New Jerseyans in the Civil War: For Union and Liberty (Rivergate Book) [Hardcover]

William J. Jackson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2000 | Series: Rivergate Book

"A holistic account of New Jersey's role in the Civil War, throwing light on the state's social divisions before and during the conflict . . . New Jerseyans may have been divided about the great issues of the Civil War, but historians should decidedly appreciate this useful study."-The Journal of American History "Jackson has written a broad overview of New Jersey's participation in the Civil War. . . . Whether looking at the armies in the field or the folks at home, one theme recurs: New Jersey's painful struggle with the issues of race and slavery. It is the thoughtful treatment of this larger [slavery] issue that makes this an especially appropriate choice."-Choice The Civil War divided New Jersey just as it did the nation. As a small state sandwiched between two large and powerful neighbors, New Jersey had always enthusiastically supported the creation of a strong central government. On the other hand, many New Jersey citizens did not share the anti-slavery sentiments of the North; they supported property rights of slave owners and believed in the natural inferiority of blacks. Subsequently, when southern states began to secede from the Union to form the Confederacy, New Jerseyans were left divided and confused. William J. Jackson examines the ironies, paradoxes, and contradictions that characterized New Jersey's unique historical role in the war. This is the only book to incorporate social and political history with that of military history and strategy. Civil War aficionados and historians will also welcome Jackson's analysis of the participation of New Jersey African Americans on the home front and in the military. William J. Jackson taught history at The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey from 1966 to 1994. Since his retirement, he has led courses on the Civil War in Elderhostel and the ILEAD program at Dartmouth College.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Second new Jersey Brigade helped save the day for the Union... Joseph Hooker led the 5th and 6th regiments in a charge that stopped the Confederate advance and resulted in the standoff in the battle..." -- From "New Jerseyans in the Civil War"

"William Jackson has given us a lucid, valuable account that integrates New Jersey politics and war production on the home form with the important contribution ..." -- James McPherson, author of "Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era."

From the Inside Flap

The Civil War divided New Jersey just as it did the nation. As a small state sandwiched between two large and powerful neighbors, New Jersey had always enthusiastically supported the creation of a strong central government. On the other hand, many New Jersey citizens did not share the anti-slavery sentiments of the North; they supported property rights of slave owners and believed in the natural inferiority of blacks. Subsequently, when southern states began to secede from the Union to form the Confederacy, New Jerseyans were left divided and confused.

William J. Jackson examines the ironies, paradoxes, and contradictions that characterized New Jersey's unique historical role in the war. His book is the first to examine the role this state played in context of the entire Civil War. It is also the only book to incorporate social and political history with that of military history and issues. Civil War aficionados and historians will welcome Jackson's analysis of the participation of New Jersey African Americans on the home front and in the military- an important and much-needed, part of the book.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press; First Edition edition (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813527759
• ISBN-13: 978-0813527758
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,480,460 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent study of New Jersey's role in the Civil War-, May 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: New Jerseyans in the Civil War: For Union and Liberty (Rivergate Book) (Hardcover)

New Jerseyans in the Civil War is a readable and enjoyable study of New Jersey's role in the Civil War. The author's major theme is how the influence of popular attitude regarding race and slavery, evolving out of the state's history, conditioned its ambivilence towards the war. The author asserts that persistent, strident criticism of the conduct of war and its purposes, put New Jersey out of step with the rest of the northern states. Readers will find the book to be interesting not only for its focus on the state's unique role in the war, but as a microcosm of the causes of the Civil War, and its impact.

3.0 out of 5 stars historical resources versus "a good read", June 22, 2011

By 

Joann Wright "booklover" (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: New Jerseyans in the Civil War: For Union and Liberty (Paperback)

Having taken a graduate degree of my own, I am well aware of how academia cripples the creative spirit in the way it teaches us to write. I was hoping for something more "narrative" in the style for example of Jeff Schaara or Shelby Foote, but this is more of that pedantic and factual material that you put on your shelf for a reference work but can't really read. I put it down and returned to Shelby Foote and Mary Chestnut to read about the war, though I had great hopes for this book since one of my ancestors was in the 38th NJ Volunteers. I would have liked to read about the calling up of the young men and their expeirences thereafter. I love history, but I already see how fear of making a mistake or getting criicized or called up by 'experts' makes poor story tellers of historians.