Customer Reviews

Killed in Action: Eyewitness Accounts of the Last Moments of 100 Union Soldiers Who Died at Gettysburg

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There are many books written on the American Civil War. They address the leaders, the battles, the statistics, the politics and the individual struggles. Until now, however, the personal accounts of those who witnesses the last moments of many a brave soldier has gone unpublished. Here, in these pages, are the tales and tragedies of many poor Americans who's personal efforts might have gone forgoten if not for the lasting impressions they left upon those who cared for them. Stories from nurses, best friends, commanders, all attest to the bravery and devotion these men possessed. Here are the stories of men who's lives where smashed by the minie ball, doused by the cannon's belch and torn by the lack of adequete medical knowledge. Here is a book that will vividly inform it's readers of the true finality of war.

This book is a valuable addition to any Civil War library. Chronologically ordered, it recounts the deaths of Union officers and men from wounds received at Gettysburg.

The title is mildly misleading. Many of the soldiers referenced died of wounds in the month after the battle. This in no way minimizes their sacrifice, but these are not exclusively eyewitnesses accounts of soldiers immediately KIA.

One of the more intriguing aspects of the book is the presentation of letters to next of kin by commanding officers and fellow soldiers. Those letters reflect the ethos of the Civil War soldier, as well as the diction and eloquence of a more gracious age. Contrast the poignant sense of loss and appreciation reflected in those letters with the sterile form letter-notification of the 20th Century.

A companion piece from the Confederate side would be a valuable accompaniment to this scholarly work.