Soldiering in the Civil War

Paper Summary:

This paper reviews Catton's book which compares the characteristics of the soldiers who fought in the American Civil War to other soldiers. The main claim was that these soldiers were very young and unprofessional but highly motivated. The writer shows that the most striking difference between the Civil War soldier and those of the modern day was in their attitudes toward the army and discipline.

From the Paper:

"Known as one of America's most "popular", yet scholarly, historians, Bruce Catton (1899-1978) was the editor of American Heritage magazine and the author of several widely read books on the subject of the Civil War. His works, including this particular essay, are based on the foundations of accurate research and the ability to analyze the Civil War as both a broad, historically important event, yet also displaying an understanding of the individual, human conflicts involved. Soldiering in the Civil War is a vivid example of Catton's skill in presenting factual evidence and interesting anecdotes in a manner which allows the reader to gain an insight into the emotions, struggles and beliefs of all those who fought in the Civil War."

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