Listed in Civil War Magazine by Gary W. Gallagher as one of the 200 Best Civil War Books ever published.

A bona fide classic, The Sable Arm was the first work to fully chronicle the remarkable story of the nearly 180,000 black troops who served in the Union army. This work paved the way for the exploration of the black military experience in other wars. This edition, with a new foreword by Herman Hattaway and bibliographical essay by the author, makes available once again a pioneering work that will be especially useful for scholars and students of Civil War, black, and military history.

“This classic book will provide a whole new generation of Civil War enthusiasts with a better understanding of this integral part of the war’s history.”

—Civil War Book Exchange & Collector’s Newspaper

“Excellent. . . . Recommended for all black studies collections, Civil War collections, and inclusive history collections in public, college, and university libraries.”

—Library Journal

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“One of the one hundred best books ever written on the Civil War.”

—Civil War Times Illustrated

“A path-breaking work . . . written with grace and clarity. . . . After a period of thirty years, during which it has been read, cited, and used as a model, The Sable Arm has achieved the richly deserved status of a classic. Much of what is today considered conventional knowledge about the role of blacks in the Civil War can be traced to this pioneering study.”

—Civil War History

“The most valuable book ever written on the topic.”

—Herman Hattaway, coauthor of How the North Won

“Superbly written. . . . A major study . . . on a neglected side of the war.”

—T. Harry Williams, author of Lincoln and His Generals

“Pioneering. . . . Readable, interesting, sound, with important insights.”

—James M. McPherson, author of The Negro’s Civil War

“A volume of permanent value.”

—George B. Tindall, author of The Emergence of the New South, 1913–1945

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