The United States Marines in the Civil War: Harpers Ferry and the Battle of First Manassas

Product Description This book presents the most accurate picture of the United States Marine Corps at the onset of the American Civil War and describes the actions of the Marines at the Battle of First Manassas, or as the Union called it, Bull Run. To tell the story of the actions of the U.S. Marines in the Manassas Campaign, distinguished Marine Corps historians Bruce H. Norton and Phillip Gibbons begin with Marine actions in October 1859 at Harpers Ferry, where they were instrumental in suppressing John Brown’s raid on the town’s Federal Armory and attempted slave insurrection. The Marines were the only professional fi ghting force that could respond immediately when the call for assistance came to retake the Armory, which Brown’s men had seized. The Marines were led by highly professional and well-trained offi cers and noncommissioned officers who represented a decades-old standard of excellence well established by the eve of the Civil War. The book then discusses Marine actions at the Battle of First Manassas, the Civil War’s fi rst battle, on July 21, 1861, a story that has never been adequately or accurately told. In both engagements, the Marines proved that they were “at all times ready,” as the Corps remains to this very day. Review “An exceptional and historically accurate account as seen through the eyes and reported in the words of the soldiers and Marines directly involved … It is a must read for scholars and students of that confl ict. Equally, it is a great read for those who cherish American history and seek to know more about the major events that have shaped our country’s destiny.” -- Lieutenant General George R. (Ron) Chris About the Author Major Bruce H. “Doc” Norton, USMC (Ret.) is a combat veteran and a career Marine infantry and reconnaissance officer. He is an award-winning author of numerous books on and about the United States Marines. He served at various “posts and stations” throughout the Marine Corps to include duty as an infantry platoon leader, deep reconnaissance platoon leader, rifle company commander, operations and training officer, battalion executive officer, and at various joint staff positions. Home originally was North Scituate, Rhode Island. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1968 and became a Navy Corpsman, serving with distinction in both 3rd Force and 1st Force Reconnaissance Companies during the Vietnam War, where he participated in more than twenty-five long-range reconnaissance patrols from 1968-1970. Both “jump” and SCUBA qualified, he was the only Navy corpsman to be designated as a Force Recon team leader. The Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal and Combat Action Ribbon are among his personal decorations. He retired from Active Duty in 1992. He is a graduate of the College of Charleston, where he earned a BA in US History, and later earned a master’s degree in Naval Sciences before becoming the Director of the Marine Corps’ Command Museum, at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, in San Diego, California. He has taught military history courses at the University of San Diego, the Citadel, Trident Technical College, and at the Marine Corps University at Quantico, VA.