From the letters, diaries, and memoirs of the ordinary soldiers of the Civil War, Brent Nosworthy has assembled an unprecedented chronicle of the experience of war. With a keen eye for the tactics, tools, and attitudes of the Union and Confederate forces, Nosworthy re-creates how it felt to beat back an aggressive infantry assault, take part in a fast-paced cavalry charge, launch an attack with bayonets, and wage war through thick forest foliage. "Roll Call to Destiny" puts readers on the frontlines of the Civil War by providing the point of view of small bands of men who braved unique combat situations. These stories illustrate all of the facets of fighting during the Civil War, how the character of warfare varied from eastern to western battlefields, and how military strategies evolved over time. From firsthand accounts of those who fought, Nosworthy has pieced together such small units' engagements as: Burnside's infantry at Bull Run (infantry-versus-infantry on the open field), the Fifty-Seventh New York at Fair Oaks (fighting in the woods), Daniel Webster's section at Arkansas Post (artillery attacking a fort), the third day at Gettysburg (cavalry-versus-cavalry), and the attack up Missionary Ridge (infantry in rough terrain). A must-read for anyone who wants to know what Confederate and Union soldiers saw, heard, and felt, as well as how they acted at critical moments that would determine the outcome of the Civil War.

Introduction -- New weapons, new ways of warfare -- Burnside's fight: the advance to the Bull Run battlefield -- Burnside's fight: the struggle for Matthews Hill -- Tactical observation #1 -- The Fifty-Seventh New York Infantry at Fair Oaks -- Tactical observation #2 -- Washington artillery on Marye's Heights (Fredericksburg, December 12-13, 1862) -- Webster's Parrotts and the attack against Arkansas Post -- Cavalry versus cavalry at Gettysburg, July 3 -- Attack and defense of Fort Sanders -- The Second Minnesota Infantry at Missionary Ridge -- A last hurrah! The Seventh South Carolina Cavalry at the Battle of Darbytown Road -- Tactical observation #3 -- Conclusion.