Story the Soldiers Wouldn't Tell: Sex in the Civil War [Hardcover]

Thomas P. Lowry M.D. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1994

First book to cover all aspects of sexuality during the Civil War. Based on area original sources, including the soldiers' jokes, songs, letters, and diaries.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Using primary documents as well as standard historical works (e.g., Douglas Southall Freeman's biographies of Civil War leaders), Lowry, a physician and medical historian, weaves a fascinating history of a little-discussed aspect (sex) of a much-discussed subject (the Civil War). Beginning with the icons of the war, Lowry notes that the reputation of such saintlike figures as Lincoln, Lee, and Stonewall Jackson is well deserved. However, the rank and file present quite another story, and Lowry tells it in an easy, armchair-style prose that is well documented with letters, diaries, court records, and other primary evidence. From camp followers to gay lovers to vulgar language, Lowry examines Civil War-era sex from every conceivable angle. Recommended for public libraries and as ancillary reading in academic libraries where Civil War materials are collected.
William Emory Buchanan, Clarion Univ., Pa.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Revisionist sexual history is commonly overloaded with jargon and psychobabble, and it often erects a ponderous structure of didactic theory on a slender foundation of data. Lowry commits neither of these faults and, in addition, exhibits great erudition and even wit. Drawing on a wide variety of primary sources--from letters that escaped the censoriousness of their writers' descendants to court-martial reports, prostitutes' diaries, and the modest remaining examples of very immodest Victorian erotica--Lowry argues that, in spite of Victorian mores, a thoroughly normal amount of sexual activity went on under the covers and in other places during the war. Rape may have been rare, but sexual activity was as universal as ever. Readers of this book will have fun, too. Roland Green

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Stackpole Books (June 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811715159
• ISBN-13: 978-0811715157
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #241,881 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am a product of northern California -- beaches, high Sierras, high school in the East Bay, plane spotting in World War II, seven years at Stanford. Starting in 1957, I was a physician and psychiatrist -- an always interesting life -- in California and New Mexico, publishing several very dull medical books. Around 1995, with my wife Beverly, we began reading the Civil War records of misbehavior at the National Archives. Just like today's tabloids, only wilder. We found that high school history left out all the interesting stuff.

As you can see from my titles, I don't do battles or famous generals or comment on grand strategy. We do "human interest" stories (all true) of men terrified in combat, of women who miss having their men in bed, of abused horses, of loyal friends, of political conniptions, and of the surpringly ubiquity of prostitution. And little byways: Was Lincoln gay? Why were so many of his bodyguards drunks? Was Robert E. Lee's favorite ranger just a horse thief?

So, I retired from scuba diving (damaged ears), and from medicine (forty years is enough), and I'm having a great time. About my books -- I don't think you'll find a boring one.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Dark Side of the Ledger, July 25, 2001

By 

R. A Forczyk (MD, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Story the Soldiers Wouldn't Tell: Sex in the Civil War (Hardcover)

Thomas P. Lowry, a physician with an interest in history, seeks to dispel the common perception that the American Civil War was fought by sublime marble figures on horseback. In large part he succeeds, but only by way of over-kill on the seemly side. Indeed, some readers may walk away from this book convinced that the War Between the States was fought entirely by drunken, insubordinate, gambling prostitute-chasers.

The book consists of 17 short chapters, each covering a short topic that forms part of the author's tapestry. Chapters include topics such as officer misconduct, court martials, rape, VD and prostitution, all in relation to army units. The author does make some valid points here that are supported by documentary evidence, such as the high VD rates in the Union army that probably had an operational impact. While deaths from VD were not an immediate issue, up to 25% or more of soldiers in some units were debilitated. The units that were hardest hit by this disease were those that were stationed for prolonged periods of time near cities, rather than combat units in the field that had low rates. Although the evidence on the Southern side is weaker, apparently the Confederate army had lower VD rates since more of their forces remained in the field for longer periods. However, on most subjects the author's evidence is fragmentary, based on hospital returns and provost martial records.

Other parts of this book are based on scraps of diaries, letters and other wartime bric-a-brac. At times the author is overly-salacious and tends toward gossipy assertions, such as President Lincoln's relationship with a former male law partner. Another chapter on religious scandals involves two chaplains and is not very germane to this account. Overall, historians might find this book interesting for shedding some light on the darker corners of the Civil War, particularly in reference to certain individuals such as Major General Judson Kilpatrick and Major General Joseph Hooker. Military readers might appreciate the information concerning the impact of disease on troop discipline and morale. However, the book is rather superficial and includes no appendices or supporting data. Some of the depiction of events, such as Daniel Sickle's role at Gettysburg is inaccurate, where the author claims, "in a few hours, half his corps was dead or wounded." In fact, Sickles' 3rd Corps suffered 35% losses in the entire three days at Gettysburg. Readers should treat other passages with equal circumspection.

51 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars After the last page, too many questions still remain!, July 6, 2000

By 

Connie Boone - See all my reviews

This review is from: Story the Soldiers Wouldn't Tell: Sex in the Civil War (Hardcover)

I'm awarding one star for the title, one star for the subject and one for effort. My problem is I become impatient with an author who leaves me with more questions than answers.

As a young girl, I loved history. Unfortunately, every time I asked an earthy question such as what did women do for their personal needs or what were houses of ill repute, I was snarled at, lied to or just ignored. My knee jerk reaction has been to search for truthful answers to *all* my questions about the past especially in the realm of human nature.

Naturally when I saw The Story the Soldiers Wouldn't Tell, I immediately grabbed it. Unfortunately, while the book had excellent moments and the prose is good, it was over-all a disappointment. Dr. Lowry successfully titillated, but unsuccessfully answered the titillating questions he brought up.

For instance Dr. Lowry sites a lot of data concerning a variety of sexual dilemmas such as rape, venereal disease and prostitution. I am keenly interested in both learning and understanding these offenses particularly within the context of the Civil War. In my opinion however, his efforts were weak and lacked even a cursory analysis.

In the area of rape for instance, he provided the nitty gritty of several reported episodes and subsequent trials. Yet he never touched on the army's attitude towards these crimes or the prevailing cultural climate. The stories were left treading water in mid-stream. Did a `boys will be boys' environment condone rape? How did the ordinary soldier feel about this crime against women? Were the women blamed as having somehow invited attack? If rape was as rare as he suggests, why? Even if Dr. Lowry couldn't solve these mysteries, I would have appreciated his acknowledgement that the questions exist.

The same was true when he discussed venereal diseases. He reported the horrific devastation and some of the customary remedies, but never indicated whether any of the unpronounceable potions had any medicinal value. It seems to me as both a medical and psychiatric doctor; he is uniquely equipped to provide a cogent explanation of these curatives. Was there any prevention? Did any of the medicines work? How did loved ones treat the men? Did they take their diseases back home? How did the army deal with this pervasive problem?

I am not sorry I purchased or read the book, only disappointed it wasn't as professional and complete as I had hoped.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very informative book about a taboo subject., December 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Story the Soldiers Wouldn't Tell: Sex in the Civil War (Hardcover)

Mr. Lowry's book deals with sex and the role it played amongst the performers in the Civil War. Although sex is usually left out of the history books, its prevalence in every day Civil War life makes it hard to believe that a book like this hasn't already been written. This book serves as a good introduction to sex in the Civil War but at times it feels as though some the meat and potatoes have been left out. I enjoyed the book, though, and would recommend it to any fan of history (or sex).