This books offers a rare insight into the history of the Civil War in the western theatre through the eyes of a regimental surgeon. The newly graduated Dr. Thomas S. Hawley served in one of the premier fighting regiments of the Union Army. This collection of letters is important for two reasons: They detail his four and a half year career in the army through firsthand accounts of the various campaigns and his numerous duties; and they chronicle his interactions with captured Confederate soldiers; his encounters with pro-Southern and pro-Northern civilians in areas occupied by the Union Army; his experiences with freed slaves and numerous other daily events in the war. Notable among the letters is his record of the early Civil War in Missouri; the Vicksburg Campaign; the Battle of Tupelo and the Battle of Nashville.
#2156080 in Books McFarland 2010-07-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.90 x .60 x 6.90l; .90 #File Name: 0786446781224 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. An Anti-Slavery BookBy David CarlyleHarriet Frazier writes about Missourians' attitudes and behaviors relative to slavery; before and during the civil war. She doesn't hide her sympathy for slaves and abolitionists; and she's turned off by atrocities the pro-slavery people commit; but no less so by atrocities the anti-slavery people and the slaves do. Except for two minor instances; she manages to have a point of view without showing bias. In one instance of bias; she goes far from Missouri to review the Sally Heming-Thomas Jefferson rumor; and to say dna evidence proves President Jefferson is the father of one of Sally Heming's children. She doesn't acknowledge the possibility the child's father isn't Thomas; but instead; one of his relatives. Her certainty doesn't seem enough to reduce the book from five stars; first because she might be right; and second because; if she isn't; then someone still did Sally Heming wrong. Frazier's second slip may not be actual bias. Although she lambasts William Quantrill's actions in Lawrence with a sentence or two; she gives John Brown four or five pages; she deplores his early murders; but admires some of his better actions. The extra emphasis on Brown is consistent with the title of the book; "Runaway Slaves and Those Who Helped Them; 1763-1865."The first chapter of the book seems almost unnecessary. Frazier calls it "The Myth of the Contented Slave." She uses several pages to convince her readers slaves were never content; but it's hard to think today; that anyone; ever; would be content to be 'owned' by another person. Nevertheless; even though the book contains some history; this one makes me break my rule about no more than four stars for a history book. David Carlyle; "Another Land."
