NINE MEN IN GRAY

The biographies of nine Americans who have received little or no attention provide new fodder for the Civil War reading machine. Biographies range from Richard Taylor, son of a United States president and son-in-law of the Confederate president, to articulate artillerist Alexander. In between are ranged the gallant figures of Turner Ashby, Pat Cleburne, ""Savez"" Read, Willie Pegram, ucius Northrop, Billy Mahone and Henry Hotze. Six fought with weapons (three were killed in action), one with logistics and one with words as a propaganda gent in Europe. Each sketch opens with the highlight in the subject's career, leading on to a flashback summarizing his pre-service life, then military achievements, concluding with an outline of post war activities. Scholarly in treatment, with documentation and bibliography, incisive in style for readability, this collective narrative fills yet another niche in the Civil War shelf, not essential but surely supplementary.