Synopses & Reviews
In the first comprehensive study of the experience of Virginia soldiers and their families in the Civil War, Aaron Sheehan-Dean captures the inner world of the rank-and-file. He challenges earlier arguments that middle- and lower-class southerners gradually withdrew their support for the Confederacy because their class interests were not being met. Instead he argues that Virginia soldiers continued to be motivated by the profound emotional connection between military service and the protection of home and family, even as the war dragged on.
Review
Charles Eldredge puts the 'history' back in 'art history.'
-Karal Ann Marling, University of Minnesota
Review
"A thought-compelling, quality monograph. . . . Highly recommended."
-CHOICE
Review
"A singular contribution to the debate. . . . Sensible and engaging."
-Journal of Military History
Review
"Paying refreshingly close attention to change over time, Sheehan-Dean convincingly shows that, far from fracturing the Confederacy, Union hard-war policies condensed it."
-Journal of Southern History
Review
No other scholar has deeply explored this historically rich work, one that helps us reflect upon our own era's national tragedy in Katrina-torn New Orleans.
-Wanda M. Corn, Stanford University
Review
"[A] persuasive demonstration that white Virginians did in fact support the Confederacy, and that they did so because they saw its army as the principal means by which to protect their families."
-Virginia Magazine
Review
"This well-researched, well written book is a very welcome addition to the literature on nationalism in the Confederacy."
-Journal of American History
Review
"This well-researched, well written book is a very welcome addition to the literature on nationalism in the Confederacy."
Journal of American History
Review
"A major contribution to the growing body of literature on Civil War soldiers."
-North Carolina Historical Review
Review
No other scholar has deeply explored this historically rich work, one that helps us reflect upon our own era's national tragedy in Katrina-torn New Orleans.
-Wanda M. Corn, Stanford University
Review
"Continues the ongoing debate over what inspired Confederate soldiers to fight. . . . Steer[s] us toward important new questions."
-H-Net Reviews
Review
"A careful analysis [that] should . . . supersede previous works."
-American Historical Review
Review
"A major contribution to the growing body of literature on Civil War soldiers."
North Carolina Historical Review
Review
"No other study of Civil War soldiers succeeds like
Why Confederates Fought in integrating all the dimensions of the soldier experience. . . . An immensely important book. . . . No scholar has made such important connections before, enabling Sheehan-Dean to give us a deeply humanistic view of Confederate soldiers."
--Journal of Social History "Paying refreshingly close attention to change over time, Sheehan-Dean convincingly shows that, far from fracturing the Confederacy, Union hard-war policies condensed it."
-Journal of Southern History "This study . . . rests on a statistical base that does not intrude on the fascinating narrative. . . . An essential study underlining the need for works on other states."
-Military History of the West "A major contribution to the growing body of literature on Civil War soldiers."
-North Carolina Historical Review "A careful analysis [that] should . . . supersede previous works."
-American Historical Review "A good book that should provoke further investigations into the motives of both soldiers and civilians in supporting the Confederacy."
-The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society "Sheehan-Dean's road may be the heavily traveled highway of Confederate nationalism, but his vehicle is distinctive."
-Journal of Interdisciplinary History "A fresh approach to the issues. . . . A good book raises good questions as much as it answers them. Sheehan-Dean . . . succeeds in doing both."
-On Point "A thought-compelling, quality monograph. . . . Highly Recommended."
-Choice No other scholar has deeply explored this historically rich work, one that helps us reflect upon our own era's national tragedy in Katrina-torn New Orleans.
-Wanda M. Corn, Stanford University Charles Eldredge puts the 'history' back in 'art history.'
-Karal Ann Marling, University of Minnesota "Continues the ongoing debate over what inspired Confederate soldiers to fight. . . . Steer[s] us toward important new questions."
-H-Net Reviews "This well-researched, well written book is a very welcome addition to the literature on nationalism in the Confederacy."
-Journal of American History "[A] persuasive demonstration that white Virginians did in fact support the Confederacy, and that they did so because they saw its army as the principal means by which to protect their families."
-Virginia Magazine "A thought-compelling, quality monograph. . . . Highly recommended."
-CHOICE "A singular contribution to the debate. . . . Sensible and engaging."
-Journal of Military History
About the Author
Aaron Sheehan-Dean is assistant professor of history at the University of North Florida. He is editor of Struggle for a Vast Future: The American Civil War and The View from the Ground: The Experience of Civil War Soldiers.