Annotated Bibliography

Webb, Alexander S. "Campaigns of the Civil War Vol. III: The Peninsula." Series first published 1881-83, reprinted 1992 by The Archive Society, 130 Locust St., Harrisburg, Pa. 17101. Webb was a Union officer during the war. The book has just one mention of the 56th New York, but it offers an excellent overview of the Peninsula Campaign, in which the 56th fought at Fair Oaks, its costliest battle of the war, and it was written by someone who was there.

Emilio, Luis F. "A Brave Black Regiment: The History of the 54th Massachusetts, 1863-1865." Originally published in 1891, reprinted 1995 by Da Capo Press, New York. This superb regimental history on this groundbreaking unit contains numerous references to the 56th New York, with which it served in the Charleston, S.C., area.

Burton, E. Milby. "The Siege of Charleston, 1861-1865." First published in 1970 by the University of South Carolina Press, and reprinted numerous times. No references to the 56th, but an excellent overview of a theater of the war that has largely been overlooked, even by historians. The 56th New York was actively engaged in operations against Charleston and vicinity, and this book is an indispensable study of those operations.

McGinnis, Amanda, and Rapp, Cynthia. " 'Our Name Is Legion!' was the proud boast of the 56th New York Volunteers." America's Civil War magazine, Sept. 1990, Page 10. Somewhat flat, formulaic treatment of the 56th New York's involvement in the Battle of Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862. Relies mostly on official records and the regimental history to set the scene. One of the very few magazine articles on this regiment.

Bellard, Alfred. "Gone for a soldier." Originally published in 1975 by Little, Brown and Co. and available in paperback reprinting. Captivating memoir of an enlisted man in the 5th New Jersey Volunteers. The 5th was stationed, for a period early in the war, in Washington, D.C., where Bellard caught a glimpse of the 56th New York: " 'The tenth Legion' 56th N.Y. Vols. went into camp near us, consisting of one Regt. of infantry, 2 companies of cavalry and 2 batteries of artillery, 1500 men in all. The infantry were splendidly armed with rifles and sword bayonetts." Bellard's memoir offers an excellent view of early wartime Washington, describing places and things the 56th also would have seen.

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