Book Report

Yankee Tigers. By Ralsa C. Rice. Edited by Richard A. Baumgartner and Larry M.Strayer. (Blue Acorn Press, 1992. xx 240pp. Map, Bibliographical note, and index).

In the book Yankee Tigers, the author Raisa Rice purpose is to inform about the events of the civil war from the tiger squad. She is not trying to persuade anyone's views or change their opinion on the situations. She wants the reader to indulge into her writings so they can see from her point of view. She is not writing about all regiments and squads in this book, instead she is writing with one in mind and that is the tiger regiment or also known as the 125th regiment from Ohio. The author informs on the many of battles they encountered and the missions they went on.

The 125th Regiment from Ohio was formed in the early fall of 1862. The 125th regiment was composed of 300,000 voluntary men in a desperate time and need during the civil war. The reality that the Confederates were not just trying to secede but destroy the Union had come into view. The Confederates were very overpowering, and had much more men than the Union. In the beginning they were not very well trained or equipped. The older men had a fear of gun shyness and were scared to fire a musket. In a short time, because they did not have long to train, they learned how to shoot accurately from far distances. They were equipped with Belgian Muskets, which were heavy, clumsy, and un-accurate. On January 1, 1863 the Tiger Regiment left Camp Cleveland to Louisville, Kentucky.

Once leaving Camp Cleveland and arriving in Louisville, Kentucky the boarded a steam boat named Jacob Strader. There was very little room on the ship and spaces were cramped. The 125th was forced to stay in a kitchen area with a big chunk of room taken up by a stove. The captain of the steam boat refused to leave port with his boat so overcrowded. So the 125th was asked to go to a smaller steam boat which they did, but it was a better trade. Even though it was smaller they had more room because they were the only regiment aboard it. After transporting to the smaller steamer they left port and headed to Fort Donnelson. While traveling to Fort Donnelson the Tigers heard there first shots of war. When they arrived at Fort Donnelson they got off the steam boat they saw the aftermath of war. 200 men left lying dead where they were shot.

On February 9, 1863 they landed in Nashville, Tennessee. From there they headed on their first mission of the civil war for them. They were to march down the Columbia Pike to the town of Franklin. One mile from the town of Franklin they were brought to the front of the battle lines to show their skirmish skills. No other regiment knew this drill and it was their chance to prove themselves. In the middle of their maneuver they were running up and had to cross a river. They waded through without complaint and still rushed the enemy. After escaping the river they ran up on the Confederates and pushed them back. Later on they defended the town from an attack from the Confederates. They had successfully won the first battle of Franklin, and proven themselves to the Union Army.

The Tiger Regiment never turned down a mission they were asked to complete. The toughest task they ever took was the Tullahoma Campaign. It was not tough from fighting, but it tested their endurance and determination. It rained for eight straight days and nights. They had to pull the wagons themselves with roped to dry land so the mules could then take over. They made it successfully without losing any men or much grievance.

The first humiliation the 125th took was at the battle of Chickamauga. They went into the fight with very little man power and very tired. They fought under great pressure and did not give even though it was a give and take battle. No one from the other regiments bothered to come to the aid of the Tigers. The battle was considered a draw even