barefeet. Gen. Jackson drove his commanders and men hard, yet as long as they won battles they didin't mind Jackson's sometimes ruthless behavior. Once Jackson was killed at Chancellorsville in 1863, the brigade never fully recovered to the extent of what they used to be. The Iron Brigade of the Union was just as tenacious and fierce in battle as the Stonewall brigade. The famed black hats had won their enemies respect due to standing firm in the heat of battle. Yet despite heavy losses this brigade remained strong until the end of the war. This book analyzes the men and commanders of both brigades and gives descriptions of where the units were in the battles where they fought. Although not the definitive account of the brigades it is a worthy addition to any Civil War Scholar/Enthusiasts library.
Rating:
Summary: Dual Unit history is worthwhile
Review: Jeffrey Wert has been writing Civil War history for a good while, and I've read most of his books, starting with the history of the Shenandoah Valley campaign in 1864. The present book is a history of the campaigns of the Stonewall Brigade, and the Iron Brigade. Both units are much storied: each has an individual history currently available. The Iron Brigade's is by noted Civil War historian Alan T. Nolan; the Stonewall Brigade's is one of the early works of Stonewall Jackson biographer James I. Robertson, Jr. Wert melds these two books with many others, diaries and letters, and fashions a sort of dual group biography of the units, following them across the battlefields of Virginia. The Stonewall brigade earned its nickname at Manassas, where it defended a prominent terrain feature called Henry House Hill. This feature, and the Brigade's defense of it, proved to be the pivotal point of the battle. The author does a good job bringing this and other battles to life through the accounts of the participants and witnesses. One of the regiments that later formed the Iron Brigade, the 2nd Wisconsin, also participated in the battle, and ran away with the rest of the army when the Union finally lost the battle. This points up the first annoyance of the book. Wert has chosen two units to follow, but one of them was at its peak before the other one was. This means that the early part of the book concentrates to a fair extent on the Confederates, while the latter part of the book features the Yankee unit to a larger extent. The two units did fight on the same battlefield three times, though they only really opposed one another once, at Groveton, or Brawner Farm. That engagement marked the debut of the Iron Brigade (then known as the Black Hat Brigade, after their distinctive headgear) as a unit, and sowed the seeds of their reputation. The book follows the two units through Gettysburg, but afterwards only summarizes the campaigns that the survivors participated in. The Overland Campaign of 1864 saw the virtual destruction of both units. Wert devotes considerably less space to these events than he did to the earlier campaigns, especially Gettysburg. I genuinely enjoyed this book. Wert is one of the more prolific Civil War writers these days, and his books are lively and enjoyable, while also providing interesting information and having a point of view. I would recommend this book to all interested in the Civil War.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent account of these two famed Civil War brigades
Review: Mr. Wert has compiled an interesting and well written account of the famed Iron Brigade and the Stonewall Brigade. He details their never ending marches, brutal combat, casualties and personalites. Plenty of good maps assist the reader in following the grueling pathes and deadly enounters with their opponents. From Manassas, the deadly battles at Brawner's Farm, Antietam through Grant's blood-stained Overland Campaign to the end of the war, the book is a worthy addition to any library on the subject. Well done
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