Manhood and Patriotic Awakening in the American Civil War
Subtitle: The John E. Mattoon Letters, 1859-1866
Publisher: Hamilton Books
Published: January 28, 2008
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 130
ISBN-13: 9780761839330
Subjects: American history: c 1800 to c 1900; History; History - Military / War; History: American; USA; History / United States / Civil War Period (1850-1877); Military; United States - Civil War
First sentence: This is the story of Private John E. Mattoon and his personal journey from teenage farm laborer to conflicted cavalry volunteer and finally to dedicated, patriotic Union soldier.
Description: There have been many books devoted to the troops that fought in the Civil War and the social history underlying the conflict of the Civil War. Within that historical record, one question still captivates and provokes: why did they fight?  Bruce Donald’s book examines that question, using as its base, a collection of 39 letters telling the story of a conflicted farm boy from a tiny town in upstate New York who after much soul-searching finally joined the Union Cavalry late in the Civil War.  John E. Mattoon was a “common” soldier, aside from his uncommonly interesting and expressive letters. This book constitutes a valuable case study illuminating the motives, experiences, and ultimate realizations of a young cavalry volunteer.   The scholarly research adds historical context providing colorful depth and flesh to a developing interpretation of John’s experiences. A refreshing approach to an old conflict- students, teachers, and anyone interested in the personal side of war will benefit from the first-hand glimpse of Manhood and Patriotic Awakening.
Table of contents: title: Preface							          vii