by John P. Langellier
Greenhill, 2000, ISBN 1-85367-405-2, $12 or £ 7.50

This book is a tough one. Plenty of other books have plenty of Black and White photos of plenty of Union soldiers. So what makes this different?

I'm not quite sure what this book has over Langellier's previous effort, Billy Yank: the Uniforms of the Union Army 1861-1865. It sounds the same, covers virtually the same topic and era, and is written by the same person.

I really liked the 19 color plates from the US Army Quartermaster Museum depicting uniforms. As for the 99 Black and White photos, they represent all the major troop categories with a variety of uniform bits and pieces to point out. Certainly the analysis of the uniforms and equipment is sound and of interest to the ACW buff.

Of note are the various uniform badges, cuff braids, and epaulet designs and the text from General Order #6: Uniform and Dress Equipment (1861).

If you're an American Civil War buff, you'll probably pick this up. If not, you probably have all the black and white photos you need from a more general publication.