DOC Another Day in Lincoln's Army: The Civil War Journals of Sgt. John T. Booth by Marie Mollohan in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Almost; but not quite...By Eric SternerUnlike the previous reviewer; I was disappointed. I expected an annotated diary/journal from John Booth; but the book is really a massive cut-and-paste job from multiple sources (many of which were previously published) that tries to tell the story of a fascinating Civil War regiment (the 36th OVI). t's not clear where the cited material ends and Mollohan begins. As a result; "Another Day..." lacks the cohesion of a unit history or the rigorousness of a reference book useful for researchers."Another Day" is arranged chronologically; which is an interesting idea. On the one hand; you get multiple perspectives on events as they unfold. On the other; it's not always clear how those voices relate to one another and the particular events in question and there are still significant gaps in the regiment's story. It could be a useful approach; but Mollohan doesn't quite pull it off.A few nitpicks: There's no index; which is annoying; and can make specific events crucial in the life of the 36th challenging to find. The citation system is also very weak. Mollohan tries to use headings and in-line page references; which in combination with the bibliography make it possible to track down a source; but following a more traditional style manual with proper footnotes or endnotes would give me higher confidence in the book overall--and help distinguish one voice from the other.On the positive side; this is clearly a labor of love. The author has perused and incorporated some archival material that would otherwise take days to track down and assembled a ton of material to help tell the 36th OVI's story. Mollohan deserves a lot of credit for trying to document the history of a fascinating regiment. My own understanding of the36th has improved as a result of access to Mollohan's final product; but if I weren't predisposed to a deeper look at the campaigns and battles in which the 36th played a part; it wouldn't be on my bookshelf.If you only buy one history of the 36th or want something more traditional and don't want to plunk down the money for Mollohan's volume; take a look at Kenneth Werrell's "Crook's Regulars."2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. a top combat recordBy George A. HallAnother Day in Lincoln's Army; The Civil War Journals of John T. Booth; by Marie Mollohan: iUniverse; 2007; 698 pages. Review by George A. HallMy credentials for this review exist in that fact that I have been reading on the 36th Ohio Volunteer Infantry since the early 1980s. Because of a dearth of published material on the 36th ; as a regiment; I dreamed of doing what dozens had started; but never finished -- write a regimental history. Realizing I would not do the job either; I was glad to encourage someone who would. After all; it is not about me; or my insight; but their story.Marie Mollohan shows herself to be the good writer; and English teacher by taking an approach I had not considered - let them tell their own story! Nobody has to have major military and writing credentials to edit the work of the soldiers. That work could easily be done for the 36th because many of them were quite well educated; and professionally successful; before volunteering. Lots of stuff had been written; but it had to be compiled; and well edited into a story. Marie Mollohan has done that job well. The work consists largely of primary source documents written by members of the 36th. At over $30 the 698 page book is a deal simply for the primary materials; let alone the engaging form of the story itself.The format of Mollohan's work is unusual in a very good way; in that it follows the bigger history of men who were a "band of brothers" in a very deep sense; especially Booth; Palmer and James Stanley. It begins with the story of a few people who first started their service in the 18th Ohio; but recruited a company for the 36th. This feature is because it involved the author of the journal; John T. Booth; and it is part of the journal itself. From the end of the war Mollohan covers their activity over the several reunions that followed. It is a treasury of information for anyone interested in this regiment at all.Since the book is largely in the words of the men themselves; I do not need to say much about the editor/author. It will be the purpose of this review to give you enough of a flavor for the exploits of this regiment; that you will want to read it. There is too much that is interesting about the 36th that is different enough from that of most other Civil War regiments for you to resist.The first 11 months of their service in West Virginia make the story in Cold Mountain appear boring and slow. Bushwhacking; murder; burning and thievery abounded all around them. They were not above responding in kind either. A stunning victory at the Battle of Lewisburg; on offense; against a defensive force twice their size; put them; and their Colonel on the minds of many. They were taken to the eastern front in time for Second Manassas through Antietam.While serving well in the east some habits died hard for these boys fresh from West Virginia. In the presence of the President; at the Whitehouse; more than their marching and drill prowess was on display (as volunteers; Crook had them performing very well; coming to be known as "Crook's regulars"). Some of them managed to get laughs from Ol' Abe by being seen walking past his group of "big brass" with a stash of stolen Watermelons. Heading into Maryland they were rebuked; not humored; for helping themselves to such things as straw from barns along the way (becoming a campaign issue against Hayes when he ran for President).Numerous events of humor and personal anecdote keep their accounts interesting. In the cases of those who were officers and adjutants; their comments on the wider war are very insightful. A wonderful addition in this book is a virtual photo album of many carte de vistas of the men.Upon finishing their tour in the East; they returned to West Virginia to await further orders. The wait was not long till they were ordered to join the Army of the Cumberland in Tennessee. Although these were very commendable troops; they were not above insubordination. Two major incidents managed to embroil them in the time from Antietam till their major actions in the south. The biggest incident was a revolt among the line officers against the commander to replace their beloved Colonel Clark; killed at Antietam. Over a period of time a stand-off existed between Crook and the commander; and their line officers. The line officers had all tendered their resignations; to be taken back only if the commander would be dismissed or transferred out of the regiment. The line officers won. In another case a Captain refused to detail a squad of men; with others; to replace rails from a fence they had burned (that habit again). The Captain was arrested and confined; much to the dismay of the men. On short order the matter became politicized; in the Cincinnati paper; and the officers over him pressured him to agree to repent of the matter. He refused; and the stalemate continued. In frustration; General Crook only asked that he make a farcical speech (in which he did not repent). About a year later; he was appointed Major in the regiment; getting a coveted horse. But General Crook was to be deprived of commanding them during their most glorious service - Chickamauga; Brown's Ferry and Missionary Ridge.In mid 1863 the cavalry command of General John Turchin was swapped out with the infantry command of General George Crook. Turchin was very controversial for his aggressive nature; learned as a former commander in European warfare. He was known as "the mad Russian"; showing the reason; especially; on the second day of Chickamauga. When Longstreet went through the hole opened in the center he routed all units on his left; and rolled up the line toward Snodgrass Hill. Turchin's Brigade was where he had to stop; making their location the new flank. They held every bit as well as the 20th Maine held the flank at Gettysburg. Two Stanleys of Ohio origin shined that day; James commanding company D; the extreme end of the 36th; and his cousin Timothy; once commanding the 18th; at Snodgrass Hill. Turchin became best known for two successful countercharges this day that helped the army to withdraw successfully without a full route. A letter by Thomas Stanley tells a thrilling story of being among the first over the works on Missionary Ridge. Turchin was too far up the ridge to be called back when the "mistake" was learned. Over 35% casualties were experienced at each of Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge. They were called by many the Iron brigade of the west. These accounts are very well written; some of them published nationally by John Booth.The beginning of 1864 finds the 36th wheeling and dealing with the governor of Ohio. A good reenlistment from the 36th would have to come at a price; being reassigned to join Crook back up north; doing special assignments for General Grant. These would start with a daring infantry raid against the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad (from Charleston); and daring work in the Shenandoah Valley. People with good legs would be needed; as the marching required the logging of hundreds of miles for at least two missions; to say nothing of chasing Jubal Early up and down the valley. One exercise of their famous flanking skills required them to ford a swamp; neck-deep in places; rolling up a line virtually from the rear - read it yourself.Their return to the north restored some unique relationships. They had previously served with the 23rd Ohio; while in the east; they would be brigaded under their leader; Rutherford B. Hayes; and a key assistant William McKinley. All these officers knew and trusted each other deeply; further; all of them together shared their admiration for the leadership of George Crook; now commander of their miniature 8th Corp.Another matter resumed with the return of George Crook and his "Ohio boys". Crook would pick up where he left off with Blazer's Scouts in dealing with guerilla opposition. In his great book; Headquarters in the Brush; Ohio University Press; Daryl Stephenson says:"The story of the conflict between Mosbey's Rangers and Blazer's scouts is a true classic. The efforts of men such as Carr B. White; George Crook and Richard Blazer in creating such an elite unit would be emulated decades later with the creation of the Green Berets and Army Rangers. Blazer's scouts were Special Forces in the truest sense and their story is a special one that can now be told. Defeat; myth and intrigue cannot sully their record any longer"."Another Day in Lincoln's Army"; has done a similar service by rescuing the glorious history of a very unusual regiment from the dust piles of such places as the Ohio Historical Society; libraries; even private attics and nooks and crannies all over the country. The pictures and one manuscript were actually retrieved from boxes headed for the trash. All of it is now available to you thanks to the patient keyboard; telephone and hiking shoes of Marie Mollohan.