Junne describes the history behind the African Americans who fought in the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. His contention is that there are very few resources for scholars and laypeople to fully understand the impact that African-Americans had on American military history; and that this book will fill in that gap. In documenting a historiography of black oppression prior to the Civil War; Junne shows why African-Americans have been left out of the discussion; and then argues why they must be included to understand the war's entire story. His claim; and it is provocatively argued; is that African-American soldiers played such an important role in the Union Army that the outcome of the war would have been tipped in favor of the Confederacy had they been forbidden from fighting. What is lost in contemporary discussion of the war is that this was a hotly debated question at the time; with Lincoln deciding in favor of letting them fight which secured thousands of men (and their wives who cooked and did laundry for soldiers) which had an immeasurable impact on the war; and forever changed the future of America.
#707256 in Books 2012-05-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 1.06 x 5.25 x 8.00l; 1.19 #File Name: 0770436048478 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. ... huge Erik Larson fan and this book did not disappoint. He meticulously researches and provides his readers with ...By Mary J.I am a huge Erik Larson fan and this book did not disappoint. He meticulously researches and provides his readers with an interesting perspective and side story to go along with the main subject. This book tells of pre WWII Germany through the eyes of an academic; wanting to take a break from the university and find a nice quiet ambassadorship where he could devote his energies to writing a book. What a surprise he was in for!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Excellent Road Trip Audio BookBy rt66vintageI've listened to the audio book twice in about 10 years; and pick up more tidbits each time. Fascinating. Ambassador Dodd and his family were in way over their heads. The daughter especially was a promiscuous gad-fly playing with fire. She probably got her Soviet lover killed. She also dallied with major Nazi Rudolf Diels.Highly recommended for your next road trip or long commutes.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Generally I was disappointed with the bookBy Roger K BaerGenerally I was disappointed with the book. I felt that to too much content was devoted to on the ambassador's daughter"s romantic or sexual exploits. There seemed to be too many chapters and very short ones that seemed to lack continuity. Finally; wasn't there an underground of resistance in Germany to the rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party? There is little or no attention given to this. Roger K. Baer; PhD
