The Battle of South Mountain, often dismissed as insignificant, is re-evaluated as a crucial Federal victory in Brian Matthew Jordan's compelling analysis. He argues that this engagement played a pivotal role in the Civil War campaign, challenging the prevailing narrative overshadowed by the subsequent Battle of Antietam. Through a fresh interpretation, Jordan highlights the strategic and tactical importance of the September 14, 1862 battle, reshaping our understanding of its historical significance.
Focusing on the aftermath of the Civil War, the book presents a fresh narrative that diverges from traditional histories ending in 1865. It delves into the struggles of veterans who faced physical and emotional scars, grappling with issues like alcoholism and inadequate pensions. Through previously unexplored archives, the author reveals poignant letters, diaries, and medical reports that expose the harsh realities of their lives, highlighting the dissonance between their experiences and the nation's desire to move forward into the Gilded Age.
"From a Pulitzer Prize finalist, a pathbreaking history of the Civil War centered on a regiment of immigrants and their brutal experience of the conflict. Brian Matthew Jordan's Marching Home, a "powerful exploration" (Washington Post) of the fates of Union veterans, vaulted him into the first rank of Civil War historians. Now, in A Thousand May Fall, Jordan sends us trundling along dusty roads with the 107th Ohio, an ethnically German infantry regiment whose members battled nativism no less than Confederate rebels. The 107th was at once ordinary and exceptional: its ranks played central roles in two of the war's pivotal battles, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, even as language, identity, and popular perceptions of their loyalties set them apart. Drawing on many never-before-used sources, Jordan shows how, while enduring the horrible extremes of war, the men of the 107th Ohio contemplated the deeper meanings of the conflict-from personal questions of citizenship to the overriding matter of emancipation. A pioneering account from the view of the ordinary, immigrant soldier -- 200,000 native Germans fought for the Union, in total -- A Thousand May Fall overturns many of our most basic assumptions about the bloodiest conflict in our history"-- Provided by publisher
Exploring the significance of death and memorialization during the Civil War era, this collection features essays by prominent historians examining diverse gravesites, from grand monuments to unmarked graves. Each burial location reveals unique narratives about life, death, mourning, and remembrance, reflecting the profound impact of this tumultuous period on American society. The contributions from various scholars provide a comprehensive understanding of how these memorial practices continue to shape contemporary perspectives on loss and history.
Focusing on the experiences of ordinary soldiers, this book offers a fresh perspective on the Civil War, highlighting the chaos of battle and the hardships of military life. Pulitzer Prize finalist Brian Matthew Jordan crafts an intimate and engaging narrative that invites readers to understand the conflict's enduring legacies and the deep divisions it has left in American society. Through this unique lens, the author reshapes our understanding of the war and its impact on the nation.
