"Black soldiers have been a constant but ghostly presence in all of America's conflicts from Lexington and Concord onward, ignored by most artists and overlooked, until recently, by most historians. This handsome volume helps bring them back to life. It authoritatively chronicles all that they did and shows us the things they carried and the uniforms they proudly wore."
Description
Using a masterful combination of artistry and accuracy, Don Troiani has dedicated his career to transforming our understanding of the military soldier. Don now turns his talents to capturing the under-recognized African-American soldiers as they fought in the French and Indian War, the War of Independence, the War of 1812, and the American Civil War. Don’s battle paintings, figure studies, and artifact collection are teamed with historian John Rees’s insightful text.
This long-needed work combines Troiani’s magnificent art—the dramatic battle paintings and authentically illustrated uniformed soldier studies—with Rees’s introductory chapters on the four wars. Using primary sources, Rees gives a true picture of the contributions of the many Black soldiers over the 100-year history.
Together Troiani and Rees provide the most comprehensive, authoritative, and well-researched study of the Black soldier in early America.
Reviews
“Unique, exceptionally, impressively informative, expertly organized and presented, Don Troiani's Black Soldiers in America's Wars: 1754 - 1865 is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Black/African-American Military History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.”
“Images of soldiers, their uniforms, their badges, flags and weapons are a major part of this book, which is skillfully illustrated. The author’s accounts of military divisions and battles along with personal statements of soldiers and their leaders are a tribute to the research and skills of writer Rees and illustrator Troiani.”
