Untold Civil War The: Exploring the Human Side of War

About this book

Was Gettysburg a tactical success or was the outcome determined by a far more mundane factor: access to fresh water? How did the need to spread information about the dead and wounded give rise to the U.S. Postal Service? Did President Lincoln really age so dramatically during the course of the war or was a rare disease to blame for the shocking difference in images of him from before and during the war? From overlooked elements such as the role of weather health and high emotions to the world-changing effect of the rise of female workers to the many "firsts" including the introduction of standard time pre-sized clothing canned goods toilets and Santa Claus The Untold Civil War reveals new facets of a seemingly well-known slice of American history just in time to commemorate its 150th anniversary. Dramatically illustrated with archival images and objects and compelling contemporary photography this book delivers a surprise on every page: from precious personal mementos to forgotten battle sites; from newly recovered glass-plate negatives that reveal long-obscured photographic details to long-lost documents; this book adds a new dimension to our understanding of the Civil War and is a must-have for anyone with an interest in American history. Six thematic chapterssuch as "Characters " "Connections " and "A War of Firsts"present a short introductory essay followed by approximately 30 self-contained stories that detail surprising little-known and fresh aspects of the war. Themes both large and small will be explored and contextualized painting a fascinating portrait of our national character and showcasing the enduring impact of the Civil War.