Waubonsee Community College

For cause and comrades, why men fought in the Civil War, James M. McPherson

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 189-232) and index

index present

non fiction

For cause and comrades

bibliography

34912692

James M. McPherson

why men fought in the Civil War

Why did the conventional wisdom -- that soldiers become increasingly cynical and disillusioned as war progresses -- not hold true in the Civil War? It is to this question that Civil War historian James M. McPherson now turns his attention. He shows that, contrary to what many scholars believe, the soldiers of the Civil War remained powerfully convinced of the ideals for which they fought throughout the conflict. McPherson draws on more than 25,000 letters and nearly 250 private diaries from men on both sides. Civil War soldiers were among the most literate soldiers in history, and most of them wrote home frequently, as it was the only way for them to keep in touch with homes that many of them had left for the first time in their lives. Significantly, their letters were also uncensored by military authorities and are uniquely frank in their criticism and detailed in their reports of marches and battles, relations between officers and men, political debates, and morale. For Cause and Comrades lets these soldiers tell their own stories in their own words

This war is a crusade -- We were in earnest -- Anxious for the fray -- If I flinched I was ruined -- Religion is what makes brave soldiers -- Band of brothers -- On the altar of my country -- The cause of liberty -- Slavery must be cleaned out -- We know that we are supported at home -- Vengeance will be our motto -- The same holy cause

Why men fought in the Civil WarFor cause & comrades