CSA: Book Review – “Confederate Infantryman [1861-1865]” By Ian Drury & Gerry Embleton! (16.11.2025)

Osprey Publishing is a British Publishing Company specializing in military history originally based in Oxford. Being English myself – and having been born in Oxford – I appreciate a clear-thinking and non-bias account of historical matters. The book above – Confederate Infantryman [1861-1865] penned by the British experts Ian Drury & Gerry Embleton (1993) – is an extraordinary introduction to the subject of the Confederate Army in general – and the Confederate infantryman in-particular. An estimation of the Confederate causalities sustained during four-years of fighting (1861-1865) is as follows:

Confederate Casualties = 483,026

Killed in Action (KIA) = 94,000

Wounded in Action (WIA) = 194,026

Died of Diseases = 164,000

Died as Prisoners of War (POWs) = 31,000

The reader must bear in-mind that these numbers are conservative and disputed – with many stating the figures should be much higher. Due to the routine abuse of Confederate POWS ordered by the Lincoln Administration (Confederate soldiers were treated as common criminals awaiting execution for their crimes – and were regularly “starved” as a punishment) – over 31,000 died as a result – even though the Union was awash with ample supplies of food, clothing, and medical supplies. Even more alarming is that more Confederate men (and some women) died of highly infectious and communicable diseases (spread whilst in camp or when on the march) than died in actual fighting. This is a number that was so high that it could have made another army that might have swung the final result.

Chapter headings include:

Historical Baxkground – Pages 1-5

Chronology – Pages 5-6

Recruitment – Pages 6-7

Appearance – Pages 7-10

Equipment – Page 10

Weapons – Pages 11-15

Training – Pages 16-17

Tactics – Pages 17-24

Typical Engagements – Pages 24-28

Fighting Spirit – Pages 28-30

Pat Cleburne’s Career – 30-47

Logistics – Pages 47-53

The Plates – Pages 53-61

Bibliography – Pages 61-64

Interestingly, there is no Chapter Index at the beginning of this soft-back book – so the above categorisation must suffice. In the UK, these types of books are kept on easily accessibly (rotating) stands – usually near the tills. The format is reasonably cheap, and easily readable. The writing style is precise whist remaining engaging and relevant to a wide audience. As well as a pin-point accurate historical narrative – this book is packed full of historical photographs and exquisite artistic impressions of everyday life as experienced by the average Confederate soldier – who often marched hundreds of miles in bare-feet, and fought important and bloody battles with little or no ammunition (like the British Red Coat – the Confederate Infantryman was trained to rely upon the bayonet and its cold steel effect upon the enemy). Indeed, the British Red Coat at his peak – was the best and most feared soldier in the world. These rough and tough English working class men were beaten into shape by brutal Sergeants before taking to the battlefield in dead-straight lines – whilst marching slowly (and with determination) toward the enemy with no fear whatsoever (they had fine clothing, stout boats, and a full belly).

Many Confederate Generals admired the British Army and sought to emulate it in their own army. Dressed in cadet-grey (sometime butternut-brown) – these usually starving Southern men learned proficient military drill and carried it out with great gusto! Despite often being dressed in rags (due to lack of supplies) – these Confederate men retained their pride and dignity – fighting as they were for a freedom the average Englishman holds in the highest regard. Poverty does not always equal deficiency – as given the right conditions – there can be a certain dignity to it. An army can be materially poor – but spiritually strong. On many occasions, a pampered enemy has fallen to pieces at the determined hands of a desparate and impoverished population. For the Southerner, it was NOT how they looked – or what they earned – that defined who they were. It was their pride of being a Southerner that marked them out as being a “cut above” – as we say in England! The authors, in different ways, and for different reasons, presents a balanced view of the Confederate Cause supported by a correct history that can be double-checked by any readers for objective verification. This book, like all good history, is apolitical and explores all the major issues that surrounded the American Civil War. Other books in the series give the opposite – or other viewpoint – so that all the issues are covered.