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Book Reviews These are some reviews from a recent issue of
The Civil War News:
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A Grassroots History of the American Civil War Volume IV: The Life and Times of Colonel William Stedman of the 6th Ohio Cavalry
by Richard Staats.
Illustrated, maps, index, 416 pp., softcover, 2003. Heritage Books, Inc., 65 E. Main St., Westminster, MD 21157, $33 plus shipping.
This charming and delightfully written book rambles and weaves between being a history of the 6th Ohio Cavalry, a Stedman family biography, and a biography of William Stedman. To tell the story of William Stedman — husband, father, abolitionist, temperance fighter, brave soldier and true patriot — the author liberally quotes from letters and local newspaper reports. The reader quickly learns that William Stedman was no ordinary man for on Sept. 10, 1846, while living in the small town of Randolph, Ohio, where he was acting Justice of the Peace, he resigned his position. In his letter of resignation he wrote, “(I) repudiate the oath I took to support the Constitution of the United States… I sincerely regret I ever took and I never did nor never will support it.” Yet when the war broke out the 45-year-old Stedman, champion of women’s rights and friend of James Garfield, led the drive to recruit young men to suppress the rebellion and became captain of the Franklin Rifles: Co. F, 7th Ohio. While acting as a captain in the 7th, Stedman learned that the state was raising two cavalry regiments. He left the 7th, then a 90-day outfit, to participate in recruiting men for the 6th Ohio Cavalry. After being organized, the regiment, with Stedman as major, was sent to Fremont’s command. They soon found themselves involved in chasing that man “Stonewall.” The adventures of the 6th during 1862, as told by the author, reflect McClellan’s and Pope’s less than stellar use of Union cavalry. By the summer of 1863, Maj. Stedman, promoted to lieutenant colonel, was now in command of the regiment. They were made part of Gregg’s division and were active participants in pursing Lee as he advanced into Pennsylvania. For Gettysburg Campaign buffs the author includes several letters written by 6th Ohio cavalrymen describing the fight at Aldie. In the fall of 1863 the members of the regiment were concerned with the governor’s election in Ohio, pitting anti-war Democrat Vallandingham against the Republican Brough. Using the soldiers’ letters and their votes, the author details their strong feelings about Vallandingham, whom they call a poor low-lived pauper. Stedman wrote, “Nary a vote for Vallandingham” in the 6th Ohio Cavalry. After 40 months of hard service Col. Stedman, now nearly 50 years old, is discharged and returns to Randolph. The author picks up Stedman’s story as he campaigns along with James Garfield for Lincoln’s reelection. Staats continues Stedman’s biography until his death in July 1869, at Santiago de Cuba, while serving as Consul to Cuba. James Garfield delivers, before 3,000 mourners, the funeral oration. The oration is printed in full in the book. In that oration Garfield reminds the mourners and us that there were men of conviction, like William Stedman, who, he says, “hated slavery.” This wonderful regional history, while unfortunately repeating the debunked myth about Union casualties at Cold Harbor, is filled not only with descriptions of the 6th Ohio’s military activities, but also with the poignant happenings of William Stedman’s family. These happenings remind us that the war was not only fought by the soldier at the front, but also by those at home.
Gary Augustine
Gary Augustine is past president of the Western Pennsylvania Civil War Round Table and writes a monthly review of Civil War literature for the group's newsletter.
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