Everyday Life of a Louisiana Soldier in the Civil War

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 202 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (132 download)

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Book Synopsis Everyday Life of a Louisiana Soldier in the Civil War by : Esther Adele Nash Ethridge

Download or read book Everyday Life of a Louisiana Soldier in the Civil War written by Esther Adele Nash Ethridge and published by . This book was released on 1935 with total page 202 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

The Defense of Vicksburg

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Publisher : Texas A&M University Press
ISBN 13 : 9781585442799
Total Pages : 364 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (427 download)

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Book Synopsis The Defense of Vicksburg by : Allan C. Richard

Download or read book The Defense of Vicksburg written by Allan C. Richard and published by Texas A&M University Press. This book was released on 2004 with total page 364 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Defense of Vicksburg: A Louisiana Chronicle is the story of the Louisiana soldiers who fought at Vicksburg, as told through their letters, diaries, and remembrances. Most histories of this famous Civil War siege have been written by the victors; this one presents a day-by-day account from the Confederate vantage point. Indeed, these long-dead men come to life as we read their experiences and perceptions told in their own voices, which ring clear and without apology. In 1862 the Dixie Rebels of DeSoto Parish left for New Orleans. They and other Louisianians were formed into regiments and dispatched for Vicksburg. In the year that followed, the troops witnessed the shelling of Vicksburg by Union gunboats, the outbreak of disease, the lonely heroics of the Confederate ironclad Arkansas, the daily drudgery of camp life, and Jeff Davis’s visit to the beleaguered city. With immediacy and in intriguing detail several correspondents describe daily life in the trenches from their individual perspectives during each of the forty-seven days of the siege. Yet their stories do not end with the capitulation of the city, but continue in an epilogue as the troops return home and then continue their service for the balance of the war. Their experiences transcended their own worlds. These young men of Louisiana still have something important to tell us.

The Life of Johnny Reb

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Publisher : LSU Press
ISBN 13 : 9780807133255
Total Pages : 484 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (332 download)

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Book Synopsis The Life of Johnny Reb by : Bell Irvin Wiley

Download or read book The Life of Johnny Reb written by Bell Irvin Wiley and published by LSU Press. This book was released on 2008-01-01 with total page 484 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this companion to The Life of Johnny Reb, Bell Irvin Wiley explores the daily lives of the men in blue who fought to save the Union. With the help of many soldiers' letters and diaries, Wiley explains who these men were and why they fought, how they reacted to combat and the strain of prolonged conflict, and what they thought about the land and the people of Dixie. This fascinating social history reveals that while the Yanks and the Rebs fought for very different causes, the men on both sides were very much the same. "This wonderfully interesting book is the finest memorial the Union soldier is ever likely to have.... [Wiley] has written about the Northern troops with an admirable objectivity, with sympathy and understanding and profound respect for their fighting abilities. He has also written about them with fabulous learning and considerable pace and humor.

The Life of Billy Yank

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Publisher : LSU Press
ISBN 13 : 9780807104767
Total Pages : 482 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (47 download)

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Book Synopsis The Life of Billy Yank by : Bell Irvin Wiley

Download or read book The Life of Billy Yank written by Bell Irvin Wiley and published by LSU Press. This book was released on 2001 with total page 482 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Through excerpted letters, diary entries, newspaper accounts, and official records, Wiley offers the reader a complete portrait of the ordinary foot soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War.

Louisiana Native Guards

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Publisher : LSU Press
ISBN 13 : 0807141348
Total Pages : 169 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (71 download)

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Book Synopsis Louisiana Native Guards by : James G. Hollandsworth, Jr.

Download or read book Louisiana Native Guards written by James G. Hollandsworth, Jr. and published by LSU Press. This book was released on 1995-12 with total page 169 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Early in the Civil War, Louisiana's Confederate government sanctioned a militia unit of black troops, the Louisiana Native Guards. Intended as a response to demands from members of New Orleans' substantial free black population that they be permitted to participate in the defense of their state, the unit was used by Confederate authorities for public display and propaganda purposes but was not allowed to fight. After the fall of New Orleans, General Benjamin F. Butler brought the Native Guards into Federal military service and increased their numbers with runaway slaves. He intended to use the troops for guard duty and heavy labor. His successor, Nathaniel P. Banks, did not trust the black Native Guard officers, and as he replaced them with white commanders, the mistreatment and misuse of the black troops steadily increased. The first large-scale deployment of the Native Guards occurred in May, 1863, during the Union siege of Port Hudson, Louisiana, when two of their regiments were ordered to storm an impregnable hilltop position. Although the soldiers fought valiantly, the charge was driven back with extensive losses. The white officers and the northern press praised the tenacity and fighting ability of the black troops, but they were still not accepted on the same terms as their white counterparts. After the war, Native Guard veterans took up the struggle for civil rights - in particular, voting rights - for Louisiana's black population. The Louisiana Native Guards is the first account to consider that struggle. By documenting their endeavors through Reconstruction, James G. Hollandsworth places the Native Guards' military service in the broader context of a civil rights movement thatpredates more recent efforts by a hundred years. This remarkable work presents a vivid picture of men eager to prove their courage and ability to a world determined to exploit and demean them.

Life in the Confederate Army

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Publisher : Good Press
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 429 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (596 download)

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Book Synopsis Life in the Confederate Army by : William Watson

Download or read book Life in the Confederate Army written by William Watson and published by Good Press. This book was released on 2023-12-26 with total page 429 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: William Watson's 'Life in the Confederate Army' is a vivid and immersive account of the everyday experiences of soldiers in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. Watson's writing style is both poignant and precise, allowing readers to truly grasp the struggles and triumphs faced by those who fought in this tumultuous period of history. Through detailed descriptions and personal anecdotes, the book provides a valuable insight into the life of a Confederate soldier, shedding light on the sacrifices made and the hardships endured during this turbulent time. Situating itself within the tradition of Civil War literature, 'Life in the Confederate Army' stands out for its raw and authentic portrayal of the human experience in war. William Watson's background as a historian specializing in the Civil War era shines through in this poignant and gripping account of a pivotal moment in American history. His meticulous research and deep understanding of the subject matter make 'Life in the Confederate Army' a must-read for anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the Civil War and the individuals who lived through it. Whether you are a history enthusiast or simply looking for a compelling read, William Watson's book offers a unique perspective on a historically significant event that continues to shape the American story.

Diary of a Christian Soldier

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Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 9780521823340
Total Pages : 316 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (233 download)

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Book Synopsis Diary of a Christian Soldier by : Rufus Kinsley

Download or read book Diary of a Christian Soldier written by Rufus Kinsley and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2004 with total page 316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book offers a meticulous reconstruction of the life of Rufus Kinsley - an ordinary New England soldier who during the Civil War became an officer in one of the nations's first and most famous black regiments - and an expertly edited transcription of Kinsley's hitherto unpublished wartime diary. Kinsley's diary sheds light on a long neglected theater of the war - the battle for the bayou country of southwestern Louisiana - and it illuminates the workaday routines of black and white soldiers stationed behind Union lines but thoroughly immersed in the unprecedented improvisations that accompanied the social revolution that was emancipation. Kinsley's perspective is that of a too often neglected type: the absolutely dedicated evangelical abolitionist soldier who believed that the war and its consequences were divine retribution for the sin of slavery. The introductory biography places Kinsley's civil war experience in the context of his life and his times.

A Southern Record

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Publisher : BoD – Books on Demand
ISBN 13 : 375257741X
Total Pages : 402 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (525 download)

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Book Synopsis A Southern Record by : W. H. Tunnard

Download or read book A Southern Record written by W. H. Tunnard and published by BoD – Books on Demand. This book was released on 2022-03-07 with total page 402 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Reprint of the original, first published in 1866. Containing a complete Record of the Campaigns in Arkansas and Missouri; the Battles of Oak Hills, Elk Horn, Iuka, Corinth; the second Siege of Vicksburg, Anecdotes, Camps, Scenery, and Description of the Country through which the Regiment marched, etc., etc.

Louisiana Native Guards

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Author :
Publisher : LSU Press
ISBN 13 : 0807151599
Total Pages : 206 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (71 download)

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Book Synopsis Louisiana Native Guards by : James G. Hollandsworth, Jr.

Download or read book Louisiana Native Guards written by James G. Hollandsworth, Jr. and published by LSU Press. This book was released on 1995-12-01 with total page 206 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Early in the Civil War, Louisiana's Confederate government sanctioned a militia unit of black troops, the Louisiana Native Guards. Intended as a response to demands from members of New Orleans' substantial free black population that they be permitted to participate in the defense of their state, the unit was used by Confederate authorities for public display and propaganda purposes but was not allowed to fight. After the fall of New Orleans, General Benjamin F. Butler brought the Native Guards into Federal military service and increased their numbers with runaway slaves. He intended to use the troops for guard duty and heavy labor. His successor, Nathaniel P. Banks, did not trust the black Native Guard officers, and as he replaced them with white commanders, the mistreatment and misuse of the black troops steadily increased. The first large-scale deployment of the Native Guards occurred in May, 1863, during the Union siege of Port Hudson, Louisiana, when two of their regiments were ordered to storm an impregnable hilltop position. Although the soldiers fought valiantly, the charge was driven back with extensive losses. The white officers and the northern press praised the tenacity and fighting ability of the black troops, but they were still not accepted on the same terms as their white counterparts. After the war, Native Guard veterans took up the struggle for civil rights - in particular, voting rights - for Louisiana's black population. The Louisiana Native Guards is the first account to consider that struggle. By documenting their endeavors through Reconstruction, James G. Hollandsworth places the Native Guards' military service in the broader context of a civil rights movement thatpredates more recent efforts by a hundred years. This remarkable work presents a vivid picture of men eager to prove their courage and ability to a world determined to exploit and demean them.

They Fought Like Demons

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Publisher : LSU Press
ISBN 13 : 9780807128060
Total Pages : 302 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (28 download)

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Book Synopsis They Fought Like Demons by : DeAnne Blanton

Download or read book They Fought Like Demons written by DeAnne Blanton and published by LSU Press. This book was released on 2002-09-01 with total page 302 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Popular images of women during the American Civil War include self-sacrificing nurses, romantic spies, and brave ladies maintaining hearth and home in the absence of their men. However, as DeAnne Blanton and Lauren M. Cook show in their remarkable new study, that conventional picture does not tell the entire story. Hundreds of women assumed male aliases, disguised themselves in men’s uniforms, and charged into battle as Union and Confederate soldiers—facing down not only the guns of the adversary but also the gender prejudices of society. They Fought Like Demons is the first book to fully explore and explain these women, their experiences as combatants, and the controversial issues surrounding their military service. Relying on more than a decade of research in primary sources, Blanton and Cook document over 240 women in uniform and find that their reasons for fighting mirrored those of men—-patriotism, honor, heritage, and a desire for excitement. Some enlisted to remain with husbands or brothers, while others had dressed as men before the war. Some so enjoyed being freed from traditional women’s roles that they continued their masquerade well after 1865. The authors describe how Yankee and Rebel women soldiers eluded detection, some for many years, and even merited promotion. Their comrades often did not discover the deception until the “young boy” in their company was wounded, killed, or gave birth. In addition to examining the details of everyday military life and the harsh challenges of -warfare for these women—which included injury, capture, and imprisonment—Blanton and Cook discuss the female warrior as an icon in nineteenth-century popular culture and why twentieth-century historians and society ignored women soldiers’ contributions. Shattering the negative assumptions long held about Civil War distaff soldiers, this sophisticated and dynamic work sheds much-needed light on an unusual and overlooked facet of the Civil War experience.

Earthen Walls, Iron Men

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Author :
Publisher : Voices of the Civil War
ISBN 13 : 9781621901969
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (19 download)

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Book Synopsis Earthen Walls, Iron Men by : Steven M. Mayeux

Download or read book Earthen Walls, Iron Men written by Steven M. Mayeux and published by Voices of the Civil War. This book was released on 2015-04-30 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Earthen Walls, Iron Men tells the story of Fort DeRussy, Louisiana, a major Confederate fortification that defended the lower Red River in 1863-64 during the last stages of the Civil War. Long regarded as little more than a footnote by historians, the fort in fact played a critical role in the defense of the Red River region. The Red River Campaign was one of the Confederacy's last great triumphs of the war, and only the end of the conflict saved the reputations of Union leaders who had recently been so successful at Vicksburg. Fort DeRussy was the linchpin of the Confederates' tactical and strategic victory. Steven M. Mayeux does more than just tell the story of the fort from the military perspective; it goes deeper to closely examine the lives of the people that served in--and lived around--Fort DeRussy. Through a thorough examination of local documents, Mayeux has uncovered the fascinating stories that reveal for the first time what wartime life was like for those living in central Louisiana. In this book, the reader will meet soldiers and slaves, plantation owners and Jayhawkers, elderly women and newborn babies, all of whom played important roles in making the history of Fort DeRussy. Mayeux presents an unvarnished portrait of the life at the fort, devoid of any romanticized notions, but more accurately capturing the utter humanity of those who built it, defended it, attacked it, and lived around it. Earthen Walls, Iron Men intertwines the stories of naval battles and military actions with those human elements such as greed, theft, murder, and courage to create a vibrant, relevant history that will appeal to all who seek to know what real life was like during the Civil War.

The Fourth Louisiana Battalion in the Civil War

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Author :
Publisher : McFarland
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 382 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis The Fourth Louisiana Battalion in the Civil War by : Terry G. Scriber

Download or read book The Fourth Louisiana Battalion in the Civil War written by Terry G. Scriber and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2007-08-09 with total page 382 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first section of this book follows the Fourth Louisiana Battalion from Louisiana's secession through Richmond, South Carolina's coastal defense, Vicksburg, the campaigns of the Army of Tennessee, and the final surrender at Gainesville, Alabama. The second section is a detailed biographical register covering commanding officers, staff, color bearers and soldiers who served the battalion. Information for each man includes military record, civilian history, pension information and burial location.

For Cause and Comrades

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Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0199741050
Total Pages : 258 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (997 download)

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Book Synopsis For Cause and Comrades by : James M. McPherson

Download or read book For Cause and Comrades written by James M. McPherson and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 1997-04-03 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: General John A. Wickham, commander of the famous 101st Airborne Division in the 1970s and subsequently Army Chief of Staff, once visited Antietam battlefield. Gazing at Bloody Lane where, in 1862, several Union assaults were brutally repulsed before they finally broke through, he marveled, "You couldn't get American soldiers today to make an attack like that." Why did those men risk certain death, over and over again, through countless bloody battles and four long, awful years ? Why did the conventional wisdom -- that soldiers become increasingly cynical and disillusioned as war progresses -- not hold true in the Civil War? It is to this question--why did they fight--that James McPherson, America's preeminent Civil War historian, now turns his attention. He shows that, contrary to what many scholars believe, the soldiers of the Civil War remained powerfully convinced of the ideals for which they fought throughout the conflict. Motivated by duty and honor, and often by religious faith, these men wrote frequently of their firm belief in the cause for which they fought: the principles of liberty, freedom, justice, and patriotism. Soldiers on both sides harkened back to the Founding Fathers, and the ideals of the American Revolution. They fought to defend their country, either the Union--"the best Government ever made"--or the Confederate states, where their very homes and families were under siege. And they fought to defend their honor and manhood. "I should not lik to go home with the name of a couhard," one Massachusetts private wrote, and another private from Ohio said, "My wife would sooner hear of my death than my disgrace." Even after three years of bloody battles, more than half of the Union soldiers reenlisted voluntarily. "While duty calls me here and my country demands my services I should be willing to make the sacrifice," one man wrote to his protesting parents. And another soldier said simply, "I still love my country." McPherson draws on more than 25,000 letters and nearly 250 private diaries from men on both sides. Civil War soldiers were among the most literate soldiers in history, and most of them wrote home frequently, as it was the only way for them to keep in touch with homes that many of them had left for the first time in their lives. Significantly, their letters were also uncensored by military authorities, and are uniquely frank in their criticism and detailed in their reports of marches and battles, relations between officers and men, political debates, and morale. For Cause and Comrades lets these soldiers tell their own stories in their own words to create an account that is both deeply moving and far truer than most books on war. Battle Cry of Freedom, McPherson's Pulitzer Prize-winning account of the Civil War, was a national bestseller that Hugh Brogan, in The New York Times, called "history writing of the highest order." For Cause and Comrades deserves similar accolades, as McPherson's masterful prose and the soldiers' own words combine to create both an important book on an often-overlooked aspect of our bloody Civil War, and a powerfully moving account of the men who fought it.

Louisianians in the Civil War

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Publisher : University of Missouri Press
ISBN 13 : 0826263194
Total Pages : 211 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (262 download)

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Book Synopsis Louisianians in the Civil War by : Lawrence L. Hewitt

Download or read book Louisianians in the Civil War written by Lawrence L. Hewitt and published by University of Missouri Press. This book was released on 2002 with total page 211 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Louisianians in the Civil War brings to the forefront the suffering endured by Louisianians during and after the war--hardships more severe than those suffered by the majority of residents in the Confederacy. The wealthiest southern state before the Civil War, Louisiana was the poorest by 1880. Such economic devastation negatively affected most segments of the state's population, and the fighting that contributed to this financial collapse further fragmented Louisiana's culturally diverse citizenry. The essays in this book deal with the differing segments of Louisiana's society and their interactions with one another. Louisiana was as much a multicultural society during the Civil War as the United States is today. One manner in which this diversity manifested itself was in the turning of neighbor against neighbor. This volume lays the groundwork for demonstrating that strongholds of Unionist sentiment existed beyond the mountainous regions of the Confederacy and, to a lesser extent, that foreigners and African Americans could surpass white, native-born Southerners in their support of the Lost Cause. Some of the essays deal with the attitudes and hardships the war inflicted on different classes of civilians (sugar planters, slaves, Union sympathizers, and urban residents, especially women), while others deal with specific minority groups or with individuals. Written by leading scholars of Civil War history, Louisianians in the Civil War provides the reader a rich understanding of the complex ordeals of Louisiana and her people. Students, scholars, and the general reader will welcome this fine addition to Civil War studies."--Publishers website.

The First Louisiana Special Battalion

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Publisher : McFarland
ISBN 13 : 1476610762
Total Pages : 222 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (766 download)

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Book Synopsis The First Louisiana Special Battalion by : Gary Schreckengost

Download or read book The First Louisiana Special Battalion written by Gary Schreckengost and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2015-03-10 with total page 222 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the little-known Filibuster Wars to the Civil War battlefield of Gaines' Mill, this volume details the fascinating story of one of the South's most colorful military units, the 1st Louisiana Special Battalion, aka Wheat's Tigers. Beginning with a brief look at the Filibuster Wars (a set of military attempts to annex Latin American countries into the United States as slave states), the work takes a close look at the men who comprised Wheat's Tigers: Irish immigrant ship hands, New Orleans dock workers and Filibuster veterans. Commanded by one of the greatest antebellum filibusterers, Chatham Roberdeau Wheat, the Tigers quickly distinguished themselves in battle through their almost reckless bravery, proving instrumental in Southern victories at the battles of Front Royal, Winchester and Port Republic. An in-depth look at Battle of Gaines' Mill, in which Wheat's Tigers suffered heavy casualties, including their commander, completes the story. Appendices provide a compiled roster of the Wheat's Tigers, a look at the 1st Louisiana's uniforms and a copy of Wheat's report about the Battle of Manassas. Never-before-published photographs are also included.

Daily Life of U.S. Soldiers [3 volumes]

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Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 979 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (16 download)

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Book Synopsis Daily Life of U.S. Soldiers [3 volumes] by : Christopher R. Mortenson

Download or read book Daily Life of U.S. Soldiers [3 volumes] written by Christopher R. Mortenson and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2019-06-14 with total page 979 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This ground-breaking work explores the lives of average soldiers from the American Revolution through the 21st-century conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. What was life really like for U.S. soldiers during America's wars? Were they conscripted or did they volunteer? What did they eat, wear, believe, think, and do for fun? Most important, how did they deal with the rigors of combat and coming home? This comprehensive book will answer all of those questions and much more, with separate chapters on the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Civil War, the Indian Wars, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II in Europe, World War II in the Pacific, the Cold War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, the Afghanistan War and War on Terror, and the Iraq War. Each chapter includes such topical sections as Conscription and Volunteers, Training, Religion, Pop Culture, Weaponry, Combat, Special Forces, Prisoners of War, Homefront, and Veteran Issues. This work also examines the role of minorities and women in each conflict as well as delves into the disciplinary problems in the military, including alcoholism, drugs, crimes, and desertion. Selected primary sources, bibliographies, and timelines complement the topical sections of each chapter.

The Civil War Diary of a Common Soldier

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Author :
Publisher : LSU Press
ISBN 13 : 9780807125939
Total Pages : 236 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (259 download)

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Book Synopsis The Civil War Diary of a Common Soldier by : Terrence J. Winschel

Download or read book The Civil War Diary of a Common Soldier written by Terrence J. Winschel and published by LSU Press. This book was released on 2001-05-01 with total page 236 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: William Wiley was typical of most soldiers who served in the armies of the North and South during the Civil War. A poorly educated farmer from Peoria, he enlisted in the summer of 1862 in the 77th Illinois Infantry, a unit that participated in most of the major campaigns waged in Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama. Recognizing that the great conflict would be a defining experience in his life, Wiley attempted to maintain a diary during his years of service. Frequent illnesses kept him from the ranks for extended periods of time, and he filled the many gaps in his diary after the war. When viewed as a postwar memoir rather than a period diary, Wiley's narrative assumes great importance as it weaves a fascinating account of the army life of Billy Yank. Rather than focus on the noble and heroic aspects of war, Wiley reveals how basic the lives of most soldiers actually were. He describes at length his experiences with sickness, both on land and at sea, and the monotony of daily military life. He seldom mentions army leaders, evidence of how little private soldiers knew of them or the larger drama in which they played a part. Instead, he writes fondly of his small circle of regimental friends, fills his pages with refreshing anecdotes, records troop movements, details contact with civilians, and describes the appearance of the countryside through which he passed. In the epilogue, Terrence J. Winschel recounts Wiley's complex and often frustrating struggle to obtain his military pension after the war. Wiley was an ingenious misspeller, and his words are transcribed just as he wrote them more than 130 years ago. Through his simple language, we come to know and care for this common man who made a common soldier. His story transcends the barriers of time and distance, and places the reader in the midst of men who experienced both the horror and the tedium of war. Winschel's rich annotation fleshes out Wiley's narrative and provides an enlightening historical perspective. Scholars and buffs alike, especially those fascinated by operations in the lower Mississippi Valley and along the Gulf Coast, will relish Wiley's honest portrait of the ordinary serviceman's Civil War.