A century and a half after Appomattox; the diaries of soldiers continue to surface; and Civil War enthusiasts; including many university professors; dream of finding a lost piece of history. Such was the delight of David Roe; whose friend gave him a remarkable family heirloom—the diary of Valentine C. Randolph—which included handwritten daily entries starting on the day Randolph enlisted and ending on the evening before he arrived home. Spanning three years of military experience in the 39th Illinois Regiment; this diary includes revealing narratives; some recounting events not noted in other sources.An eloquent diarist; Randolph vividly describes military action in key areas of the eastern theater—northern Virginia; Charleston; and Richmond and its surrounds. His record of the Peninsula Campaign; the siege of Charleston; and finally the Bermuda Hundred and Petersburg campaigns offers a rare look at the role common soldiers played in master strategies. He recounts the trials of garrison duty and sea sickness; he observes life in army camps and hospitals. A former theology student and an unusually thoughtful man; Randolph questions the military predation of civilian property and condemns the racial prejudices of his fellow soldiers.
#770885 in Books Brandeis 1983-11-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.56 x .76 x 5.46l; .75 #File Name: 0874512646262 pages
Review
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Reiner SmolinskiThank you!0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Doris H. GoldsteinAlthough the book had been marked up by previous owner; it is OK and has served my purpose.29 of 32 people found the following review helpful. Quality of translationBy M. SkalaIt is a known fact that translations of the 18th-century German philosophers are often lacking; as it is difficult to express some pointedly precise German terms in any other language.It was a most pleasant surprise to see; how careful the translator (Allan Arkush) has been; often quoting original German terms in brackets; which allows the reader to go into dictionaries and other literature for additional information.Mendelssohn's opus magnum is not and should not be directed at Jews only. Anybody; who is concerned with the 21st-century problems of terrorism and religious fanaticism (be it Jewish; Catholic; Protestant of Muslim) should read and meditate it. The idea of separation between Church and State is explained better than in many more "modern" treaties.Read "Jerusalem"; think about it and you will never regret it.
