In the First Line of Battle ― A History of the 12th Illinois Cavalry in the Civil War

From June 1862 until a year after the war ended, author Blackwell (history, Northern Illinois U.) follows the activities of the 12th Illinois Cavalry. He writes of the formation of the unit and details the campaigns and the more than 20 battles in which it was involved, including Gettysburg. Its final duty was pacification in Texas after the war. The book makes use of soldiers' letters and journals to tell their story, along with the official service records of this unit. Thirteen maps illustrate the positions of Union and Confederate troops in battle, and black-and-white photos show Civil War weapons and flags. An appendix gives demographic information about the men in the 12th Illinois, such as their height and weight, and the percentage of foreign-born individuals. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)