Quote Originally Posted by cajunscot
Read McWhiney's two "Celtic South" books, the aforementioned "Cracker Culture", and the last chapter of "Attack and Die", which discusses Southern military strategy and tactics in the Civil War with a large grain of salt, though. Interesting reading, but it should be pointed out that many people of "Celtic" stock also served in the Federal Army -- the Irish regiments of New York and Pennsylvania, the 79th New York and 12th Illinois (both Scottish regiments) and the numerous Scots, Ulster-Scots and Welsh soldiers who did not necessarily join an "ethnic" regiment.

Arthur MacArthur, father of General Douglas MacArthur, for example, was of Scottish heritage and was awarded the CMOH for his actions at Lookout Mountain. On a personal note, many of my own Scottish ancestors served in Iowa regiments during the war.

That's not saying McWhiney is wrong, just that he ignores the Northern "Celts" to prove his point. Ray, David Fischer and James Leyburn are much more reliable.

OT off.

Regards,

Todd
I wouldn't argue with you. I just found it (McWhiney) interesting in general. The Irish Brigade was certainly of Celtic stock, but fought valiantly for the union.

I'd recommend MacKinnon and Grimble for those interested in "armchair" reading, especially about the clans and Sottish culture and history.

MacKinnon spends one part detailing the various clans "known"/'proven" to have existed just before the Jacobite "issues." The other part is prose about Scottish history and other "matters."

Gimble is long chapters organized around different matters and topics.