Do They Miss Me at Home? The Civil War Letters of William McKnight, Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry
Every time a new primary source is printed from the Civil War era, whether it is a journal or a set of letters, it is truly a blessing for historians. Although nearly three million men served on both sides during the Civil War, so much has been lost forever that Walt Whitman was correct when he stated, “The real war will never get into the history books.” These new sources shed new light on the conflict and make us take a different approach to what happened. While much Civil War study has been focused on the clashes in the East, more and more focus is being placed on battles in the West, where many consider the Union won and the Confederacy lost the Civil War. A Canadian immigrant and blacksmith by trade, William McKnight was just one of many soldiers whose stories provide a fresh insight into the war. Unlike many letters that simply tell of either combat or camp life, but not both, these give a look into the swirling world of mounted combat, while also concerning themselves with other incidents of soldier life. McKnight’s letters provide great insight into the war in the West. Serving in the Seventh Ohio Cavalry, he often was involved in smaller skirmishes and also took part in constant pursuits of guerilla bands in Kentucky. Like some Southern soldiers who literally defended their own homes, McKnight in the summer of 1863 found himself chasing John Hunt Morgan right through his hometown. McKnight was killed in a bloody fight at Samaria in June of 1864,. Later chapters in the book include details of what became of his family, a roster of the regiment and detailed notes about the letters. This reviewer greatly enjoyed this book and will keep it on his shelf for years to come. The letters are lucid, highly detailed, and bring to life combat in the mounted arm in the West. For a book of this nature, footnotes rather than endnotes are much easier for the reader; I was constantly flipping back and forth to locate the names of the people McKnight was mentioning. Other than this salient problem, Do They Miss Me at Home? is a great book about Civil War combat in a less studied theater of the war. Reviewer: Robert Grandchamp Robert Grandchamp is a historian working out of New England. He has authored seven books, including, The Seventh Rhode Island Infantry, The Boys of Adams’ Battery G, and the forthcoming A History of the Providence Marine Corps of Artillery, 1801-2010. He holds an M.A. in American History from Rhode Island College. |
Illustrated, notes, roster, bibliography, 271 pp., 2010, University of Ohio Press,