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Book Reviews These are some reviews from a recent issue of
The Civil War News:
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“Fear Was Not in Him”: The Civil War Letters of Major General Francis C. Barlow, U. S. A.
Edited by Christian G. Samito.
Illustrated, maps, footnotes, bibliography, index, 295 pp., 2004. Fordham University Press, University Box L, 2546 Belmont Ave., Bronx, NY 10458, $55 plus shipping.
Most people probably know Gen. Francis Barlow from two sources, the first from his wounding at Gettysburg and the “human-interest” story surrounding it. The second from a fantastic photograph taken in 1864 of Barlow with Winfield Scott Hancock, leaning against a tree, checkered shirt and weapon of choice — a cavalry saber. Yet others know him as a New England intellectual, Harvard graduate, New York attorney and partial subject for a Winslow Homer painting. Francis C. Barlow was born in Brooklyn on Oct. 19, 1834. Abandoned by his father Francis, his two brothers and his mother Almira moved to the utopian commune of Brook Farm near Concord, Mass. Later, after graduating first in his class from Harvard, Barlow returned to New York where he gained admission to the bar. Barlow married Arabella Griffith on April 20, 1861, then left for the war the next day as a member of the 12th New York State Militia. He rose quickly through the ranks becoming colonel of the 61st New York. He saw his first major action at the battle of Fair Oaks during the Peninsula Campaign. Initially he was not happy being a soldier, often expressing his desire to resign his commission. Despite his often less-than-enthusiastic feelings he continued his rise in rank and ability. He was wounded at Antietam, promoted to brigadier general and by the time of the Gettysburg Campaign he commanded a division in the Eleventh Corps. At Gettysburg he was again seriously wounded while rallying his troops near Blocher’s (today’s Barlow’s) Knoll. After a lengthy recovery Barlow returned to the army in April 1864. He commanded a division in Hancock’s Second Corps participating in the Overland Campaign. Soon after, on July 27, Arabella died of typhus. Combined with the stress of campaigning and military life, his wife’s death devastated Barlow causing him to take a leave of absence. Though he tried, he was never able to return to the army, eventually taking a trip to Europe to recover. Barlow returned from overseas in March 1865 and rejoined the Army of the Potomac on April 6, 1865, just in time for the surrender. He resigned shortly after Appomattox and was appointed a major general of volunteers in May. Returning to New York, Barlow was elected the secretary of state for New York and later resumed the practice of law. He married Ellen Shaw, the sister of Robert Gould Shaw, who had once been a student of his. He was appointed a U.S. Marshal, helped found the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and served as attorney general of New York. Barlow died on January 11, 1896. Barlow’s letters in this volume begin in May 1861 and end in July 1864. The majority are written to his mother and brothers as the letters to his wife do not exist. His writing shows the extent of his education as well as his tendency to sometimes wear his heart on his sleeve. Through the letters the reader gets an interesting picture of Barlow’s outlook on the military, Southerners, African Americans, and his fellow soldiers. There is also some good battle content. In addition to the letters the editor has provided explanatory commentaries (some admittedly too long) describing what is going on in Barlow’s life at the time he writes certain letters. For purists the volume contains detailed footnotes. The maps are detailed and well drawn, the photographs crisp and clear. My only quibble would be that the price seems a bit steep for the overall content and length of the volume. This reviewer recommends Fear Was Not in Him because it provides the reader with the thoughts and feelings of an “upper-class,” highly educated, Union officer who was often not happy with his situation. But at the same time he was an officer who got the job done. Rather than flag-waving bravado, Barlow’s letters reflect the attitude of the average soldier — “Hey! This military stuff isn’t much fun.”
Blake Magner
Blake Magner is the Book Review Editor of The Civil War News. He makes his liv-ing as an editor, writer, car-tographer and photographer of Civil War history.
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