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Rating: 
Summary: COVERED WITH GLORY
Review: An outstanding read! The author does not spend a great amount of time dealing with the formation and early days of the regiment. Instead and pleasantly so, he provides the reader with just enough information to get a feel for the regiment and its officers and concentrates on Gettysburg.Additionally, the book is in simple and plain english allowing the reader to easily navigate troop movements, etc.. I especially enjoyed the "what happened to" part of the book, something which is missing from too many volumes. Overall an excellent book about one of the ANV's best regiments -BUY IT!!!!!!
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Summary: Loved it!
Review: Full of superb research regarding the thoughts of the soldiers of this regiment, this book brings the men of the 26th North Carolina alive. It's description of their fighting at McPherson Ridge on the first day at Gettysburg is second to none. Also includes some history of the men after the war. Civil War enthusiasts will also like Gragg's book Confederate Goliath about the battle of Fort Fisher. I recommend both highly.
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Summary: Loved it!
Review: Gragg's book is so much better than most regimental histories that I wonder whether it should even carry this label. It reminds me more of Ambrose's Band of Brothers (101st Airborne in WWII) than a regimental history. Battles are best studied from multiple perspectives, but histories tend to cluster at the two extremes--from the Olympian optic of the Generals at one, to the eyes of individual soldiers at the other. Using the experiences of a single Regimental formation, Gragg not only provides an excellent history of the unit, but occupies the key terrain between these two extremes to shift the reader's attention from an understanding of critical developments in the overall battle to the experiences of these (almost incredibly) committed soldiers. Gragg also captures the great mystery of cataclysms like Gettysburg in which participants, while closely joined in space and time, nevertheless witnesss thousands of separate dramas, acts of herorism and human tragedies. Gragg corrected a number of misconceptions I had about the battle. As one example, I will never again think of the first day as only a bloody meeting engagement, overshadowed by the assaults on the right and in the center on the second and third days. He also religously refers to the famous assault on the third day at the Pickett-Pettigrew Charge--a much more accurate moniker. Be careful about reading the book on a week night, you will find yourself drawing your poor unsuspecting colleagues at work into conversations about Gettysburg and the 26th North Carolina Infantry.
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Summary: Thanks Rod
Review: I only read 6 or so books a year, always on the CivilWar and usually about Gettsburg. Rod Gragg is very easy to read, well documented and researched with very poignant photos. I look forward to my yearly July foray to Gettysburg as I retrace the movement of the 26th using "Covered With Glory" to guide me. Marvelous insight of the southern soldiers fighting invasion,defending their beloved state and doing "God's Will".
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Summary: Excellent, concise well-written regimental history
Review: I'm pretty new to reading about the Civil War, but so far it seems that Regimental History books are my favorite. While other books try to do too much and cover many battles, generals and focus on troop movements, etc., Regimental History books focus on people and individuals. Covered with Glory was particularly enlightening, as it sheds some light how Confederates felt about the war. It is a very focused and straight forward read. Don't expect this to be a comprehensive book on the Civil War, but to experience a "little piece" of it, this is a great book.
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Summary: A Book Worthy of its Subject
Review: Regimental histories are often not the most compelling reading. Few authors find a way to balance good historical research with the kind of prose that pull the reader into the story. Rod Gragg has done this with "Covered With Glory". There is plenty of detail for those who want them, but the text flows so well the general reader would hardly notice. But Gragg has done his research as well. For instance, he is the first to make the case for the bloodstains on the regimental colors to be those other than the commander's. He also elegantly deals with the matter of the regiment's contact point with the Federal lines on July 3, an item that has been something of a controversy- whether they went in at base of "The Angle", or whether they made contact with Federals further north on the wall. When you are done, you are left with a feel for the men who made up the 26th North Carolina, and are saddened by their loss. But you are also inspired as well by that same sacrifice. Good Read!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: The narrow focus of what the 26th is most famous for is wonderful because it allows for many details. For those that don't know, they took atrocious casulaties over a 48 hour period, basically 8 out of 10 men went down. Their action is legendary, lining up against the Union's most famous, Iron Brigade, and also being the unit that could claim the farthest penetration into enemy territory on day 3. As always, a couple of more maps would have been extremely helpful, but that being said, the ones there are well done. Day 1 is treated extremely well with intense description of the action, almost minute by minute as far the 26th was concerned. The reading is smooth however, and most won't get lost in the details. Day 3 has some of the best coverage that I have read because the author expands the focus for the Picket-Pettigrew-Trimble Charge to cover many of the other units involved. Of course, the 26th still gets the lions share of the commentary. This book isn't for novices, but at the same time, you don't need to be a hardcore student to get it. I think a simple 2 or 3 page synopses of the battle will help so you don't get bogged down with some of the names, but more so you understand the importance of the battle in an overall perspective. Again, the focus is the 26th at Gettysburg with a very brief prelude and wrap up to their other action. Highly recommended for the ACW afficionada and casual reader. My only little quibble is with the quality of paper and tiny font for the paperback. Come on publishers, put the better works on better paper so they'll last longer.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: The narrow focus of what the 26th is most famous for is wonderful because it allows for many details. For those that don't know, they took atrocious casulaties over a 48 hour period, basically 8 out of 10 men went down. Their action is legendary, lining up against the Union's most famous, Iron Brigade, and also being the unit that could claim the farthest penetration into enemy territory on day 3. As always, a couple of more maps would have been extremely helpful, but that being said, the ones there are well done. Day 1 is treated extremely well with intense description of the action, almost minute by minute as far the 26th was concerned. The reading is smooth however, and most won't get lost in the details. Day 3 has some of the best coverage that I have read because the author expands the focus for the Picket-Pettigrew-Trimble Charge to cover many of the other units involved. Of course, the 26th still gets the lions share of the commentary. This book isn't for novices, but at the same time, you don't need to be a hardcore student to get it. I think a simple 2 or 3 page synopses of the battle will help so you don't get bogged down with some of the names, but more so you understand the importance of the battle in an overall perspective. Again, the focus is the 26th at Gettysburg with a very brief prelude and wrap up to their other action. Highly recommended for the ACW afficionada and casual reader. My only little quibble is with the quality of paper and tiny font for the paperback. Come on publishers, put the better works on better paper so they'll last longer.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic and Moving
Review: This book has brought even closer than before to the realization that men of the South, especically the 26th North Carolina, sacrificed so much for what they believed in. This book follows this unit from beginning to end, sharing all that they did during the War, but hilighting Gettysburg and the tremendous toll it took on this great unit. I was especially enthralled by the personal side that the author shared, delving into personal history of various members of the unit, especially its Boy Colonel. A great read for those who want to know more about the men and units who made up Lee's great Army.
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Summary: Gragg Does it Again!
Review: This latest book from Rod Gragg is the best modern regimental history I have read. Written form the perspective of members of the regiment, it offers rich detail and a moving narrative. The photographs bring the text to life. Gragg has written two of my favorite Civil War books, Confederate Goliath (the fight at Fort Fisher, NC) and the Illustrated Confederate Reader (a must read). As a member of the 26th NC (reenactors) I must say that I am even more proud to be a part of the unit. I eagerly look forward to his next book!
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