Among the many German immigrants to the United States over the years; one group is unusual: former prisoners of war who had spent between one and three years on American soil and who returned voluntarily as immigrants after the war. Drawing on archival sources and in-depth interviews with 35 former prisoners who immigrated; the book outlines the conditions and circumstances that defined their unusual experiences and traces their journeys from captive enemies to American citizens. Although the respondents came from different backgrounds; and arrived in America at different times between 1943 and 1945; their experiences as prisoners of war not only left an indelible impression on their minds; they also provided them with opportunities and resources that helped them leave Germany behind and return to the place "where we had the good life."
#2164673 in Books 2011-12-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.90 x .80 x 6.80l; 1.00 #File Name: 0786464186268 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great book on the Civil War confederate soldiers of Chappell ...By Dr KayGreat book on the Civil War confederate soldiers of Chappell Hill; Texas. I was doing a genealogy project for somebody and her g-g-grandfather was in it.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. The history of the town and citizens of Chappell Hill; Texas before and after the Civil WarBy Joe Owen"Confederates of Chappell Hill; Texas: Prosperity; Civil War and Decline" by Stephen Chicoine is a fascinating "snapshot" of a southeastern Texas town that was a prosperous antebellum center due to cotton and proximity of the Brazos River that connected the town to Galveston thus cotton and other cargo could be transferred back and forth to the Texas coast and shipped nationally and internationally. Many of the men in Chappell Hill were active in the Texas Revolution and Mexican War and were known statewide and nationally.During the 1850's cotton planters from other southern states moved and settled in the Chappell Hill area and began to flourish economically and socially. Chappell Hill would turn from a small frontier Texas town to a town that modeled the prosperous medium towns of the antebellum south. The planters would also bring their slaves with them to work the plantation fields. Slaves would make up 30% of the population of Texas before the Civil War. With plantations and prosperity; owners of plantations and other prominent officials looked warily towards national events in the eastern United States when abolitionists and other forces gained in power and influence from the Union. Men in Texas would enlist in the infantry; cavalry; and artillery regiments. Chappell Hill would answer the call from Austin and Richmond and many of her sons enlisted in regiments that fought in the eastern and western theater of the Civil War.The soldiers from Chappell Hill jsuch as Daniel H. Browning; William Browning joined such famous regiments such as Terry's Texas Rangers. Other soldiers such as William C. Chappell and A. J. Robertson would join Sibley's Brigade and be in the famous New Mexico expedition. Other soldiers such as Rufus King Felder and his cousin Miers M. Felder joined the famous Hood's Texas Brigade; many other men from Chappell Hill joined various regiments from Texas and would fight in various battles throughout the war.Through letters home these men would describe their daily camp life; fierce battles; and the heavy toll of disease that ravaged many regiments. Mr. Chicoine also described the suffering that slowly but surely as the war progress would inflict on Chappell Hill. The shipping of cotton to Galveston would stop; imports and exports of goods would be strangled; and the town felt the effects of the war keenly.Many of the men from Chappell Hill who would join the army of the Confederacy never returned home; and those that did return were different than when they were the "eager recruits" in 1861. After the war; reconstruction and other U.S. policies changed the town in various ways. A vicious case of Yellow Fever swept through the town; poverty became a common place. Chappell Hill was no different than other southern towns who found the reconstruction policies difficult. Many who were rich before the Civil War found that after the war; that their fortunes were forever lost and had to adjust to just make a living in order to survive. The veterans of the armies of the Confederacies began to hold reunions and meet with their old comrades and talk about prior victories in the war as well as losses on the battlefield. Eventually; Chappell Hill would become "normal" again and many of the sons and grandsons of the Confederate soldiers enlisted in the Army; Navy; Air Force; and Marines and fight for the Stars and Stripes. Fourth of July parades would become a yearly event and the town celebrated; but many would always remember that for four years they were a proud part of the Confederate States of America.The author has done an excellent job of giving the history of this southeastern Texas town and how the War Between the States affected this town and the men and women who lived; fought; and in many cases died in the causes they believed in. This is an excellent book that is recommended to anyone interested in Civil War and Confederate History; Texas History; Civil War Texas History; and the socio-economic effects of the Civil War to a southern antebellum and post-Civil War reconstruction town
