Richard F. Miller (1)Reseñas

This is a vivid regimental history of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, also known as the Harvard Regiment owing to the number of officers associated with the college. The history covers not only the military campaigns, but also the class conflicts and political wrangling associated with its creation and continuance. Many of the elite felt that only "gentlemen" could serve as satisfactory officers, but the casualty rate made this impractical, and some argued that lower class members of the ranks should be able to advance on merit. There were also bitter conflicts about abolition.

The book includes a number of interesting and moving anecdotes about individual members of the regiment. There is a gallery of portraits. The cost of war becomes appalling clear, as does the dedication of the soldiers to their country.½