The Civil War was an event that epitomized a century in the United States. It brought to prominence men of greatness that guided this country for the remainder of the 19th century as exemplified by U.S. Grant and less so by George Custer. It also cost the lives of good men such as Stonewall Jackson and the majority of the Irish Brigade among many others. Yet in all this epic conflict there are few stories that are stranger than that of Henry Stanley. A century later we think of Stanley as a determined man who was bo1d enough to explore the vast uncharted continent of Africa This is the mature Stanley, a legendary writer and reporter. He never hesitated to advance in the face of charges and was not adverse to provoking open warfare to reach his goals. Frequently ill, he was more blood thirsty than is acceptable but believed that his mission was more important than niceties. Indeed, Stanley was a legend in his own time and none can deny him his finding of Livingstone and his savage battle to traverse the Congo. Young Stanley However, whet about the young Stanley? It must be true that ferocious explorers are not born and this certainly holds true for this man. He was a product of his time and, as Civil Wargamers, it is interesting to understand things as they were. Sometimes it is interesting to role play Lee or Grant or Jackson or Custer, buy why not a private? And how better than Henry Stanley? After all, he fought for both sides and was not just in the infantry but also the Navy! And he was a prisoner of war. So it would be possible to pamt up a Stanley figure and have him fight for both sides and even on a ship. You could have Grant send him with a message or Lee or he could break out of a P.O.W. camp and be on either side. Under any rules he has to rate as a pretty good private so1dier, if only for versatility. After settling in Arkansas from his native Wales, the American Civil War broke out. A confused Stanley joined a regiment called the Dixie Greys.They were marched out of Cornith Mississippi to a camp near the Tennessee river near Shiloh. On April 6, 1862 the Greys formed part of a 3 mile line that assaulted the Federals. After volleys and a fierce Rebel yell an outlying camp was taken. Casualties were heavy and Stanley himself was shot but saved since the bullet hit his belt buckle. After being shelled by Gunboats both armies settled down for the night. The next day the Federals were attacking and an overeager Stanley was surrounded with a half dozen rifles pointed at him. Stan1ey was taken to St. Louis, Chicago, where prisoners were penned up like animals. After six weeks of watching men die of Typhus and Dysentery, Stanley vo1unteered for the Union. After three days as a Federal he became ill and was discharged. After adventures in Europe, Stanley joined the U.S. Navy in 1864. As ship,s writer, he recorded the bloody attacks on Fort Fisher, North Carolina. He sent accounts to newspapers and they were printed. The first reporter of all time had Launched his career writing about the Civil War. Becoming bored, Stanley simply deserted his ship and went on to further civilian adventuses. He travelled the world and was possibly the only Welsh reporter to have served in the Union Army and Navy and the Confederate Army. The text time you read about 19th century colonialisn and adventure into the unexplored areas of the earth peopled by fierce savages , think of Henry Stanley. In the crucible of the American Civil War he developed the versatility that was to lead him to world renown. If you have a chance to read any of his books you will not be disappointed. Of all the private soldiers who served in the Civil War, he may be the most historically intriguing. Back to The Zouave Vol VII No. 2 Table of Contents Back to The Zouave List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 1993 The American Civil War Society This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com