Homeward Bound: The Demobilization of the Union and Confederate Armies, 1865-1866 (review)

Historians have analyzed and written about the Civil War so much that one might expect the light of history to have illuminated every facet by now. However, even in this day, we still find some dark corners that the light has not yet reached. Historians have neglected one of the biggest postwar challenges—the demobilization of the massive military machines built up by both sides. William B. Holberton's Homeward Bound: The Demobilization of the Union and Confederate Armies, 1865-1866 explores this fascinating subject, taking up where most Civil War books end.

Demobilizing the Union and Confederate armies was more complex than merely discharging soldiers and sending them home. For the Southern forces there was little in the way of a formal demobilization, beyond being marched to staging areas from where they were given paroles and released. From that point getting home was more a matter of "every man for himself" rather than any organized effort. For Northern forces, it was a much different story.

The federal government spent four years building a vast mechanism to transport soldiers and supplies to the front, and with the close of the war it operated that mechanism in reverse, transporting soldiers by foot, rail, and ship to demobilization points. Military leaders could not dispense with all their soldiers, however, and had to consider a variety of other requirements. Among them was the need for troops on the Texas border, pending altercation with the French in Mexico, as well as maintaining occupation forces in the South and dealing with issues in the West.

Homeward Bound is well researched, well organized, and well written. Holberton discusses topics such as the blueprint for demobilization, the role of transportation methods, comparing the Northern and Southern railroad systems, the repatriation of prisoners, the demobilization of hospital patients, and discrimination toward black troops evident in their absence from the Grand Review in May 1865 and the manner in which their demobilization lagged behind that of the white troops.

The author also addresses desertion, particularly its affect on Confederate forces in the closing months of the war, hastening their defeat. Often overlooked is its prevalence in the federal ranks after the war, where impatient soldiers, sometimes in large numbers, took it upon themselves to start for home before their official discharge.

Holberton has delved into many soldier's letters and accounts to illustrate his points, and these give a refreshing glimpse into their personal reality. Some of their adventures in getting home were every bit as fascinating as their war service and indicative of the irony that filled this period. In one instance, several Confederate prisoners, paroled from Fort Delaware, and promised federal transportation home, found themselves stranded in Washington during the Grand Review, which they witnessed with much interest. They took advantage of the opportunity to approach General Grant to seek assistance in their quest to get home. Grant passed the matter to Secretary of War Stanton, who was there with him.

The topic of demobilization was something the author became interested in following his demobilization experience at the end of WWII. In the conclusion of the book, he asserts that the government learned valuable lessons from the Civil War period to demobilize the military force built up during World War II.

It is a pity that the author passed away just prior to the publication of this volume. We are all indebted to Father Holberton for providing us a well-researched glimpse into this long neglected aspect of the Civil War. The book will stand as a testament to his effort and as a valuable contribution to our understanding of that turbulent period of our history.