John Perkins Reynolds; a member of the "Salem Zouaves" (Company I; Eighth Massachusetts Infantry); left behind a unique record of one company's service during the early months of the Civil War. His detailed personal diary documents his company's hourly activities each day; forming a rare chronicle of a Union "three-month" unit. Reynolds was a talented and perceptive writer; and he meticulously recorded details about many important events. The early mobilization of Union volunteers; Northern and border state support for the war effort; the movement of troops to defend Washington; D.C.; from an expected Confederate attack; the "rescue" of the U.S.S. Constitution; raids on secessionist farms in Maryland; and life in the troubled city of Baltimore are just a few of the topics highlighted in his diary. In addition; Reynolds included many insightful details about soldier life and material culture during the period. Army discipline; religious practices in the ranks; encounters between soldiers and civilians; training; rations; soldier humor and numerous other aspects of the soldier's existence were deemed noteworthy by the young non-commissioned officer. In essence; Reynolds chronicled the transition from civilian to soldier that was experienced by hundreds of thousands of early war volunteers during the Civil War.
#1272583 in Books 2015-01-28Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.90 x .70 x 6.90l; .0 #File Name: 0786466650312 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. This is the UR that you probably have not heard ...By Marguerite Maria RivasThis is the UR that you probably have not heard about. If you are a lover of NYC history; then this book is for you.3 of 4 people found the following review helpful. The Underground Railroad a Secret? Not if you look.By Christopher DensmoreFor many years; the history of the Underground Railroad seemed have been lost. It was a clandestine operation; and serious researchers avoided the topic because solid source material did not exist. Or did it? The Underground Railroad also appeared to be the preserve of local "historians" who recorded as fact stories of secret hiding places and tunnels; often stories that had no basis in fact. It seemed the preserve of wishful thinking rather than critical scholarship. School children read stories about Harriet Tubman that were often embellished. Even Harriet Tubman; the best; and often only; known Underground Railroad figure did not have a critical biography that took a careful look at the evidence until Kate Clifford Larson's study finally showed the reality of Tubman's life and career. It turns out that the real Harriet Tubman was braver and more resourceful than the Tubman of mythology. However in the past twenty or more years; historians have been reexamining old evidence and finding substantial bodies of new evidence that expands and corrects the Underground Railroad History. Though I have just criticized those local "historians" who seem to believe everything that anyone tells them; many of the real historians who are doing the best work are in fact local historians; who might better be described as independent scholars; who know or teach themselves how to critically evaluate evidence; how to mine data from many sources; are willing to sift through mountains of data; and care passionately about their subject and the search for the truth.Secret Lives is a great example of independent scholars uncovering important information; who are also able to place the local narrative in broader context. Though Secret Lives is primarily about Underground networks in New York City; that network connected to other networks in the South; in Pennsylvania (particularly William Still's network in Philadelphia); and connected to the north to havens in Canada and New England. Anyone working on the Underground Railroad in the Mid-Atlantic; in New England; in New York and into Canada needs this book. Tom Calaraco and Don Papson are to be commended not only for this book; but for years serious investigation into the history of the Underground Railroad.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Jennie FoxGreat book; very very interesting.
