Life During The Civil War
This magazine-style collection of articles focuses on “what life was like for the average [Civil War] soldier and citizen of the day.” A dictionary of common terms and vocabulary used during the war in the opening pages of the volume is a nice beginning. From there articles highlight medicine, shortages and their substitutes, photography, fundraising and even pets to present a well-rounded perspective of life of the general wartime population. One often forgets the shortages civilians on both sides of the conflict experienced. Creative substitution of thorns for pins and cornmeal for wheat flour are just two examples of how Southern families adjusted to an economy hindered by a Union naval blockade. One article explains a mundane but very important element of life: how soldiers and families maintained communication through the postal departments of the Union and Confederacy. The problem was felt hardest in the South, where the warring armies displaced thousands of civilians. They faced the problem of making their new circumstances and homes known to loved ones in the military. Although at war, the U.S. Post Office “kept its Southern postmasters and mail contractors in place, although it stopped paying them.” Spies used the postal system to convey information across enemy lines through innocent-looking letters, many bearing patriotic imprints as well as stamps depicting past United States presidents. Several articles focus on medicine and the hospital system. Though well written, they emphasize problems of the medical systems of both armies without mention of the improvements and innovations brought about by the demands of war. No mention is made of Dr. Jonathan Letterman, Medical Director of the Army of the Potomac, whose implementation of the triage system of care is still in place in hospitals worldwide. Regardless, the articles do reveal a medical system in the midst of change. An article on hotels sheds light on an interesting aspect of demand and supply. As families traveled great distances to be near loved ones recuperating in hospitals or to retrieve the body of a fallen hero, they created a demand for hotels. And as the transportation systems improved across the country, the hospitality industry became a necessary part of life in the United States. One irrelevant contribution was a page of trivia titled “Missed It By That Much…!” The final article was devoted to changes that occurred following the war. While much of the information could have been incorporated in the related articles, e.g., the general acceptance of Joseph Lister’s theory of aseptic surgery and its impact on military health care, as well as the invention of the telephone and its ramifications for updated communications, some information begged to be excluded. Neil Armstrong walking on the moon 104 years after the Civil War and the introduction of Social Security in 1935 bore little relevance to the general content of the book. Overall, Life During The Civil War is an informative magazine-formatted publication that provides a wide range of useful information and is an excellent introduction to everyday life during the war. Reviewer: Janet L. Bucklew Janet L. Bucklew, M.A., American Studies, Pennsylvania State University, has worked for several museums including Gettysburg National Military Park and the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. She wrote Dr. Henry Janes: Country Doctor & Civil War Surgeon andhas extensive background in public history, research and interpretation.
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Illustrated, photographs, glossaries, 95 pp., 2009, History Magazine,