Booknotes: A Michigan Cavalryman

New Arrival:

• A Michigan Cavalryman: The Life and Untimely Death of Major Noah Henry Ferry, Fifth Michigan Cavalry by Eric J. Wittenberg (Fox Run Pub, 2026).

One of the publishers that the late Eric Wittenberg developed a close relationship with over his prolific writing career was Keith Jones's Fox Run Publishing. As indicated in this press release from back in late March of this year, Eric had a number of projects going at the time his health took a tragic turn for the worst. His final finished work, a biography of Union cavalry officer Noah Ferry, was entrusted to Fox Run and is getting a wide release starting today.

A Michigan Cavalryman: The Life and Untimely Death of Major Noah Henry Ferry, Fifth Michigan Cavalry is a "detailed portrait of a Civil War cavalry officer’s life, leadership, and sacrifice at Gettysburg, emphasizing his legacy and battlefield experiences."

From the description: "Noah Ferry was one of the wealthiest and most influential men in Michigan. Major Ferry and his men were only in their second major combat on July 3, 1863, where his life ended abruptly." With the famed Michigan Brigade, Ferry was killed instantly during his regiment's dismounted fighting along a Rummel Farm fence line on what we now call East Cavalry Field.

More: Wittenberg's biography "presents the compelling tale of Ferry’s life, legacy, and military experience. We learn about Ferry’s family legacy, uncanny business and leadership abilities, and finally his rise in rank from captain of a company of cavalry to a charismatic major destined to sacrifice his life in a heretofore obscure farm field in Gettysburg." The main narrative runs a brisk 120 pages in largish font and is supported by eight maps and numerous illustrations.