| Abstract |
"Civil War Witnesses and Their Books" offers an analysis of books written by individuals who experienced the American Civil War. It follows a similar volume-Civil War Writing: New Perspectives on Iconic Texts (LSU Press, 2019)-which also examined some of the most important writings about the conflict from its participants. The eight contributors to this volume selected books, eleven in all, that have proved influential over a significant period. Some of the authors whose books lie at the center of the essays wrote primarily for their peers, others had in mind how future generations would judge the actions of the wartime generation, and one, whose diary has been much cited by historians, made her entries with no thought that they would appear in print long after her death. The authors of the books include five men and three women, among whom were a prominent general from each side, the wives of a headline-seeking U.S. cavalry commander and a Democratic judge from New York City, a member of Robert E. Lee's staff, a Union artillerist, a matron from the Confederacy's sprawling Chimborazo Hospital, and a leading abolitionist member of the United States Senate. Five of the authors supported the United States, three the Confederacy. In terms of genres, readers will find examples of memoir, narrative history, and a diary. The volume's contributors are well-known Civil War historians whose research interests fall across a broad spectrum and frame their analyses differently. Some allocate more attention than others to the process of composition. Some devote considerable attention to reactions at the time of publication and subsequent scholarly judgments; some do not. The contributors above all seek to introduce or reintroduce books of continuing value in an accessible way, and in doing so, they explore the context, the authors' personalities and intent, and the historical impact. This volume reminds readers how deeply the Civil War affected those who lived through it, how it prompted many to attempt to describe their experiences either during events or retrospectively, to assess the conflict's importance, and to frame it for future generations. These historical voices have particular resonance because interest in the Civil War remains high. This phenomenon reflects the continuing attraction of compelling personalities and profoundly important political, military, and social events. It also stems from the war's ability to command widespread attention in the form of sharp debates about the Confederate memorial landscape-which in turn underscores how rival memory traditions stir passion and controversy. These voices provide essential testimony for anyone seeking to understand the nation's greatest trial and its aftermath"-- Provided by publisher. |
