Colonel Edward E. Cross, New Hampshire Fighting Fifth

Edward Ephraim Cross (1832–1863) accomplished more in his short lifetime years than most men who live to be 100. By the eve of the Civil War, he had traveled from Cincinnati to Arizona working as a political reporter, travel writer, editor, trail hand, silver mine supervisor, and Indian fighter. In the summer of 1861, he became colonel of the Fighting Fifth New Hampshire Volunteers and gained fame as a fearless battlefield commander during action at Fair Oaks, Antietam, Fredricksburg, and Chancellorsville before being mortally wounded at Gettysburg. However, behind this great soldier lay a flawed man, an alcoholic with a short temper who fought a constant battle with words against immigrants, abolitionists, and others with whom he disagreed. This detailed biography presents a full portrait of this controversial and little-known figure, filling a critical gap in the literature of the northern Civil War experience.

The author of fifteen books on American military history, Robert Grandchamp lives in Jericho, Vermont, where he works as an analyst with the government.

Robert Grandchamp
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 230
Bibliographic Info: 42 photos, appendix, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2013
pISBN: 978-0-7864-7191-1
eISBN: 978-0-7864-9322-7
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix
Foreword by Mike Pride 1
Preface 5
One: An Eagle Is Born 9
Two: Restless Wanderer 23
Three: American Party Reporter 35
Four: Tubac 48
Five: Mexico 66
Six: “At once entered upon my duty” 72
Seven: Baptism 87
Eight: The Fighting Fifth 100
Nine: Marye’s Heights 116
Ten: A Star 127
Eleven: Hooker’s Campaign 137
Twelve: The Wheatfield 148
Thirteen: “The boys will miss me” 162
Appendix: “The Young Volunteers” 181
Chapter Notes 193
Bibliography 207
Index 215

“superbly researched, impressively detailed, deftly written…a valued and highly recommended addition”—Midwest Book Review; “worthwhile reading”—The NYMAS Review; “excellent…a much-needed biography…the author’s research is exhaustive and commendable…highly recommended…outstanding”—Civil War News.