In 1943; Bell Wiley's groundbreaking book Johnny Reb launched a new area of study: the history of the common soldier in the U.S. Civil War. This anthology brings together landmark scholarship on the subject; from a 19th century account of life as a soldier to contemporary work on women who; disguised as men; joined the army. One of the only available compilations on the subject; The Civil War Soldier answers a wide range of provocative questions: What were the differences between Union and Confederate soldiers? What were soldiers' motivations for joining the army—their "will to combat"? How can we evaluate the psychological impact of military service on individual morale? Is there a basis for comparison between the experiences of Civil War soldiers and those who fought in World War II or Vietnam? How did the experiences of black soldiers in the Union army differ from those of their white comrades? And why were southern soldiers especially drawn to evangelical preaching? Offering a host of diverse perspectives on these issues; The Civil War Soldier is the perfect introduction to the topic; for the student and the Civil War enthusiast alike. Contributors: Michael Barton; Eric T. Dean; David Donald; Drew Gilpin Faust; Joseph Allen Frank; James W. Geary; Joseph T. Glaatthaar; Paddy Griffith; Earl J. Hess; Thomas Wentworth Higginson; Perry D. Jamieson; Elizabeth D. Leonard; Gerald F. Linderman; Larry Logue; Pete Maslowski; Carlton McCarthy; James M. McPherson; Grady McWhiney; Reid Mitchell; George A. Reaves; Jr.; James I. Robertson; Fred A. Shannon; Maris A. Vinovskis; and Bell Irvin Wiley.
#804493 in Books NYU Press 2009-10-01 2009-10-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .94 x 6.00l; 1.10 #File Name: 0814758576359 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. An Unsung Black PatriotBy CatoIn over 40 years teaching history; I rarely read about Rev. Richard Allen. Richard Newman's; FREEDOM'S PROPHET fills this void.Richard Allen; pastor of Philadelphia's African Methodist Episcopalian Church was without question a founding father; not only of black American culture; but American ideals as well. This energetic preacher and his followers; according to George Washington biographer Richard Norton Smith (PATRIARCH); were "... the city's only reliable providers of care... for the dead and dying" in Philadelphia during the 1793 yellow fever epidemic. Both Richard Allen and Absolom Jones; who organized the first Negro Episcopal church; with their followers; "...were kept busy nursing the sick and hauling corpses from the streets." It was not only his Christian charity that motivated Allen but his vision to form a "autonomous black religious institution where none had previously existed." At the end of his second terms as president; George Washington left several of his servants in the care of Richard Allen when he granted those who chose their freedom rather than return to Mount Vernon.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Outstanding LeaderBy YvonneAs a pastor and member of the AME church for 28 years this book is very enlightening. It brings out much about the history of our church and our founder that is not commonly found. It is certain that long and tedious years of research went into producing this book which should be a must read for our congregations and all those who want to know the history of our founder and of our church.1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Christian Hero; American HeroBy JC DavenportIn this truly American story the worlds of slave and free; black and white; saint and sinner; north and south all converge in the story of one man and one group of people based in Philadelphia some 200 years ago. I think you will be especially inspired if you are a) a Christian b) a person of color or c) an American.I've always had questions (and still do) about how Christianity spread in the United States; how Christianity spread among African Americans both slave and free and finally how free blacks could simultaneously live their lives while most other blacks were slaves further south or even nearby. The story of Richard Allen is a great way to get a sense of this. How Christianity gave his life meaning; and literally set him and his master free. Then he gets busy for God; for his community and for his country.It is both a source of pride and finally shame at how white folks enthusiastically shared the Gospel with blacks . . . initially welcomed them into fellowship (Methodists) but finally fell back into segregation and repeated attempts at domination. All of that makes the story of Richard Allen (and his church) even more remarkable; and that he never lost hope in God . . . in the Church . . . and in America.My one critique is that more people should know the story of Richard Allen. And somehow in our visual culture this illustration of him (in my opinion) makes him appear sad and weak. If you read read this book you know that he was quite the opposite.
