analysis of the latest and most s scholarship. Contact email: BookR
The Yankee Present. By Philip Ross Chadwick. Westbow
In this novel of historical fi tion, the author uses the life of distant ancestor, Thomas Hanner Lyle, Company B, 14th Tennessee (CSA) Infantry Regiment to delve into the psychological stresses for a soldier going to war. Leaving a new bride pregnant with their son, Thomas feels the need to fight for his ideals support the Southern cause. In a series of flashbacks, the author uses imagery from Thomas’ ante-
bellum farm life to show how war disrupted family, affected those left behind, changed the soldier, and destroyed the social and economic fabric of life. Within Thomas’s story are woven many incidents that define a soldier at war. He is wounded at the Battle of Shepherdstown, listed as missing in action at Chancellorsville, and has his let
ters with a Yankee present (the bullet that caused his injury) re turned to his wife with no explanation, leaving her uncertain ove his fate. He experiences the lack of food, the excitement of letter
r readers with timely ant Civil War research and
from home, and the pride of being promoted to sergeant for bravery. Yet, the last two years of the wa are spent officially missing whil recovering from a broken arm and leg. Not writing home during this time, he is unaware of the mental torture his family is enduring. H
family is aware that thousands of families never find out the parti
ulars of their loved ones death o final resting place. This is a novel that adds no n historical facts to the record bu encourages historians not to neglect the mental and psychological strain placed on both soldier and their families during war. When battles and statistics flow from the pen of researchers, this novel begs they examine the individuals behind the numbers and add a human dimension to their work. Each soldier and his family are profoundly affected by decisions to go to war, a lesson as t today as during the Civil War. While a careful editing would have removed some grammatical lapses, this book should appeal t a younger generation of readers interested in the trauma of war. The price of the novel is reasonable, and the storytelling makes the reader want to finish the boo without taking a break.
Wayne L. Wolf is Professor Emeritus at South Suburban
College and the author of numerous Civil War books and articles. He currently is concentrating on publishing soldier’s letters that add to the understanding of life during the war.
Getting to know the Troup Artille Sons of Tom Cobb: Troup
Artillery, Athens, Georgia. By William Sidney Smedlund.
Maps, illustrations, appendices, bibliography, photos, ros-
There are few books written concerning artillery units and their history; yet, Bill Smedlund’s Sons of Tom Cobb: Troup Artillery, Athens, Georgia brings a focus on the exploits of Athens’ most famous artillery unit. Mr. Smedlund covers these men from January 1861 until they disband on April 9, 1865, outside Appomattox Courthouse. The book is not only a military histo ry, but it delves into the person side of each soldier. The Troup Artillery consisted of young men who included 41 sets of brothers, 34 brothers-inlaw, and over 30 cousins. These family connections made this unit perform well under the most severe of circumstances. The biographical sketch of each soldier provides details such as wives names, postwar jobs, and significant accomplishments. This is a treasure trove to any genealogist When reading the first-hand stories from letters, diaries, an postwar reminiscences, the read-
er will be moved by the detailed accounts of engagements. The emotions are raw as soldiers tell of losing friends, brothers, commanders, and the casualty numbers on both sides. This is especially true with accounts pertaining to the Battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. The retreat from
Petersburg to Appomattox Station is a blow by blow nail-biting account that has the reader desirin that these boys can achieve the impossible. The chapter entit “Appomattox Station and The
the men experienced as they made their way toward home
or North Carolina so they could join Confederate General Joseph
E. Johnston and continue fighting. The perseverance of the seven men who desired to see the Natural Bridge in Virginia before returning to Georgia is to b commended. Finally, the story of the Troup Artillery flag is a story within self. When the new unit flag was presented before General Robert E. Lee in June 1863, Captain
Henry Hull Carlton promised, “The flag should never be dis-
owned, dishonored, or surrendered.” The flag escaped capture, even after being shot down numerous times, but went on to be present when Confederate President Jefferson Davis’ daughters visited Athens. In 1995, Bill Smedlund gave the Civil War commu-
nity Camp Fires of Georgia’s Troops 1861–1865, an asset for
anyone researching locations of the Georgia troop’s camps during the War for Confederate Independence. With Sons of Tom
1. This Mississippi general le at Gettysburg but was slai 2. This Union general invented 3. Confederate Army under Jose 4. U.S. Grant’s first big figh thus won. 5. Large Confederate rifled ca Ala.
6. Union name for Manassas. 7. His 1859 raid “jump started 8. Most effective artillery fu 9. Confederate flag song. 10. First land battle of the w Answers foun
Georgia, Mr. Smedlund provides a vital resource for t
who desire personal accounts are in search of genealogica
formation on this Clarke Cou Georgia, artillery unit.
Charles Kelly Barrow, Ed.S h been passionate about the Wa Between the States since he a young boy. He is currently teacher of high school histo
well as the Vice-Chairman of Georgia Civil War Commission His favorite topic, and one
has published articles and b about, is the blacks who ser and fought for the Confedera States of America.
ies of bugle calls. nston surrendered here. e he refused to retreat and
Engines of Redemption: Railroads and the Reconstruction of Capitalism in the New South. By R. Scott Huffard Jr. Illustrations, figures, graph, tables, appendices, chapter endnotes and bibliography. 324 pp., 2019. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel
Engines of Redemption provides a good example of how history is almost always written by the victors. Huffard’s latest wo
presents an interesting argument that railroads were a conduit fo
elite whites and railroad manage ment companies to exploit racial social, and economic tensions in the name of capitalism. Railroads always played an im
portant role throughout America. One of the first forms of mass transit, it provided efficient t
port of troops and supplies duri the war. It also became a popular form of passenger travel. However, it also brought its own challenges in management, safety regulations, government policies/intervention, and health re lated issues. The economic culture of the South was permeated with political, racial, and entrepreneuria strife before and during the Civ War. During Reconstruction, the North sought better trade routes and economic growth by expanding rail routes to increase commerce. This made railroads a ver lucrative target. The book is divided into two
parts. Part One describes the lo affair of antebellum America with the railroad. Part Two provides various case studies relat to the unique problems encountered in the New South. Some of these include: safety regulation
track durability, the spread of low fever, and the consolidation of various rail lines. This sect is especially interesting for ra road enthusiasts since it covers train wrecks, robberies, and the growth of monopolistic management companies. Both parts of the book are set in the American South during the 1880s and 1890s. Huffard uses illustrations, a graph of train wreck events, and recollections of personal rail journeys to show readers how Northern capitalists took advantage of the devastated South. He effectively validates his argument, while providing additional
information about railroad opera tions. Readers will learn how ra
and rework rail lines of different track widths. Much like what
railroads, while others were sim ply lost in a desperate fight fo economic survival.
An interesting note related to this work is that the story o
African American contributions is purposely excluded. The re-
demption of the railroad came primarily at the hands of white supremacy. Therefore, the public
media was essentially controlled by their agenda and desires.
railroad enthusiasts, logisticia and those interested in manage-
Richard had a 26 year Active/ Reserve career in the Army. Seventeen years were spent in assignments dealing with Corps and Theater Army level multi-fun tional logistics. His current wo include an article awaiting publ cation on the influence of music the Civil War. He has also begun a series of articles emphasizing the contributions made during the Civil War to modern logistic operations.
Lincoln’s Informer: Charles A. Dana and the Inside Story of the Union War. By Carl J.
Guarini. Maps, Illustrations, Photos, Index, Notes, Bibliography, 520 pp. University
Dana’s character. However, he is much more than that. Starting in 1849, Dana was
the managing editor of the N.Y. Tribune, one of the most influen
tial newspapers in the nation. I was owned by Horace Greeley. Greeley and Dana had a volatile relationship. Both were abolitionists but Dana wanted change
quicker than Greeley and that conflict led to Dana’s leaving t
U.S. War Dept. as an observer of General Grant and the war in the western theatre. Lincoln needed to know that his confidence in Grant was well founded. Edwin Stanton was the man to get that done. And so began a long relationship on intelligence gathering, one that lasted until Stant death in 1869. In a nut shell, Dana went out West, attached himself to Grant’ army, got involved in its politi was supportive of Grant’s strate gies, and was very helpful in re solving the situation there. Alo the way, he became friends with Grant, protected him from the politics of the Union’s leadersh and assured Lincoln that Grant doesn’t drink on campaign. All
this was done while reporting di rectly to Stanton. Dana was acti in deflecting Gen. McClernand’s criticisms. He was also very instrumental in the removal of Gen Rosecrans from the Army of the Cumberland.
He came east with Grant in ’64, was assigned to the war de partment directly under Stanton
and worked in logistics. He was active in the politics of the ’ election in the Army and a stro supporter of Lincoln. After the assassination, he was active in the hunt for the assassins, and worked tirelessly in the trial its aftermath. He stayed in the war department until Stanton’s death in 1869. After that, he r turned to his first love, newsp pers, and built the New York Su into one of the nation’s leadin papers. He continued this passi until his death in 1897. He also published a best selling autobiography called Recollections of the War. Later was discovered it was written b
tion not usually told. There is similar book published recently
is little written contact betwe Dana and Lincoln.
ith all that said, get y and get a good look hinations behind the s military campaigns. Yo glad you did. Enjoy!
eph Truglio, of Manche ., is a retired Motion hnician who has a life est in the Civil War. tly President of the P T in Hasbrouck Heights
The world – Abraham by Joe Bordonar President Lincoln wa about the first part,
correct about the seco this famous phrase fro nificent “Gettysburg A On Nov. 23, 2019, reen members of the general gathered in Gettysburg to remember the action
Remembrance Day 2019. Stafford County Sc Teacher Don Mullen, po President Lincoln.
g group ions of ts by c visitin rance I urg Nat occurs
h the n e down kipedia out 50, s; a st wed up ditions
commemo arious ducting monumen uminati nal Cem ch year
bers of om its stimate 0 Civil l impre is year live. T
