Yank and Rebel Rangers: Special Operations in the American Civil War

by Robert W Black

Overview

Insightful look at special operations in the American Civil War, written by a member of the US Army Ranger Hall of Fame and expert on all things Rangers.

The American internal war of 1861-65 was not civil. Those fighting for the Union called it the “War of the Rebellion” while the Confederacy viewed it as the “War of Yankee Aggression” or the “Second War of Independence." Armies fought great, sweeping battles over vast distances and are well recorded – Antietam, Shiloh, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg - but in the seams of the battlefield another, much less known or publicized, war raged.

Both the Union and the Confederacy employed small forces of bold and highly motivated soldiers for special operations behind enemy lines. Skilled in infiltration – sometimes disguising themselves as rural mail carriers - these warriors deftly scouted deep into enemy territory, captured important personnel, disrupted lines of communication and logistics, and sowed confusion and fear. Often wearing the uniform of the enemy, they faced execution as spies if captured. Despite these risks, and in part because of them, these warriors fought and died as American rangers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781526792006
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	12/25/2020
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Colonel Robert W. Black is a decorated US Army Ranger who fought in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Originally assigned to the 82nd Airborne, Black volunteered for the 8th Airborne Ranger Company and served as a Browning Automatic Rifle gunner in Korea.

In 1966 he was assigned to Military Advisory Command, Vietnam (MACV). Together with his Korean War experience Colonel Black saw combat actions in eight campaigns. Twice awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, he holds the Silver Star, three Bronze Stars (two for valor), the Legion of Merit, the Air Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, and the Vietnam Cross of Honor.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Prologue ix

Preface xi

Introduction

Opening Moves 3

Coming of Age 9

Part 1 The Rebels

Chapter 1 The Moccasin Rangers 23

Chapter 2 The Hatfields and the McCoys 27

Chapter 3 The Thurmond Brothers 29

Chapter 4 The Iron Scouts 33

Chapter 5 The Border Rangers 37

Chapter 6 John D. Imboden 39

Chapter 7 Turner Ashby 41

Chapter 8 Harry Gilmor 79

Chapter 9 Elijah V. White and the Comanchcs 131

Chapter 10 John Hanson 'Hanse' and Jesse McNeill 183

Chapter 11 The St Albans Raid 209

Chapter 12 Bushwhacker, Ranger and Guerrilla Bands 219

Chapter 13 The Raid to Bum New York City 227

Part 2 Yank Rangers

Chapter 14 Ranger Abraham Lincoln 243

Chapter 15 Loudoun Rangers 249

Chapter 16 The Snake-Hunters 261

Chapter 17 The Swamp Dragons 265

Chapter 18 Grant's Ranger 267

Chapter 19 Scouts 273

Chapter 20 Rangers and Indians 277

Chapter 21 The Blazer Scouts 283

Chapter 22 The Jessie Scouts 289

Chapter 23 Henry Harrison Young and Sheridan's Scouts 295

Epilogue 329

Endnotes 331

Bibliography 345

Index 351

Editorial Reviews

"This book details an aspect of the Civil War that is often neglected. It engages the reader with numerous anecdotal accounts, some quite humorous, in addition to the large-scale narrative of Ranger activity during the Civil War."

The Journal of America's Military Past

"...an exciting read, full of daring feats and romantic rides through enemy lines..."

Marine Corps History

"Pick up a copy in print or digital—you’ll come away a more informed and better student of the Civil War."

Military Images

"... readers will find literally hundreds of sources, and citations and a rich bibliography. Archival photographs of key leaders are included in the book, thereby bringing to life the personalities of characters mentioned throughout the book."

Battles and Book Reviews

"...reveals the wideranging use of rangers by both sides. It is exhaustively researched and well written. The author presents gripping accounts of the various exploits of these unusual soldiers."

Military Heritage

"The strength of the book is the focus on operations in the area of mountainous West Virginia and the lush Shenandoah Valley, recounting many colorful, almost James Bond-like characters..."

America's Civil War Magazine

08/05/2019

Black (The Battalion), a veteran of the U.S. Army Rangers, extrapolates a lineage of the special forces group back to the American Civil War in this accessible history. The book focuses primarily on those who led Confederate units that performed missions behind the lines of conventional armies, harassing and impeding operations, such as Confederate cavalry commander Turner Ashby, whose forces stopped trains and blew up a canal dam. Black describes how these operations were organized, planned, and executed, and how they caused problems for more conventional commanders. The author stretches the term “ranger” further than most historians would condone (including both conventional cavalry, on the one hand, and guerilla fighters, on the other—and even the Blackhawk service of future president Abraham Lincoln). But this entertaining book’s tales of unconventional Civil War adventure will appeal to the general reader. (June)

Publishers Weekly

"Black makes no value judgments concerning any of these partisan groups. Instead, each is presented clearly and without prejudice—let the readers make up their own minds about the moral implications of the actions of these groups and individuals."

Civil War Book Review

"Perhaps because he truly understands the role of irregular warfare, Black makes no value judgments concerning any of these partisan groups."

Civil War News