Description
Book SynopsisDocuments 165 Illinois Civil War soldiers' and sailors' lives through the lens of their personal letters. Editor Mark Flotow chose a variety of letter writers who hailed from counties throughout the state, served in different branches of the military at different ranks, and represented the gamut of social experiences and war outcomes.
Trade ReviewMark Flotow has assembled a brilliant collection of letter material, full of surprising, fascinating, and enlightening details that bring us closer to the men who took part in the war so long ago." —John Zimm, editor of
This Wicked Rebellion: Wisconsin Civil War Soldiers Write Home"Words matter, and by allowing Illinois soldiers to speak for themselves, the Civil War comes alive anew. Flotow helps us envision the 'real war' that Walt Whitman observed would 'never get in the books'. The editor's fresh approach provides an intimate and illuminating portrait of the war and those who fought it.
In Their Letters, in Their Words is a superb addition to Civil War literature." —Stephen D. Engle, author of
Gathering to Save a Nation: Lincoln and the Union's War Governors.
"Possibly someone has read more soldier letters, but no one has listened more attentively to them than Mark Flotow has for nuance about family, slavery, rain, politics, food and health, the officer corps, etc. He provides a guided tour through thousands of surviving letters by selecting the most representative
and the most interesting. Illinois soldiers were numerous enough to form a microcosm of the entire Northern outlook, and so become a touchstone for the national war effort. There is even new material about Lincoln."—
James M. Cornelius, former curator of the Lincoln Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.
"Flotow has done a fine job of linking together, as well as comparing and contrasting, the comments of 165 Illinois soldiers on a wide variety of Civil War subjects. The result is an enjoyable and thought-provoking read for anyone with an interest in the Civil War." —Glenna R. Schroeder-Lein, author of
The Encyclopedia of Civil War Medicine.
