This image is the cover for the book Sons of the White Eagle in the American Civil War

Sons of the White Eagle in the American Civil War

The untold stories of nine Polish Americans who bravely fought in the Civil War—includes photographs, maps, and illustrations.

This unique history chronicles the lives of nine Polish American immigrants who fought in the Civil War. Spanning three generations, they are connected by the White Eagle—the Polish coat of arms—and by a shared history in which their home country fell to ruin at the end of the previous century. Still, each carried a belief in freedom that they inherited from their forefathers.

More highly trained in warfare than their American brethren—and more inured to struggles for nationhood—the Poles made significant contributions to the armies they served. The first group had fought in the 1830 war for freedom from the Russian Empire. The European revolutionary struggles of the 1840s molded the next generation. The two youngest came of age just as the Civil War began, entering military service as enlisted men and finishing as officers. Of the group, four sided with the North and four with the South, and the ninth began in the Confederate cavalry and finished fighting for the Union side. Whether for the North or the South, they fought for their ideals in America’s greatest conflict.

Nominated for the Gilder Lehrman Prize.

Mark F. Bielski

Mark F. Bielski is an historian and author and the director at Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours. He also hosts the History with Mark Bielski Podcast, where he and his guests, experts in their field, delve into the characters, backstories, and intrigues that drove events throughout history. Bielski’s first book, Sons of the White Eagle in the American Civil War: Divided Poles in a Divided Nation, describes the fascinating story of nine transplanted Poles who participated in the American Civil War. He received his Ph.D. in History at the University of Birmingham in England. Bielski lives in New Orleans, where he enjoys the city’s historical, cultural, and culinary riches on a daily basis.

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