The Prairie Boys Go to War : The Fifth Illinois Cavalry, 1861-1865
Book Details
Format
Paperback / Softback
ISBN-10
080933822X
ISBN-13
9780809338221
Publisher
Southern Illinois University Press
Imprint
Southern Illinois University Press
Country of Manufacture
US
Country of Publication
GB
Publication Date
Dec 30th, 2020
Print length
330 Pages
Weight
439 grams
Dimensions
22.90 x 15.20 x 3.20 cms
Ksh 3,600.00
Werezi Extended Catalogue
0 in stock
Delivery Location
Delivery fee: Select location
Secure
Quality
Fast
The Fifth Illinois Cavalry has remained obscure despite participating in some of the most important campaigns in Arkansas and Mississippi in the US Civil War. In this pioneering examination of that understudied regiment, Rhonda Kohl offers the only modern, comprehensive analysis of a southern Illinois regiment during the Civil War.
Cavalry units from Midwestern states remain largely absent from Civil War literature, and what little has been written largely overlooks the individual men who served. The Fifth Illinois Cavalry has thus remained obscure despite participating in some of the most important campaigns in Arkansas and Mississippi. In this pioneering examination of that understudied regiment, Rhonda M. Kohl offers the only modern, comprehensive analysis of a southern Illinois regiment during the Civil War and combines well-documented military history with a cultural analysis of the men who served in the Fifth Illinois.
The regiment’s history unfolds around major events in the Western Theater from 1861 to September 1865, including campaigns at Helena, Vicksburg, Jackson, and Meridian, as well as numerous little-known skirmishes. Although they were led almost exclusively by Northern-born Republicans, the majority of the soldiers in the Fifth Illinois remained Democrats. As Kohl demonstrates, politics, economics, education, social values, and racism separated the line officers from the common soldiers, and the internal friction caused by these cultural disparities led to poor leadership, low morale, disciplinary problems, and rampant alcoholism.
The narrative pulls the Fifth Illinois out of historical oblivion, elucidating the highs and lows of the soldiers’ service as well as their changing attitudes toward war goals, religion, liberty, commanding generals, Copperheads, and alcoholism. By reconstructing the cultural context of Fifth Illinois soldiers, Prairie Boys Go to War reveals how social and economic traditions can shape the wartime experience.
The regiment’s history unfolds around major events in the Western Theater from 1861 to September 1865, including campaigns at Helena, Vicksburg, Jackson, and Meridian, as well as numerous little-known skirmishes. Although they were led almost exclusively by Northern-born Republicans, the majority of the soldiers in the Fifth Illinois remained Democrats. As Kohl demonstrates, politics, economics, education, social values, and racism separated the line officers from the common soldiers, and the internal friction caused by these cultural disparities led to poor leadership, low morale, disciplinary problems, and rampant alcoholism.
The narrative pulls the Fifth Illinois out of historical oblivion, elucidating the highs and lows of the soldiers’ service as well as their changing attitudes toward war goals, religion, liberty, commanding generals, Copperheads, and alcoholism. By reconstructing the cultural context of Fifth Illinois soldiers, Prairie Boys Go to War reveals how social and economic traditions can shape the wartime experience.
Get The Prairie Boys Go to War by at the best price and quality guaranteed only at Werezi Africa's largest book ecommerce store. The book was published by Southern Illinois University Press and it has pages.
