Forged in Battle

By Joseph T. Glatthaar,

Book cover of Forged in Battle: The Civil War Alliance of Black Soldiers and White Officers

Book description

Sixteen months after the start of the American Civil War, the Federal government, having vastly underestimated the length and manpower demands of the war, began to recruit black soldiers. This revolutionary policy gave 180,000 free blacks and former slaves the opportunity to prove themselves on the battlefield as part of…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Forged in Battle as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

The decision to recruit Black soldiers made an enormous difference in the war and in politics. Black recruits to the U.S. Army equaled all the northern men lost in the first two years of fighting and proved themselves on many battlefields. Their sacrifice also made an irrefutable case for Black rights. Joseph Glatthaar’s book admirably tells the story of these soldiers and their white officers.

Want books like Forged in Battle?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Forged in Battle.

Browse books like Forged in Battle

Book cover of The Impending Crisis: America Before the Civil War, 1848-1861
Book cover of Lincoln
Book cover of War Stuff: The Struggle for Human and Environmental Resources in the American Civil War

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,510

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in African Americans, race relations, and the American Civil War?

African Americans 813 books
Race Relations 268 books