Overview

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, and much less known or publicised 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. 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. Colonel Black has written several books on Rangers including - The Battalion: The Dramatic Story of the 2nd Ranger Battalion in WWII; The Ranger Force: Darby's Rangers in World War II; Rangers in World War II; Rangers in Korea. 8 b/w illustrations

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9781526792006

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Reviews

... 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 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 this entertaining book's tales of unconventional Civil War adventure will appeal to the general reader.-- Publishers Weekly

...an exciting read, full of daring feats and romantic rides through enemy lines... -- Marine Corps History 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 ... 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 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 this entertaining book's tales of unconventional Civil War adventure will appeal to the general reader.-- Publishers Weekly

Pick up a copy in print or digital--you'll come away a more informed and better student of the Civil War. -- Military Images ...an exciting read, full of daring feats and romantic rides through enemy lines... -- Marine Corps History 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 ... 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 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 this entertaining book's tales of unconventional Civil War adventure will appeal to the general reader.-- Publishers Weekly

Author Information

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. Colonel Black has written several books on Rangers including - The Battalion: The Dramatic Story of the 2nd Ranger Battalion in WWII; The Ranger Force: Darby's Rangers in World War II; Rangers in World War II; Rangers in Korea

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