The Union Soldier in Battle - Enduring the Ordeal of Combat

The Union Soldier in Battle - Enduring the Ordeal of Combat

Author: Earl J. Hess
Date of Publication: May 1997
Overview:  Drawing extensively upon the letters, diaries, and memoirs of Northern soldiers, Hess reveals their deepest fears and shocks, and also their sources of inner strength. By identifying recurrent themes found in these accounts, Hess constructs a multi-layered view of the many ways in which these men coped with the challenges of battle. He shows how they were bolstered by belief in God and country, or simply by their sense of duty; how they came to rely on the support of their comrades; and how they learned to muster self-control in order to persevere from one battle to the next. Amazon review.