In this Book
- Soldier Boy: The Civil War Letters of Charles O. Musser, 29th Iowa
- Book
- 1995
- Published by: University of Iowa Press
summary
Blood and anger, bragging and pain, are all part of this young Iowa soldier's vigorous words about war and soldiering. A twenty-year-old farmer from Council Bluffs, Charles O. Musser was one of the 76,000 Iowans who enlisted to wear the blue uniform. He was a prolific writer, penning at least 130 letters home during his term of service with the 29th Iowa Volunteer Infantry.
Soldier Boy makes a significant contribution to the literature of the common soldier in the Civil War. Moreover, it takes a rare look at the Trans-Mississippi theater, which has traditionally been undervalued by historians.
Always Musser dutifully wrote and mailed his letters home. With a commendable eye for historical detail, he told of battles and marches, guerrilla and siege warfare, camp life and garrison soldiering, morale and patriotism, Copperheads and contraband, and Lincoln's reelection and assassination, creating a remarkable account of activities in this almost forgotten backwater of the war.
Soldier Boy makes a significant contribution to the literature of the common soldier in the Civil War. Moreover, it takes a rare look at the Trans-Mississippi theater, which has traditionally been undervalued by historians.
Always Musser dutifully wrote and mailed his letters home. With a commendable eye for historical detail, he told of battles and marches, guerrilla and siege warfare, camp life and garrison soldiering, morale and patriotism, Copperheads and contraband, and Lincoln's reelection and assassination, creating a remarkable account of activities in this almost forgotten backwater of the war.
Table of Contents
Download Full Book
- Acknowledgments
- pp. ix-xi
- Introduction
- pp. 1-10
- 1. To War: December 1862–April 1863
- pp. 11-44
- 2. Soldier Boy: April–July 1863
- pp. 45-70
- 4. Battle: January–May 1864
- pp. 101-132
- 5. Home Front: June–November 1864
- pp. 133-164
- 6. Garrison: November 1864–February 1865
- pp. 165-186
- 7. Peace Again: February–July 1865
- pp. 187-218
- Three Undated Letter Fragments
- pp. 219-220
- Bibliography
- pp. 241- 244
Additional Information
ISBN
9781587291913
Related ISBN(s)
9780877455233, 9781587296581
DOI
MARC Record
OCLC
647881160
Pages
272
Launched on MUSE
2012-01-01
Language
English
Open Access
No
Copyright
2008