Product Description: Some 150 years on, interest in the American Civil War (1861–65) is at an all-time high, no more so than among the thousands of people across the United States and Europe who participate in reenactments. They leave their jobs and homes behind to become battle-weary soldiers, courageous generals, dedicated nurses and even eager newspaper reporters, adopting not only the clothes of the era, but also the language, mannerisms and food...read more

Foreword by James I. Robertson, Jr. 8 x 11 75 b/w photos 56 color photo "Ray Carson has done a commendable job in portraying the common soldiers of the Civil War. It is impossible to capture the full depth of feeling experienced by the men of blue and gray, but the images herein give a clearer picture of army life and field service than is usually found in modern studies." -James I. Robertson, Jr., author of Soldiers Blue and Gray Many Civil War books highlight tactics, battles, and major figures, often ignoring the millions of individual soldiers who fought and sacrificed anonymously. But through combining stark, unposed photographs of Civil War reenactors with sound historical research, photographer and reenactor Ray Carson has captured the reality of the common soldier's life. The book combines the intimacy and intensity of modern photojournalism with the historical feel of 1860s photography. Photographs of camp life, daily activities, medical care, and battle are supplemented with text gleaned from primary sources such as soldiers' diaries and letters. Ray Carson has exhibited his photographs in galleries throughout the U.S. and has been published in national magazines, including Discovery, Archaeology, and U.S. News & World Report.

Presents descriptions and designs of uniforms, weapons, equipment, and other miscellaneous items used by Federal and Confederate troops during the U.S. Civil War, and provides maps showing the strategies and locations of key battles.

A respected photographer vividly recreates Civil War history by viewing through his lens the thousands of reenactments that take place annually nationwide and culling ninety duotone photographs that bring realism to that difficult time in America's history.