I've read about 14% and unfortunately will not be continuing on. This is just my personal opinion, but I was really hoping for a more accurate depiction of the South, and the States in general, during this time period. It seems more than a bit oversimplified to me, not living up to the "Gone with the Wind" comparison as far as historical accuracy goes. ( )

In 1856, Nannie Colquitt Hill makes her debut in a plantation in Georgia amidst Southern Senators. Meanwhile, Wisconsin farmer Hugh LaGrange is brought into the Abolitionists cause and made a conductor on the Underground Railroad while fighting to ban slavery in Kansas. When the Civil War begins, Hugh and his brother join up and Hugh leads the First Wisconsin Cavalry. Nannie's husband joins the Confederate troops leaving Nannie and the other women of the town alone. Nannie decides to form a brigade, The Nancy Hart's, to help defend their town. With the help of Nannie's cousin, Gus, the women become skilled and fierce defenders as The First Wisconsins come to town.

The Cotillion Brigade is not a typical Civil War novel, focusing less on the battles and more on the stories of Nannie and Hugh. Written with rich historical detail, Craney has brought to life the enigmatic Nannie Colquitt Hill, the real leader of the Nancy Hart Brigade in LaGrange Georgia. Nannie is fiercely determined and once she sets her sights on something, she does not back down. These qualities helped her to lead this amazing group of female militia. While Nannie believed in the Southern ideals of the time, her story is important in remembering the women who were willing to fight. Through Nannie's eyes we also see the devastation and destruction of war as well as the emotional toll on those who were left behind. Hugh LaGrange was also the real leader of the First Wisconsin Cavalry. Hugh is a pragmatic problem solver whose nature helped him to win battles without losing more lives than necessary. The beginning of the story, before the war broke out was a little slowly paced as we learned the backgrounds of both characters and what made them into the people they became. Overall, a detailed and character based story of courage, bravery and foraging relationships during the Civil War.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. ( )

There are many stories that come out of war that are often surprising and unexpected. Oftentimes those stories involve women. In the case of The Cotillion Brigade we have the tale of Southern Belles basically who do what they need to do because it needs to be done.

The book opens with a joyous time in a young girl’s life as she is being introduced to society at a ball. But times are changing – lifestyles are changing and the world she thought she was entering is not going to be the world she finds. War is coming and that war is going to upend everything.

As the women find their world becoming more and more dangerous they come together to do something about what is going on. They form their own Brigade; learning how to handle a gun, how to work together. The women never actually fight but they develop a level of confidence they didn’t have before and are ready whatever the future might bring.

This was an utterly fascinating book about an aspect of history that I have not bumped into in my Civil War reading. Women of the time were expected to be ladylike, Southern belles who need their men but there is a core of strength that is kept hidden from those men. Little do they know.

I found this to be a fast paced, well written book that told an utterly fascinating story. ( )

My Thoughts:

Several reasons why I love The Cotillion Brigade:
1. It is a history I’ve not heard of before.
2. It is not dual time periods. Bravo! The story is told in a linear or chronological form.
3. There is tension, internal and external conflicts, controversy, and extra-ordinary characters.
4. One of my favorite points about this story is the wonderful dialogue. I love the Southern phrases. I love the specific word usage by the different characters down to their humor and sarcasm. Several times I laughed out loud at the comic moments. The Cotillion Brigade is a serious story of war. In a serious story it is important to have moments when the reader can take a breath. Those comic moments are a benefit.
5. Through Nancy’s eyes I saw the destruction and devastation of the war on the people, the towns, and the land. It is especially moving during the part of the story where she tends the wounds of soldiers.
6. The story moves between the women involved in the Brigade and Colonel Hugh LaGrange. His parts in the story are mainly the events of the war. He is a Colonel in the Union Army. I am able to understand his experiences during the war. His decisions and feelings about the South.
7. The descriptions of the people, land, buildings, homes, and the aftermath of war is brought to life on page. I especially love reading about less significant things like the characters facial expressions and mannerisms.
8. The Cotillion Brigade has a solid ending. A satisfying ending. The devastation of the war on the land and people is a fact. I like characters to have a resolve of some kind. I like to see a transformation. I am pleased with the ending.
9. I can think of one point that is not something I cared about in the story. The beginning of the story is focused on the pre-Civil War years of Nancy Colquitt Hill and Hugh LaGrange. I do not care about house parties and clothing. I do not care about who has a bonnet set on a particular man. I did enjoy reading about LaGrange. These years gave me an idea of his beliefs and convictions.
10. The Cotillion Brigade is not a story with the aim/focus of telling about the injustices of slavery. The emphasis is on the Brigade, Nancy, and Hugh. The characters have opinions and during the telling of the story it is obvious their feelings.

Themes in the story: honor, courage, bravery, grief, compassion, injustice, perseverance, power of love, sacrifice, romance, loyalty, death and dying, survival, suffering, and heroism.

Source: I received a complimentary e-book copy from the author. I am not required to write a positive review.
Audience: Historical fiction readers of the Civil War era. ( )

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The Cotillion Brigade: A Novel of the Civil War and the Most Famous Female Militia in American History by Glen Carney tells the story of the Nancy Hart Rifles from Georgia, Confederate and pro-slavery sympathizers, and Oscar Hugh La Grange, and colonel in the Union Army. Mr. Carney is a published author and journalist.

Nancy “Nannie” Colquitt Hill is a strong-minded young woman, living on a plantation in LaGrange, Georgia, awaiting her future in the antebellum society. The American Civil War, however, has halted her plans and Nancy forms a women’s militia to prepare for battle in case the Union attacks their small town.

Oscar Hugh LaGrange, preferred to be called by his middle name, from Wisconsin joins the Abolitionist cause, focusing on making sure that the new territory of Kansas joins the Union as a free state. Several years later, Hugh, now a Union Colonel, is a hardened soldier dueling Confederate generals Joseph Wheeler and Nathan Bedford Forrest across Tennessee and Alabama.

I have read The Yanks Are Starving: A Novel of the Bonus Army by Mr. Carney previously, and enjoyed it very much. To be sure, I was already half sold when the opportunity came up to read The Cotillion Brigade: A Novel of the Civil War and the Most Famous Female Militia in American History.

I enjoyed this novel a lot more than I thought I would, which is always a nice surprised. The author goes to great lengths to build a coherent picture of life during that period, antebellum society, and soldering.

Glen Carney does not mince words when it comes the views of the Southern Confederate sympathizers about slavery. He does not sugarcoat their views, nor tries to justify them by today’s standards.

By the same token, the Nancy Hart Rifles and their motivation come through clear as daylight. He ladies were afraid of rumors, innuendos, and news of Union soldiers burning towns, and raping women. With the men away fighting to keep other humans enslaved, they took it upon themselves to protect the town, and their honor.

On the other hand, we get the story of Hugh LaGrange, the name ironically coincides with LaGrange, GA where the Nancy Hart Rifles reside. LaGrange, an abolitionist, joined the Union Army and worked his way to Colonel, eventually rising to the rank of brigadier general.

In this instance, Mr. Carney builds a narrative around how difficult soidiering was, and the Abolitionist cause. Col. LaGrange, commanding the Army of the Cumberland took part in many battles, and was even taken as a prisoner of war. After the Battle of West Point (in Georgia), he encountered the Nancy Harts.
During his time in the state, Col LaGrange also discovered his fondness of Georgia women, as his later marriages seem to suggest.

I was fascinated by the descriptions of the army at the time, the decisions made by LaGrange, his capabilities, and attitude. I understand that much of these narratives are fictional, but I found them gripping nonetheless.

This is a well written, well researched book about the American Civil War. I have not heard of the Nancy Harts Rifles before, and only read a bit about Col. LaGrange. If you enjoy reading stories which are often overlooked in a large historical narrative, this book will certainly fit the bill. The end of the book has some information, pictures included, of the historical characters mentioned in the story – which I found to be a wonderful addition. ( )