Following the Flag, from August 1861 to November 1862, with the Army of the Potomac

This concise volume follows the Army of the Potomac from the summer of 1861 through the autumn of 1862, when General McClellan held command. By concentrating on the movements of brigades and divisions, it paints a clear picture of how the Union forces organized and fought without getting lost in regimental minutiae. Helpful diagrams accompany the narrative, showing key engagements such as Ball’s Bluff, Dranesville, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, and Antietam.

The author draws on decades of firsthand experience, having stood on many of the battlefields he now describes. His veteran perspective lends a grounded, human element to the strategic overview, while an appendix details the army’s structure for listeners who wish to trace individual units. The work balances factual precision with accessible storytelling, making the early war’s complex operations easy to follow.

Readers will come away with a solid understanding of the Union’s early challenges, the evolution of its leadership, and the pivotal actions that set the stage for the larger conflict to follow.