What regiments still need a good history?

[Michael C. Hardy]

There are many Confederate and Union regimental histories out there. However, there are probably some regiments that either need a history or need a good history. What regiments do you think still need to be researched and written about in a quality history?

 

[Belfoured]

There are many Confederate and Union regimental histories out there. However, there are probably some regiments that either need a history or need a good history. What regiments do you think still need to be researched and written about in a quality history?

An interesting question. I'd have to think about that but for any that come to mind, the list might get narrowed unless they had a few members who turned out correspondence, diaries, journals, reminiscences, etc that still exist and have been located somewhere.

 

[lelliott19]

Basically all the regiments in McLaws' / Kershaw's division that haven't been written. Wofford's brigade, Semmes/ Bryan / Simms brigade, Kerhsaws brigade, even regiments of Barksdales / Humpheys ... they're all woefully understudied. And under-represented in the way of thoroughly researched modern regimentals.

 

[Ole Miss]

I would humbly suggest the 29th Virginia Infantry. This regiment was part of Pickett's Division in the brigade command of Montgomery Corse. They were left behind to protect Richmond during the Gettysburg attack.
Regards
David

 

[huskerblitz]

All of them that don't have one written already.

In my case, the 22nd Kentucky that I've been researching for the past 5-6 years.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

The 14th Ohio Volunteer Infantry has a history written by a member, but it's really not all that good. Since it's the regiment my great-great-grandfather was in, it's disappointing to me.

 

[19thOhio]

Then why don't you write it? You have the motivation and the interest and background shown by your Colonel status on CWT. Being in central Ohio you have the Ohio History Connection. Those written by members of the regiments are often interesting but can be clouded by time, prejudice, excess commentary about the situation and leave out important information. In researching and writing the 19th Ohio history I found errors in Col. Manderson's "The Twin Seven-Shooters" that conflicted with news accounts and other diaries of the time. He wrote that about 35 years after the war.

While speaking to area groups about the 19th Ohio I mention that when I found stories in the era newspapers about the 19th Ohio there were stories about the 13th Ohio right beside it. The two regiments often served in close proximity in the same division through the Western theater. Gleaning stories from the history available along with news reports, battle reports and the "Ohio in the Civil War" bibliographies listed by Larry Stevens could be a good basis for additional research. Serving in Western Theater, the 14th Ohio provides some interesting "field tips" to their action sites.

 

[LSBusch]

Just remember that writing a regimental history, especially one that no one has been motivated to do already, is a labor of love. In other words, don't expect it to sell well. Speaking from experience. (And I do not regret a moment of the time I spent researching, writing, and publishing mine.)

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

In addition, I don't know much more than is already available in the (inadequate) existing history... and to top that off, my specialty is the Naval side. Ask me to write a ship's history-- much more up my alley!

 

[huskerblitz]

Just remember that writing a regimental history, especially one that no one has been motivated to do already, is a labor of love. In other words, don't expect it to sell well. Speaking from experience. (And I do not regret a moment of the time I spent researching, writing, and publishing mine.)

And that is why I'm slow to do that with the regiment I research.

 

[Blessmag]

I have written two regimental histories and they are a labor of love. Lots of time spent researching and traveling to assemble materials.

I found local libraries up to the Lincoln Library valuable. Always tried to include items from the soldiers, as in letters home or to a local newspaper.

 

[Luke Freet]

There are many Confederate and Union regimental histories out there. However, there are probably some regiments that either need a history or need a good history. What regiments do you think still need to be researched and written about in a quality history?

would love to see a book on the 5th Arkansas. Possibly Cleburne's best regiment, as shown by their actions at Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Ringgold Gap, Bald Hill, Jonesboro and Franklin, under Colonels Murray and Green.

 

[Michael C. Hardy]

I have written two regimental histories and they are a labor of love. Lots of time spent researching and traveling to assemble materials.

I found local libraries up to the Lincoln Library valuable. Always tried to include items from the soldiers, as in letters home or to a local newspaper.

I've written three, plus a brigade history. I agree. They are a labor of love. However, so many other studies, like those on a battle, are based on regimental histories.

 

[DixieRifles]

Just remember that writing a regimental history, especially one that no one has been motivated to do already, is a labor of love. In other words, don't expect it to sell well. Speaking from experience. (And I do not regret a moment of the time I spent researching, writing, and publishing mine.)

Please expound on this. It sounds like you are saying that no one will buy a history of a regiment that has not been the subject of discussion and even other publications.

I spent a long time researching all that I could about a small artillery battery that had no real roster but only men loaned from other regiments. They fought in only a few battles and most were small cavalry skirmishes. I thought about writing an article or a short book. That leaves the 3rd Option: "publish" their history on a website.

 

[cvblarg]

The 14th Ohio Volunteer Infantry has a history written by a member, but it's really not all that good. Since it's the regiment my great-great-grandfather was in, it's disappointing to me.

I spent the 4th weekend following the 14th's footsteps in WVA starting at the point in Parkersburg.

 

[cvblarg]

107th Ohio has a regimental history, but it glaringly omits the regiment's two biggest battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, its first two battles. The regiment had the misfortune of facing the wrong direction during Jackson's attack and Gordon's attack and stampeded by other 11th Corp regiments.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

I spent the 4th weekend following the 14th's footsteps in WVA starting at the point in Parkersburg.

That's actually prior to my g-g-grandpa's joining... IIRC, the 14th O.V.I. was originally organized as a three-month regiment in response to Lincoln's first call for volunteers, and then when it became obvious that the war would drag on longer the unit was "reorganized" into a three-year regiment, at which point there was a big personnel shuffle and new troops were enlisted into it. My ancestor was with the unit from Camp "Wild Cat" in Kentucky through to Chickamauga and Chattanooga, and then (the three years being up) the regiment reenlisted as a "veteran" unit known after that as the 14th O.V.V.I., but Great-Great-Grandpa Waggoner seems to have had enough at that point and did not reenlist. (I was never quite certain why; I'm trying to get copies of some of his letters that may offer more insight. I speculate that being right in the middle of things at Chickamauga might have had an effect, as the 14th was heavily engaged in the center, but that's conjecture on my part. Powell's books were very interesting in that regard.)

 

[neyankee61]

The low number NJ regiments. Two brigade histories of the 1st NJ Brigade have been written, none on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 8th NJ regiments

 

[cvblarg]

The low number NJ regiments. Two brigade histories of the 1st NJ Brigade have been written, none on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 8th NJ regiments

The original Excelsior Brigade regiments received similar treatment.

 

[bobinwmass]

The 59th Massachusetts Infantry. One of the 4 Veteran Volunteer regiments from Massachusetts, it saw a lot of action in the Virginia campaign. In June 1865, due to the attrition in both regiments, the 59th was consolidated into the 57th Regiment. Reportedly, many members of the 59th were upset over losing their regimental identity and apparently no regimental history was written. The one written on the 57th barely mentions the 59th. The soldier's memorial I have for a member of the 59th proudly displays his time in the 11th and 59th regiments, but includes nothing about the 57th, despite him officially being in the 57th when mustered out.