James S. Pula is a professor emeritus of history at Purdue University Northwest. The author of numerous books, his work has been recognized with honorary membership in the Iron Brigade Society, three Oskar Halecki Prizes, the Gambrinus Prize in History, the U.S. Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Award, and the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, among others.
James Pula has written one of the most enthralling, scrupulously-researched, and important Union regimental histories of the last two decades. He recreates the service of the 117th New York in sparkling detail, explaining that their service was at once typical and unusual, allowing the words of the soldiers to speak for themselves. This book is both good history and a crackling good story. --Christian B. Keller, professor of history, U.S. Army War College James Pula has skillfully woven the diaries and letters of the men from the 117th New York into a comprehensive narrative of the regiment which spearheaded the final assault on Fort Fisher, North Carolina. I thoroughly enjoyed it and believe this work fills a void in the history of the forgotten places in the war. --John Michael Priest, author of Antietam: The Soldiers' Battle and Stand to It and Give Them Hell Gettysburg as the Soldiers Experienced it From Cemetery Ridge to Little Round Top, July 2, 1863