Hell's Broke Loose in Georgia: Survival in a Civil War Regiment, by Scott Walker

Athens, Ga.: University of Georgia Press, 2007. Pp. xx, 254. Illus., maps, notes, biblio., index. $19.95 paper. ISBN: 0820329339.

Hell’s Broke Loose in Georgia is a very good account of the experiences of the 57^th Georgia in the Civil War, taking the regiment from its origins in the central part of the state, on marches, in battles, and in camp, from early 1862 until the end of the war. 

A “western” regiment, the 57^th Georgia participated in the Confederate invasion of Kentucky, the campaign and siege of Vicksburg, the Atlanta campaign, Hood’s disastrous Tennessee campaign, and the final operations of the war in the Carolinas.  Scott does a very good job of bringing the men of the regiment to life, giving us many personal profiles of both officers and men.  Accounts of events, both exciting and boring, are well done, and often strengthened by excerpts from soldiers’ letters.  Although Scott, a minister who writes on both religion and history, makes occasional errors in usage and terminology (e.g., confusing ”bounty” with “salary”), and betrays his Southern origins when dealing with certain political and social issues, he tells a very good story.

Hell’s Broke Loose in Georgia is an excellent regimental.

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