This exciting Civil War diary of a Redemptorist priest; Rev. James Sheeran; C.Ss.R.; who was chaplain to the 14th Louisiana Regiment of the Confederacy; is a national treasure. Irish-born Sheeran (1817-1881) was one of only a few dozen Catholic chaplains commissioned for the Confederacy and one of only two who kept a journal. Highlighting his exploits from August 1; 1862 through April 24; 1865; the journal tells of all the major events of his life in abundant detail: on the battle field; in the hospitals; and among Catholics and Protestants whom he encountered in local towns; on the trains; and in the course of his ministrations. His ideological sympathies clearly rest with the Confederacy. The tone is forthright; even haughty; but captures in sure and steady fashion; both the personality of the man and the events to which he was a witness; especially the major battles. The journal is arguably the most unique narrative of the war written by a chaplain of any denomination and certainly is the most extensive.The journal permits us to hear a voice in Civil War studies that is seldom heard―that of a Catholic clergyman. The window given into the pastoral dimension of serving in America's bloodiest war is further enhanced by a running commentary on politics; race; religion; and charitable works throughout the South. He also supplies an insight into incarceration as a prisoner of war at Fort McHenry; Baltimore. Last; because Sheeran was a frequent name dropper; tracking the movements of key military personnel or other personages of the war is made considerably easier through Sheeran's references―all of which have been scrupulously documented in an easy-to-use index.
#1970938 in Books The University Press of Kentucky 2010-08-20Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.02 x .43 x 5.98l; .62 #File Name: 0813130085188 pages
Review
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Love this bookBy CustomerThis book was very interesting. It went into great detail about the underground railroad and the brave people who risked their lives to help runaway slaves escape and how Southerners abused the laws and civil rights of African Americans.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. like Seibert before himBy ampohThis book could have been so much more. But time and time again I find myself shaking my head at Griffler's methodology. The subtitle of the book advances a scope covering the "Underground Railroad in the Ohio Valley." What I find in reading is that Griffler is more focused on Cincinnati and the role African Americans played their in the Underground Railroad. At times; Griffler attends to other places in the Ohio Valley; but their treatment is more cursory. Griffler would have had a stronger argument if he had simply focused on Cincinnati.Moreover; Griffler; like Seibert before him; seems to accept the first-hand abolitionist accounts as truthful with no meaningful discussion of the ideology behind their writings. What is to separate true stories from fictional propaganda used to advance to abolitionist cause? Instead; Griffler is fond of empty comparisons; e.g. "Few exceeded John Fairfield's zeal for the antislavery cause or his accomplishment as a frontline operative" (64). Yet there seem to be many others in Griffler's book with Fairfield's same zeal.What emerges; then; is story after story of African Americans engaging in "underground" activities to aid those escaping slavery. Griffler's argument is important; but his evidence is redundant and poorly executed. Instead of reading like an academic work; I feel like I am reading the well-documented expository essay of a high school student.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. paradigm shiftingBy Karen AmeliaThis book brought me to a paradigm shift in my understanding of the abolitionist movement in the then "Northwest" (that is; primarily Ohio). Living in Cincinnati; I've recently begun to read about the Underground Railroad; and of course learning this proud history enlivened my appreciation for my adopted home. Griffler; while acknowledging the contributions of white abolitionists as essential to the overall cause; painted a picture that I find completely believable; and really; necessary: that the enslaved themselves;and free Blacks; took charge; from the start; of the struggle for freedom. It was their own struggle; after all. The message: that the history of the Underground Railroad and abolition needs to be better integrated; and the emphasis shifted from white folks as leading characters to white folks as supporting cast. Their importance was in different "theaters of war": the enslaved and free people of color on the frontlines vs. whites in the rear guard (the more northern regions.) The footnotes make it clear that the author sifted through lots of original source material but he has interpreted those records in a way that makes for very interesting and lively reading. This book should be required reading in all basic American history classes; and is a must for anyone interested in abolition and the Underground Railroad.
