The valiant hours narrative of "Captain Brevet," an Irish-American in the Army of the Potomac

Summary: "A real find, a Civil War book based on the unpublished diary of a Union soldier. Tom Galwey, who enlisted in 1861 and served through to the siege of Petersburg, made entries in his diary each night after the day's fighting was over. The result is more than a personal journal, it is practically a unit history. His regiment, the 8th Ohio, served first in the West Virginia campaign and joined the Second Corps after Malvern Hill. They missed Second Bull Run but were in all the other battles of the Army of the Potomac until the regiment was mustered out before Petersburg. One expert who read the manuscript said this book sheds new light on what happened during Pickett's charge. The 8th Ohio played a vital role in the repulse of Pender and Pettigrew, and thus contributed mightily to the nation's destiny. The text is illustrated with 14 on-the-spot area sketches by the author." -- Book jacket.

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