The Civil War Era

This intriguing study examines the truth behind the myths and misconceptions that defined the American Civil War, as portrayed through the popular literary works of the time. The Civil War Era: A Historical Exploration of Literature examines the tremendous change the American Civil War brought to society as reflected in the literature of the time. It delves into the cultural, historical, and literary contexts of the era, looking beyond common conceptions and instead reflecting on the era's complexities and contradictions. The book profiles key American literature related to the war, both on and off the battlefield, including Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage, Ambrose Bierce's "Chickamauga," Louisa May Alcott's Hospital Sketches, the Civil War poems of Walt Whitman and Herman Melville, and Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address." This book serves to demonstrate how profoundly the actions on the Civil War battlefield shaped American politics, society, and the arts.

James H. Meredith is the Graduate English Faculty Lead, Colorado State University-Global Campus. He is a Past President of The Ernest Hemingway Foundation and Society and has researched war literature and film around the world. His books include Understanding the Literature of World War II and Understanding the Literature of World War I.

Series Foreword,
Acknowledgments,
Introduction,
Chronology of the Civil War Era,
1 The Red Badge of Courage (Stephen Crane, 1895),
Synopsis of The Red Badge of Courage,
Historical Background: The Red Badge of Courage and a Nation at War,
About Stephen Crane: The Author Who Made the Battlefield Seem Real,
Why We Read The Red Badge of Courage,
Historical Explorations of The Red Badge of Courage,
Documenting The Red Badge of Courage,
The Evolution of Conscripted Service and the New York Draft Riots of 1863,
Document: The Militia Act of 1862,
Document: The Enrollment Act of 1863,
Document: "The Conscription a Great National Benefit," 1863,
Document: "The Mob in New York," 1863,
Document: "Another Day of Rioting," 1863,
Document: The Enrollment Act of 1864,
Firsthand Accounts of the Face of Battle,
Document: The Narrative of Private Sam Watkins, 1882,
Document: The Memoirs of General William T. Sherman, 1889,
Suggested Readings,
2 "Chickamauga" (Ambrose Bierce, 1889),
Synopsis of "Chickamauga,"
Historical Background: "Chickamauga" and the Geography of the Battle of Chickamauga,
About Ambrose Bierce,
Why We Read "Chickamauga,"
Historical Explorations of "Chickamauga": Individual Soldiers on the Battlefield,
Documenting "Chickamauga,"
On the Battlefield,
Document: The Narrative of Private Sam Watkins, 1882,
Document: The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant, 1885,
Document: The Dispatch Carrier and Memoirs of Andersonville Prison, 1892,
The Official Record of the Rebellion,
Document: The Official Record of the War of the Rebellion, 1863,
Suggested Readings,
3 Hospital Sketches (Louisa May Alcott, 1863),
Synopsis of Hospital Sketches,
Historical Background: Hospital Sketches and Taking Care of the Wounded and the Rights of Women,
About Louisa May Alcott,
Why We Read Hospital Sketches,
Historical Explorations of Hospital Sketches,
Documenting Hospital Sketches,
The State of Military Medicine during the American Civil War,
Document: The Evolution of Preventative Medicine in the United States Army, 1607-1939,
Document: Grant of Powers from the President and the Sec[retary] of War (Approved by General Scott), 1861,
The Rights of Women and the Service of Women in the War,
Document: "The Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions," Seneca Falls Conference, 1848,
Document: "A Petition for Universal Suffrage," 1866,
Document: Women in the War, Frank Moore, 1866,
Suggested Readings,
4 The Civil War Poetry of Walt Whitman and Herman Melville,
Synopsis of Whitman's Drum-Taps (1865) and Civil War Poems, "The Wound Dresser" and "O Captain! My Captain,"
Historical Background: Whitman's Drum-Taps; Capturing the Soul of the Soldier and the Nation,
About Walt Whitman,
Why We Read Drum-Taps,
Historical Explorations of Walt Whitman's Poetry,
Documenting Walt Whitman's War Poetry,
The Suffering of the Nation,
Document: "The Great Crisis of the Nation," 1861,
Document: "Fredericksburg," 1863,
Document: "A Letter for a Wounded Soldier," Walt Whitman, 1865,
The Great Army of the Sick,
Document: "The Great Army of the Sick," 1863,
The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln,
Document: "Details of the Assassination," 1865,
Document: "Assassination of President Lincoln," 1865,
Document: "Douglass on Lincoln," 1876,
Synopsis of Melville's Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War (1866),
Historical Background of Melville's Battle-Pieces,
About Herman Melville,
Why We Read Battle-Pieces,
Historical Explorations of Herman Melville's Poetry,
Documenting Herman Melville's War Poetry,
The Death of Stonewall Jackson and Gettysburg,
Document: The Report of Maj. Gen. Henry W. Halleck, 1863,
Document: Three Poems from Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War, 1866,
Suggested Readings,
5 "The Gettysburg Address" (Abraham Lincoln, 1863),
Synopsis of "The Gettysburg Address,"
Historical Background: "The Gettysburg Address" and Why It Needed to Be Delivered,
About Abraham Lincoln,
Why We Read "The Gettysburg Address,"
Historical Explorations of "The Gettysburg Address": Executive Power and Emancipation,
Documenting "The Gettysburg Address,"
Lincoln's Executive Power,
Document: Lincoln's Writs of Habeas Corpus, 1861,
Document: General Orders, No. 141, Abraham Lincoln, 1862,
Abraham Lincoln and Emancipation,
Document: The Emancipation Proclamation, January 1, 1863,
Document: Letter from the Mother of a Northern Black Soldier to the President, 1863,
Document: The Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, 1865,
Document: Law Creating the Freedmen's Bureau, 1865,
Suggested Readings,
Index,