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Consider a war in which 25,000 soldiers are killed or wounded in a single battle, as they were at Gettysburg, or 16,000 in a single day, as at Antietam. The degree of suffering and hardship during the American Civil War has been well documented and analyzed in books and films from Margaret Mitchell's fictional Gone with the Wind to Bell Irvin Wiley's classic studies of Civil War soldiers, The Life of Johnny Reb and The Life of Billy Yank. All these sources agree on the brutality of the combat, but what motivated soldiers to continue fighting under such bitter conditions is the cause of some controversy. Until recently, the common stance has been that soldiers enlisted out of economic need and stayed out of loyalty to their comrades. The respected Civil War historian James M. McPherson weighs in with a different point of view in For Cause and Comrades.
Professor McPherson posits that the common rank-and-file soldiers did indeed hold political and ideological beliefs that prodded them to enlist and to fight. His research is based on letters and diaries from 1,076 Union and Confederate soldiers. These reveal many motivations, but always they lead back to duty, honor, and a cause worth dying for. For Cause and Comrades is a fascinating exploration of the 19th-century mind--a mind, it seems, that differs profoundly from our own.
Book Description
General John A. Wickham, commander of the famous 101st Airborne Division in the 1970s and subsequently Army Chief of Staff, once visited Antietam battlefield. Gazing at Bloody Lane where, in 1862, several Union assaults were brutally repulsed before they finally broke through, he marveled, "You couldn't get American soldiers today to make an attack like that." Why did those men risk certain death, over and over again, through countless bloody battles and four long, awful years ? 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--why did they fight--that James McPherson, America's preeminent Civil War historian, 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. Motivated by duty and honor, and often by religious faith, these men wrote frequently of their firm belief in the cause for which they fought: the principles of liberty, freedom, justice, and patriotism. Soldiers on both sides harkened back to the Founding Fathers, and the ideals of the American Revolution. They fought to defend their country, either the Union--"the best Government ever made"--or the Confederate states, where their very homes and families were under siege. And they fought to defend their honor and manhood. "I should not lik to go home with the name of a couhard," one Massachusetts private wrote, and another private from Ohio said, "My wife would sooner hear of my death than my disgrace." Even after three years of bloody battles, more than half of the Union soldiers reenlisted voluntarily. "While duty calls me here and my country demands my services I should be willing to make the sacrifice," one man wrote to his protesting parents. And another soldier said simply, "I still love my country." 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 to create an account that is both deeply moving and far truer than most books on war. Battle Cry of Freedom, McPherson's Pulitzer Prize-winning account of the Civil War, was a national bestseller that Hugh Brogan, in The New York Times, called "history writing of the highest order." For Cause and Comrades deserves similar accolades, as McPherson's masterful prose and the soldiers' own words combine to create both an important book on an often-overlooked aspect of our bloody Civil War, and a powerfully moving account of the men who fought it.
Customer Reviews:
More Excellent Work by Professor McPherson.......2007-06-02
I don't know if anyone will ever read this review for a 10-year old book, but I'm reading it right now and I really wanted to share about it.
I truly appreciate the scholarship of McPherson on the Civil War and all the research he has done on the subject. For this book alone, he read hundreds of soldiers letters and diaries to understand what motivated them to put their lives on the line. A great many of them understood the issues of the day, volunteered for the war, and did not need a whole lot of incentive to enlist. A 1982 movie, "The Blue & the Gray," contains a scene where Union soldiers in 1861 are inspired to enlist with the help of a beautiful young lady singing a patriotic song. In actuality, most of these soldiers would not have needed such encouragement.
Anyway, a book like this is highly important. It has become very popular to say things like "the war was not fought over slavery" or "the Civil war had nothing to do with slavery." This book goes straight to the sources and finds out why the men who were there did what they did.
Clearly, for some of them, North and South, slavery was THE issue. In fact, I have long believed slavery was just an institution, but the real issue for many Confederates was the preservation of white supremacy. Many soldier's letters cited declare that they saw it as an abomination- even laughable to some- that anyone would want to free "inferior savages" they thought could not be educated or assimilated into American society. In fact, on page 109, a private of the 25th Wisconsin Infantry wrote home that some captured Confederates told them they were fighting because "You Yanks want us to marry our daughters to the n----rs." But this book does show that while slavery was a huge issue, certainly the source of political and territorial strife for so many years leading up to the war, it was not the only issue. The book shares the letters of immigrant Union soldiers who fought to secure democracy, something denied to them in their oppressive native countries. And many Confederate soldiers clearly say they are fighting in defense of their homes and families and because their states have been "invaded."
I tend to think some people who want to minimize or dismiss altogether the impact of slavery- or really, the place that black people would have in America, North AND South- unfortunately miss the understanding of the Civil War and American History. Personally, the older I get, the less I'm concerned about why the war started and why it was fought than I am with what happened when it ended. All I know is, the Union was saved and slavery was dead. Unless all people in "the land of the free" have access to liberty, that "land" is a hypocrisy.
Audio version is engrossing and thorough.......2007-04-02
I listened to the unabridged Books on Tape version which consists of 8 cassette tapes in a case. I found it very interesting. The tapes seemed to go by quickly.
My only suggestion would be to shorten some of the lengthy introductory material (dedication and credits) so as to get into the actual book more quickly. Also, a portion of the last cassette is devoted to a preview of another book, so the set could fit onto 7 tapes if edited just a bit.
McPherson quotes extensively from letters and diaries written during the war, so most of the accounts are first-hand. He groups them into categories and draws conclusions from their similar opinions, although he sprinkles in disclaimers because the sample is not totally balanced as it is only from literate English-speaking soldiers whose letters were saved by their descendants. Men who could not write (including most of the large number of ex-slaves who served in the Union army) did not leave a record of their experiences. Also, families of men who died in battle were often more likely to save their letters than those who survived the war.
As a female who has never served in the military, I have often wondered why so many men left their homes and families to fight in the Civil War, especially puzzling since their enemies had recently been their countrymen and were often even their relatives. McPherson has done a good job of using the soldiers' own words to explain why they risked their lives again and again. He also points out how the war changed men's viewpoints on slavery. Union soldiers who did not care much about it were exposed to it's hardships as they marched through the South and became anti-slavery, while some Confederates expressed doubts about it as the futility of their struggle became apparent. By 1865 some Southern soldiers said they would rather see the slaves freed then to lose the war. But of course it was too late.
The narrator does an excellent job of reading the book. Recommended.
A very differnt civil war novel.......2006-12-14
James McPherson does it again with a great analysis of why men fought in the civil war and what made them continue fighting after that first battle. Whether it was brotherhood, pride, or religion each side brought with it various and compelling reasons for going to war. The war was a travesty that brought devastation to both sides but if you want to see inside the soldiers minds this is the only book that does it. There are few out there like it and I McPhereson is among the best. This is an essential book for any civil war library.
a good reason.......2006-06-26
Very well researched and easy to read. McPherson tries to be fair to both sides of the war, giving the good and the bad, but it is rather obvious that he favors the North.
Well written account.......2006-04-24
McPherson has weaved together a very well written study of what motivated soldiers, both North and South, to fight in the Civil War. McPherson does an excellent job of breaking up the chapters to keep the text flowing. He also describes what would motivate men to continue to fight after seeing the horrors of battle, why men joined up, why married men continued to serve despite pleas from family members to go AWOL or take a medical leave, etc. All the while, McPherson uses dozens of quotes from diaries and letters to back up his claims. McPherson should be applauded for letting the soldiers tell most of this story rather than the author conjecture why he thought they fought. He also seems to have let the story come to him rather than set out with an agenda. A must have for any Civil War or military history student.
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For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War.: An article from: Presidential Studies Quarterly
Daniel Baracskay
Manufacturer: Center for the Study of the Presidency
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ASIN: B00097R5P2
Release Date: 2005-07-28 |
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Presidential Studies Quarterly, published by Center for the Study of the Presidency on June 22, 1997. The length of the article is 2110 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War.
Author: Daniel Baracskay
Publication:
Presidential Studies Quarterly (Refereed)
Date: June 22, 1997
Publisher: Center for the Study of the Presidency
Volume: v27
Issue: n3
Page: p612(5)
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
Professional materials needed for a successful career as an Air Force officer from cadet to general, both active duty and reserves. Some of the topics covered: * U.S. Air Force organizations and types of assignments * Duties and responsibilities * Privileges, benefits, restrictions * Customs and courtesies * Career development and promotion * Pay and allowances * Command and leadership * Uniforms and insignia * Complete data on Air Force installations worldwide * Extensive references to regulations and other information
Customer Reviews:
Officer's Guide Review.......2007-09-22
Excellent source of information, bit of a dry read though... definately a must have for all current/future AF officers.
On Being An Air Force Officer.......2004-09-13
I'll sheepishly admit that I'm not one for dry guidebooks, history texts and the like; they usually put me to sleep. However, I found the "Air Force Officer's Guide" fascinating. The book starts right off with issues of conduct, leadership, and responsibility, beautifully setting the tone for the rest of the material. This is almost certainly idealized to a certain extent, but that's rather the point, I think--this is meant as a guide of behavior to be aspired to.
There's information in here about professional development, training, education, health, fitness, promotion, and the officer evaluation system. I think this material gives a clear picture of what the author believes officers can do to best serve their country as well as themselves. The book stresses that officers must be willing to take every opportunity to advance their education, through personal efforts as well as structured training, and it gives many suggestions for how to go about this.
One of my favorite sections covers "The Air Force Way," delving into AF cultures and traditions and explaining the differences between military courtesies and customs of the service. There's a nifty section explaining all the little details of uniforms and insignia and how to wear them properly, including diagrams and drawings. There's even a section on social life in the AF, and the book discusses the general issue of the AF as a career, and the rights, privileges, and restrictions that go with it. I think the book does get rather dry as it moves onward into issues of pay, leave time, medical benefits, retirement, and so on, but then it would be a miracle if it didn't.
This is a handy multi-purpose book if you have any interest in the Air Force, whether or not you're actually a part of it. Its stated purpose is to help officers in their careers. I think it would be a great way for someone who's thinking of joining up to get a feel for whether or not it's their sort of thing. It's a good way for people to gain a new appreciation for the kind of work, dedication, and discipline it takes to be a part of the armed services. And it's fantastic reference material for a military buff, a writer doing research for a project, or even a roleplayer who wants to be able to get in the right mood (and design a realistic character) for a military-based roleplaying game.
Book Description
If you are serious about embarking on a promising career as a pilot in the armed forces, you must pass a rigorous military flight aptitude test to enter elite flight school programs. In addition to the 9-Step LearningExpress Test Preparation System, Military Flight Aptitude Test helps you gain an edge over other applicants by practicing key test topics, such as mechanical comprehension, spatial apperception, cycle orientation, instrument comprehension, aviation and nautical information, reading and verbal skills practice, math knowledge, electrical and hidden mazes and other visual material, table and chart reading, general science basics, data interpretation, and more! This complete test preparation guide for military flight aptitude tests includes practice questions with complete answer explanations, as well as three full-length sample tests for the AFOQT, AFAST, and ASTB.
Customer Reviews:
Harder Than It Seems.......2004-10-04
I used this book to study for the Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB) for the Navy OCS program. I took the test twice and I found that the math and verbal, and the mechanical reasoning parts of the test were a lot harder than the book made it seem. The spacial apperception part was pretty much right on, and the naval and aviation terms were on one test easier, and on the other a lot more difficult. I would reccommend a different book and also picking up a pilot's manual to just get an idea about aviation, because thats what the ASTB is largely geared towards.
Not helpful at all.......2001-11-25
This books was no help at all for the Army AFAST test. Questions are answered incorrectly in the answer key (Key lists C as the correct answer to Problem X, then gives the explanation as to why B was the correct answer), the Complex Movements practice questions are completely different than those on the test, and some of the pictures in the Cyclic Orientation practice questions appear to be sequenced in the incorrect order.
If you want a good book for these tests, stick with the ARCO book.
Not quite.......2001-10-24
The book just doesn't do it for the Navy and Marine Corps Aviation Battery. Not enough examples and the Spatial Apperception section was pretty haggard.
Customer Reviews:
A MUST HAVE FOR USAF EPR's, DEC's AND 1206's WRITERS!!!.......2003-03-15
I have been writing USAF EPR's, Decorations and 1206 Award Packages for years and would always seemed to get stumped finding just the right word. Then I found this little wonder! I have kept it a secret and let my peers think I was some sort of wonder writer, until now! I have used this book to help me write EPR's from a 1, yes I said a 1 EPR, all the way through FIRE WALL 5's! This book has not only benefited me but all of my subordinates who have benefited from strong EPR's, Decorations, and Award Packages! My folks get the recognition they deserve thanks to a little help from this GREAT BOOK!!! I recommend this for anyone!
Must have for writing Air Force EPR/OPR's.......1999-09-10
WOW! Everthing that you need from good to bad. Includes adjectives and adverbs to increase the effectiveness of your reports. Just add the date and times to great phrases already written for you.
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Air Force Officer's Guide
John Hawkins, III Napier
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Aviation
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ASIN: 0811724107 |
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The Air Force Officer's Guide
A. J. Kinney
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
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ASIN: 0811721434 |
Product Description
This is a military encyclopedia intended for officers of the United States Air Force of all ages and grades, on inactive or active duty.
Product Description
Complete guide for the Air Force officer of 1966, with information on customs and courtesies, career advancement, assignments, Air Force history etc.
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- General George Washington: A Military Life
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- God's Secretaries: The Making of the King James Bible (P.S.)
- History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- Hitler: A Study in Tyranny
- How We Survived Communism & Even Laughed
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