When Abraham Lincoln called for 300;000 volunteers to fortify Union forces in July 1862; George and Lycurgus Remley enlisted to serve God and country—and for them; this phrase had real meaning. When their native Virginia had become a hostile environment for men speaking out against the evils of slavery; the Remley family had taken refuge in the Midwest. Answering the call of their president and their consciences; the two brothers joined the 22nd Iowa Infantry. This poignant collection of their letters to and from home sharply portrays the human costs of the Civil War.The Remley brothers saw action in an unusually wide geographic area; from Missouri to Louisiana; as their regiment fought the battles of Port Gibson and Champion Hill; laid siege to Vicksburg and Jackson; and took part in Major General Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Along the way; George and Lycurgus witnessed battle scenes; border warfare; bushwhacking; and guerrilla encounters—all of which they graphically described in letters home.Physical hardships were matched; the brothers felt; by spiritual hardships. Even before the Civil War began; they knew that their abolitionist convictions would require personal sacrifice. When the family moved from Virginia to the free soil of Iowa; Lycurgus remained behind to finish school. He was soon expelled; however; for asserting his own abolitionist views and was forced to follow his family north. Ready to fight for their beliefs; he and George proudly joined the Union ranks with Bibles in hand. As they traveled throughout the country; Lycurgus; still outspoken; distributed New Testaments among his comrades.A close fraternal bond carried the Remleys through the tedium of camp life and the intensity of battle. George and Lycurgus wrote as distinct individuals; and this fascinating collection of their letters offers dueling impressions of the same events. But when sudden illness and death left one brother alone; he courageously continued to fight not only for God and country but also for his fallen brother and comrade.
#1029189 in Books Behrman House 1996-10-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .37 x 5.42l; .40 #File Name: 0874415098141 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Good ReadBy Steve SVery good book; alot of common sense written by Maimonides regarding how to understand the Creator; Universe and G-d. What makes a prophet; why evil exists alot of parallels with Buddhist philosophy I thought which is no surprise because pure religion always has commonality and connection.If you want insight; this would be a good book to add to one's collection1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Maimonides: A Guide for Today's PerplexedBy CustomerMaimonides tends to be circumspect in his discussions. He had a lot of detractors in his time; some of them with violent tendencies. Thus; he is difficult for some modern folk (I am a scientist - and he tries my patience) to read. Given the context of his times his circumspection is understandable. This book is by no means comprehensive but it does give one the flavor of some of his writing. I did find it helpful. This book; unfortunately; does not give the social context of Maimonidies times; I had to read other sources to learn the context.16 of 19 people found the following review helpful. A straightforward introduction to Moses Maimonides.By John S. RyanThis volume is an excellent introduction to the philosophy/theology of Moses Maimonides (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon; or the "Rambam"). Seeskin's presentation is lucidly clear; accessible to the layperson; and blessedly free of Straussian persecution-and-the-art-of-writing searches for "hidden meanings." Seeskin levels some pointed critiques against this entire mode of interpretation and quite sensibly treats the Rambam as though he meant what he wrote. The result is a fairly short; not-overly-technical overview of the thought of the man who was undeniably far and away the greatest philosopher in Jewish history -- and; moreover; a readable introduction to systematic theology in general. Highly recommended.
