In this Book

  • Allegany to Appomattox: The Life and Letters of Private William Whitlock of the 188th New York Volunteers
  • Book
  • Valgene Dunham
  • 2013
  • Published by: Syracuse University Press
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summary

On September 7, 1864, William Whitlock, aged thirty-five, left his wife and four children in Allegany, New York, to join the Union army in battle. More than 100 years later, his unpublished letters to his wife were found in the attic of a family home. These letters serve as the foundation for Allegany to Appomattox, giving readers a vivid glimpse into the environment and political atmosphere that surrounded the Civil War from the perspective of a northern farmer and lumberman.

Whitlock’s observations tell of exhausting marches, limited rations, and grueling combat. In plainspoken language, the letters also reveal a desperate homesickness, consistently expressing concern for the family’s health and financial situation and requesting news from home. Dunham’s detailed descriptions of the war’s progress and specific battles provide a rich context for Whitlock’s letters, orienting readers to both the broad narrative of the Civil War and the intimate chronicle of one soldier’s impressions.

Table of Contents

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  1. Cover
  2. p. 1
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  1. Front Flap, Title Page, Copyright, Dedication, About the Author
  2. pp. 2-10
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  1. Contents
  2. pp. ix-x
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  1. List of Illustrations
  2. pp. xi-xii
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  1. List of Maps and Tables
  2. pp. xiii-xiv
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  1. Foreword
  2. pp. xv-xvi
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  1. Preface
  2. pp. xvii-xx
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  1. Acknowledgments
  2. pp. xxi-xxii
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  1. 1. Allegany Atmospheres
  2. pp. 1-8
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  1. 2. Failed Compromises
  2. pp. 9-21
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  1. 3. Elmira Excitement
  2. pp. 22-31
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  1. 4. On the Move
  2. pp. 32-45
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  1. 5. Life in the Trenches
  2. pp. 46-69
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  1. 6. Life Back Home
  2. pp. 70-85
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  1. 7. “The Bulits Whistled Right Smart”: Battle of Hatcher’s Run I (Boydton Plank Road)
  2. pp. 86-103
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  1. 8. Wrecking the Weldon
  2. pp. 104-128
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  1. 9. Faith and Fighting
  2. pp. 129-144
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  1. 10. “We Will Probley Have to Go”: Battle of Hatcher’s Run II (Dabney’s Mills)
  2. pp. 145-166
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  1. 11. Epilogue: Fires and Rainbows
  2. pp. 167-184
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  1. Appendixes References Index
  2. pp. 185-186
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  1. Appendix A
  2. pp. 187-192
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  1. Appendix B
  2. pp. 193-198
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  1. Appendix C
  2. pp. 199-218
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  1. References
  2. pp. 219-234
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  1. Index
  2. pp. 235-254
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  1. Back Flap, Back Cover
  2. pp. 281-282
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