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Baptized by Fire, the first installment in a trilogy on this storied regiment, chronicles the near-daily exploits of the 14th New York State Militia recruited from Brooklyn. Known as chasseurs or Red Legs for their distinctive uniforms, the men of the 14th N.Y.S.M. endured grueling marches, brutal weather, and fierce battles from April 1861 to August 1862.
During these first 15 months of war, the regiment earned praise from both allies and adversaries. In January 1862, a Union soldier encamped near the chasseurs wrote to his hometown newspaper that the "Brooklyn Boys" were "respected for their courage and prowess at the Battle of Bull Run," adding that the Red Legs were also admired for their "mischief and practical jokes." Confederate General P. G. T. Beauregard acknowledged that the 14th N.Y.S.M. "did more harm and caused greater trouble" to his forces than any other unit.
In August 1862, the 14th N.Y.S.M. faced a grueling campaign marked by night marches, scant rations, and relentless skirmishes, culminating in three harrowing days of combat at the Second Battle of Bull Run, where the regiment served with distinction.
Jim McLean's first volume of the regiment's history draws on his decades of research, including nearly 200 visits to the National Archives, the examination of documents at the New York State Archives, and the exploration of collections at the Brooklyn Historical Society. Letters, diaries, and images shared by descendants and collectors further enrich this study.
The 14th N.Y.S.M. did not fight in isolation, so records of allied and opposing regiments provide critical insights into the Brooklyn soldiers and their experiences. The result is a vivid examination of the regiment's initial 15 months of service through the eyes of the common soldiers: their reasons for enlisting, their reactions to the challenges of military life, the evolution of their attitudes toward combat, and the lasting impact of wounds and illnesses into the postwar years.
After the war, the 14th N.Y.S.M. faded into obscurity. Only three battle reports by its officers appear in the Official Records, two of which describe but minor engagements. Unlike many regiments, the chasseurs did not contribute to the postwar proliferation of Civil War literature, and their honorable record gradually dimmed. This volume seeks to restore the reputation of a regiment too often overlooked by modern historians and students alike.
During these first 15 months of war, the regiment earned praise from both allies and adversaries. In January 1862, a Union soldier encamped near the chasseurs wrote to his hometown newspaper that the "Brooklyn Boys" were "respected for their courage and prowess at the Battle of Bull Run," adding that the Red Legs were also admired for their "mischief and practical jokes." Confederate General P. G. T. Beauregard acknowledged that the 14th N.Y.S.M. "did more harm and caused greater trouble" to his forces than any other unit.
In August 1862, the 14th N.Y.S.M. faced a grueling campaign marked by night marches, scant rations, and relentless skirmishes, culminating in three harrowing days of combat at the Second Battle of Bull Run, where the regiment served with distinction.
Jim McLean's first volume of the regiment's history draws on his decades of research, including nearly 200 visits to the National Archives, the examination of documents at the New York State Archives, and the exploration of collections at the Brooklyn Historical Society. Letters, diaries, and images shared by descendants and collectors further enrich this study.
The 14th N.Y.S.M. did not fight in isolation, so records of allied and opposing regiments provide critical insights into the Brooklyn soldiers and their experiences. The result is a vivid examination of the regiment's initial 15 months of service through the eyes of the common soldiers: their reasons for enlisting, their reactions to the challenges of military life, the evolution of their attitudes toward combat, and the lasting impact of wounds and illnesses into the postwar years.
After the war, the 14th N.Y.S.M. faded into obscurity. Only three battle reports by its officers appear in the Official Records, two of which describe but minor engagements. Unlike many regiments, the chasseurs did not contribute to the postwar proliferation of Civil War literature, and their honorable record gradually dimmed. This volume seeks to restore the reputation of a regiment too often overlooked by modern historians and students alike.