The Southern Journey of a Civil War Marine: The Illustrated Note-Book of Henry O. Gusley (Clifton and Shirley Caldwell Texas Heritage) [Hardcover]

Edward T., Jr. Cotham (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2006 | Series: Clifton and Shirley Caldwell Texas Heritage (Book 10)

On September 28, 1863, the "Galveston Tri-Weekly News" caught its readers' attention with an item headlined 'A Yankee Note-Book.' It was the first instalment of a diary confiscated from U.S. Marine Henry O. Gusley, who had been captured at the Battle of Sabine Pass. Gusley's diary proved so popular with readers that they clamoured for more, causing the newspaper to run each excerpt twice until the whole diary was published. For many in Gusley's Confederate readership, his diary provided a rare glimpse into the opinions and feelings of an ordinary Yankeeoan enemy whom, they quickly discovered, it would be easy to regard as a friend. This book contains the complete text of Henry Gusley's Civil War diary, expertly annotated and introduced by Edward Cotham. One of the few journals that have survived from U.S. Marines who served along the Gulf Coast, it records some of the most important naval campaigns of the Civil War, including the spectacular Union success at New Orleans and the embarrassing defeats at Galveston and Sabine Pass. It also offers an unmatched portrait of daily life aboard ship. Accompanying the diary entries are previously unpublished drawings by Daniel Nestell, a doctor who served in the same flotilla and eventually on the same ship as Gusley, which depict many of the locales and events that Gusley describes. Together, Gusley's diary and Nestell's drawings are like picture postcards from the Civil Warovivid, literary, often moving dispatches from one of 'Uncle Sam's nephews in the Gulf.'

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Journals of nineteenth-century U.S. Marines are rare, and Henry Gusley's is a truly outstanding account of the shipboard experiences and observations of an enlisted marine... Edward Cotham's scholarship in the introduction and in annotating the journal is outstanding, and he has drawn on the appropriate sources. This is one of the best jobs of editing in the field." oJoseph G. Dawson III, Professor of History, Texas A &M University "I found Gusley's 'notebook' fascinating, informative, and ultimately moving... Civil War historians will find the information about the inner workings and day-to-day life aboard U.S. naval vessels patrolling the Gulf of Mexico and the major river systems of the Trans-Mississippi interior highly informative... This book should also find a popular audience. Bright, literate, constantly upbeat, and good-humored despite the many difficult circumstances he found himself in, Gusley is good company for his readers." oPatrick Kelly, Associate Professor of History, University of Texas at San Antonio

Review

Journals of nineteenth-century U.S. Marines are rare, and Henry Gusley's is a truly outstanding account of the shipboard experiences and observations of an enlisted marine.... Edward Cotham's scholarship in the introduction and in annotating the journal is outstanding, and he has drawn on the appropriate sources. This is one of the best jobs of editing in the field. (Joseph G. Dawson III, Professor of History, Texas A&M University )

Product Details

• Hardcover: 223 pages
• Publisher: University of Texas Press; annotated edition edition (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0292712839
• ISBN-13: 978-0292712836
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,974,591 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Southern Journey of a Civil War Marine, February 23, 2007

By 

David Ekardt (Tampa, Florida) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Southern Journey of a Civil War Marine: The Illustrated Note-Book of Henry O. Gusley (Clifton and Shirley Caldwell Texas Heritage) (Hardcover)

This is an excellent resource for learning about the life and duties of Marines during the Civil War. There are only a few existing personal accounts of Marines during that period. Gusley details a lot about daily shipboard life and the actions that he was involved in. Coupled with the drawings of the one of the doctors on board his ship, it makes for a good read for the history buff or the Civil War Marine or Navy re-enactor. As a former Marine and re-enactor, I highly recommend this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Yankee Marine Diary, November 5, 2006

By 

Jeffrey D. Blair (Wharton, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Southern Journey of a Civil War Marine: The Illustrated Note-Book of Henry O. Gusley (Clifton and Shirley Caldwell Texas Heritage) (Hardcover)

As other reviews have pointed out, there are loads of Civil War diaries. What makes this unique is because it is by a Marine. The Marine forces were very small compared to the Army and Navy forces of both combatants. This was particularly interesting to me as some of his travels brought him along the Texas Gulf Coast, not very far from where I live. It is obvious from his writings that Marine duty with the Navy blockades in the South could be very boring at times. I enjoyed the book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Civil War Marine, West Gulf, May 1862 - Oct 1863, June 21, 2010

By 

Michael E. Stein (Thurston County, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Southern Journey of a Civil War Marine: The Illustrated Note-Book of Henry O. Gusley (Clifton and Shirley Caldwell Texas Heritage) (Hardcover)

Pvt. Henry O. Gusley's diary from (May 1862) aboard ship USS Westfield until its loss, then the USS Clifton until its loss and his capture (Sept 1863) at Second Sabine Pass. A nice mixture of daily routine as well as the major and minor actions he participated in during his time with the West Gulf Blockade Squadron under Admiral David G. Farragut. Bugs or bullets, he gives you the flavor.