Well, I have to admit it. Sometimes it takes me awhile to get around to reading all of the books authored and published by our "Contributing Authors" here on the History-Sites.Com message boards. Unfortunately, I've waited far too long to read John Fox's "Red Clay to Richmond: Trail of the 35th Georgia Infantry Regiment, CSA". John has been a long-term supporter and contributor to these sites, but I had never read his award-winning unit history of the 35th Georgia Infantry, a unit in Thomas' Georgia Brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia. I knew due to the praise and comments being offered about this book that it was something above and beyond the "run of the mill" unit history, I just did not realize how much.

This is not only an information packed book, including a complete unit roster, but it is also an outstanding history of the war as experienced by a unit and it's brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia. John introduced me to such a wealth of new information about the 35th Georgia, the origins of the unit, their recruitment, their camp life and the composition of the unit. It is filled with excerpts from letters, notes, journals, OR references. He fully explains little known campaigns and the periods between the battles. Finally, John is a truly-gifted writer and storyteller and the book is professionally organized, referenced and easy to follow.

John, I owe you an apology for waiting so long to read and review this outstanding book. I have truly been enriched in my understanding of the war, as fought and endured, by this Georgia regiment in the Army of Northern Virginia. Now, I guess I better start "The Confederate Alamo: Bloodbath at Petersburg's Fort Gregg on April 2, 1865", your latest offering.

By the way, for the readers of this posting/review. John Fox's books and those of several others of our History-Sites.Com authors are available at Angle Valley Press; http://www.anglevalleypress.com/ .

Give yourself a great Christmas present and order this book!

Red Clay to Richmond: Trail of the 35th Georgia Infantry Regiment, CSA by John J. Fox, III

*2005 James Robertson Literary Prize for Confederate History*
*2006 Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board winner*

Jim Martin