Booknotes: The 14th New York State Militia in the Civil War, Vol. 1

New Arrival:

• The 14th New York State Militia in the Civil War, Volume 1: "Baptized by Fire"-from Bull Run to Bull Run, April 1861-August 1862 by James L. McLean, Jr. (Savas Beatie, 2025).

Back in 2023, Savas Beatie published James McLean's “The Bullets Flew Like Hail”: Cutler’s Brigade at Gettysburg, from McPherson’s Ridge to Culp’s Hill. One of the regiments that fought with that brigade at Gettysburg and elsewhere was the 14th New York State Militia (aka 14th Brooklyn and, officially, the 84th New York Infantry Regiment), and McLean's interest in that particular unit runs deep. The ultimate expression of that devotion is a highly ambitious three-volume regimental history project, the first installment being the newly released The 14th New York State Militia in the Civil War, Volume 1: "Baptized by Fire"-from Bull Run to Bull Run, April 1861-August 1862, which "chronicles the near-daily exploits of the 14th New York State Militia recruited from Brooklyn. Known as chasseurs or Red Legs for their distinctive uniforms, the men of the 14th N.Y.S.M. endured grueling marches, brutal weather, and fierce battles from April 1861 to August 1862."

Though their efforts could not stave off a resounding defeat, the 14th made a splash during the eastern theater's first major battle. More from the description: "During these first 15 months of war, the regiment earned praise from both allies and adversaries. In January 1862, a Union soldier encamped near the chasseurs wrote to his hometown newspaper that the “Brooklyn Boys” were “respected for their courage and prowess at the Battle of Bull Run”..."In August 1862, the 14th N.Y.S.M. faced a grueling campaign marked by night marches, scant rations, and relentless skirmishes, culminating in three harrowing days of combat at the Second Battle of Bull Run, where the regiment served with distinction."

Over 500 pages in length after including the front and back matter, this is a big and heavy 7"x10" book. The narrative is the result of "decades of research, including nearly 200 visits to the National Archives, the examination of documents at the New York State Archives, and the exploration of collections at the Brooklyn Historical Society. Letters, diaries, and images shared by descendants and collectors further enrich this study." If the following two volumes are this size or larger, this might become the highest word-count Civil War regimental history of all time. That enormous depth comes at a bit of a cost in that the text font is a challenge for those of us who started out young adulthood with fighter pilot vision but are now forced to use readers! It's a beautifully put together package, from the thick glossy paper stock to the sepia-toned contemporary images, color illustrations, and color cartography. Speaking of maps, they are three-dozen in number and follow the regiment from its Brooklyn origins to its assaults on the unfinished railroad at Second Bull Run.

Though a celebrated regiment during the war, according to McLean the Brooklyn Chasseurs "faded into obscurity" after the conflict ended. In addition to producing little in the way of veteran writings, "(o)nly three battle reports by its officers appear in the Official Records, two of which describe but minor engagements." Nevertheless, "records of allied and opposing regiments provide critical insights into the Brooklyn soldiers and their experiences. The result is a vivid examination of the regiment’s initial 15 months of service through the eyes of the common soldiers: their reasons for enlisting, their reactions to the challenges of military life, the evolution of their attitudes toward combat, and the lasting impact of wounds and illnesses into the postwar years."

The book is produced in a limited edition consisting of 119 signed and 600 numbered unsigned copies. These are only available direct from the publisher or from the author himself, so thanks to Mr. McLean for reaching out to me to inquire about review interest and for sending along a collector-coveted low number copy from his personal allotment. I'm looking forward to checking it out.