The role of Canada and Canadians in the American Civil War has long deserved a higher profile in the historical literature. Veteran journalist and author Claire Hoy’s new book is an attempt to rectify that.

Between 20,000 and 30,000 Canadians fought in the Civil War, with some 5,000 of them losing their lives. They participated for money and ideals on both sides of the conflict; four made the rank of general; 29 received the Medal of Honour for gallantry; and 18 were executed for a variety of crimes. Hoy has done a prodigious amount of research to tell their worthy stories.

The best of the stories, such as that of George Ellsworth, the daring and cheeky telegraphist with Confederate General John Hunt Morgan, are fascinating. Unfortunately, there are places where the less dramatic exploits of Canadian soldiers form little more than a list of names and dates. In addition, much of Canadians in the Civil War deals with larger issues that are covered in other texts. There are chapters on the Trent Affair and the Confederate blockade runners, which have a Canadian connection but primarily involve an American cast.

The book falls between popular history and historical resource text, immensely helped by a detailed index, chapter notes, and bibliography. Individual incidents are well painted and their background and context fleshed out, but the lack of an overall focus leads to repetition and some confusion. For instance, the reader is told several times that the Battle of Antietam was the single most bloody day in the war, and the Confederate spies and crimpers who haunted Montreal and Toronto throughout the war are given chapters to themselves as well as appearing in several other tales.

Canadians in the Civil War is an overdue and worthwhile, if flawed, contribution to the literature of the Civil War. It will be valued as a resource, but enjoyed more by those who like dipping into a book to discover a story than those who are looking for a comprehensive, focused history.