Through Ordinary Eyes: The Civil War Correspondence of Rufus Robbins, Private, 7th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, and: Fighting With The Eighteenth Massachusetts: The Civil War Memoir of Thomas H. Mann (review)

Through Ordinary Eyes: The Civil War Correspondence of Rufus Robbins, Private, 7th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers. Edited by Ella Jane Bruen and Brian M. Fitzgibbons. (Westport, Conn.: Praeger, 2000. Pp. xviii, 264. $39.95.)

Fighting With The Eighteenth Massachusetts: The Civil War Memoir of Thomas H. Mann. Edited by John J. Hennessy. (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State Univ. Press, 2000. Pp. xi, 220. $34.95.)

Words of the participants are the only ones that can truly relay the impassioned expressions of those venturing off to war and perhaps to an uncertain death. While numerous Civil War memoirs and diaries record wartime experiences, the accounts of Cpl. Thomas H. Mann and Pvt. Rufus Robbins provide an insightful look into the realms of familial relations and personal feelings engendered by the conflict. From their descriptive narratives, one perceives the emotionalism of putting oneself at the mercy of the greater good of country. These works tell the stories of two "average" men fighting for their nation. One survived the ordeals of war and imprisonment and went on to a fulfilling life and the other succumbed to illness during the course of the conflict—two very different outcomes, yet the men shared many similar occurrences along their paths.

Mann and Robbins hailed from small towns in Massachusetts. Mann spoke of his anticipatory fervor of the prospect of battle: "The Eighteenth had not succeeded in getting into a good square battle yet, and I am becoming a little discouraged" (67). Once he encountered combat, his writings recorded the confrontations, conveying more detail than Robbins about military events. In contrast, Robbins tended to speak more of his waning health, the camaraderie among the soldiers, and everyday affairs.

The books present the soldiers' accounts in distinct manners. Ella Jane Bruen and Brian M. Fitzgibbons chronologically arranged the correspondence of Private Robbins to members of his family, completing the picture by adding their replies. Robbins continually promised to give them a detailed account of his abbreviated tales upon his return home, something they would be denied due to his untimely death. These letters give an insightful look at the concerns and sometimes sentimental outpourings of both soldier and family, yet manifest Robbins' sense of duty: "I think of home often, but not with regret that I left it, for there is need of me here" (132). The editors incorporate maps and photographs to allow the reader a glimpse into the private's world and journey.

John J. Hennessy intermixes Thomas H. Mann's letters and journals with historical background and additional narrative, clarifying some of the inaccuracies the young corporal had incorporated into his writings. The notes are rich in references to supporting information, helpful given the fact that Mann's memoirs continued into his postwar life.

These monographs illuminate the trials of warfare as seen from distinctive viewpoints. Mann enjoyed military experience but after great consideration opted not to re-enlist, only to find his career extended by capture. His recollection of imprisonment is not included here, but Hennessy's work allows the reader to follow his experiences leading to that event. Robbins' poor health ended his service. After participation in the Wilderness campaign and encampment in Maryland, he died in hospital from illness. The editors have meticulously presented these vivid accounts and enhanced them with scholarly additions. Both works are welcome contributions to the realm of Civil War narratives.