Soldiering with Sherman: The Civil War Letters of George F. Cram - Hardcover

Cram, George F.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0875802613 ISBN 13: 9780875802619

Publisher: Northern Illinois University Press, 2000

Synopsis

Rare among Civil War correspondence, the collection of Union Sergeant George F. Cram's letters reveals an educated young man's experiences as part of Sherman's army. Advancing through the Confederacy with the 105th Illinois Infantry Regiment, Cram engaged in a number of key conflicts, such as Resaca, Peachtree Creek, Kennesaw, and Sherman's "march to the sea."

A highly literate college student who carried a copy of Shakespeare in his knapsack, Cram wrote candid letters that convey insights into the social dimensions of America's Civil War. With a piercing objectivity, optimism, and a dry sense of humor, Cram conscientiously reported the details of camp life. His vivid depictions of the campaigns throughout Alabama, Georgia, and the Carolinas contribute new insights into the battle scenes and key Union leaders.

Cram and several of his compatriots adhered to a principled code of personal conduct (no smoking, swearing, drinking, or gambling), striving to maintain integrity and honor in the face of war's hardships and temptations. Influenced by the abolitionist values of his community and college, Cram's observations on the effects of slavery and on the poverty of many of the Southerners are especially illuminating.

Civil War scholars and general readers alike will learn much from Cram's discoveries and observations—from his sympathy for poor whites to his grudging respect for the Confederates—that reveal the character of a young man maturing at war.

About this title

About the Author

Jennifer Cain Bohrnstedt is a trustee of the California History Center Foundation, a member of the Peninsula Civil War Round Table, and an independent Civil War scholar.

Orville Vernon Burton, who provided the Introduction, is Professor of History at the University of Illinois.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

In our breastworks

May 27th, 1864 Dear Mother, I hardly know how to write there is so much of intense interest to communicate, but will begin back to May 14th and describe at random what has occurred since. At that date (Saturday) our brigade formed the 1st line of battle on the right center. The rebels in our front held a most formidable position and it was not deemed advisable by Hooker to charge them, though Genl. Ward was crazy all day to do so; so nothing but skirmishing took place during the day by us, though in our left the 14th corps were heavily engaged toward night. We slept on our arms during the night and the next morning (Sunday) started rapidly to the left where the rebels were ascertained to be massing their might. Our division was all drawn up in line on the extreme left ready for work at 12 midnight and in a few moments we learned from our commander the duty before us which was to charge the enemy's work. We had formed just beneath a hill whose protecting sides covered us from the sight of the enemy and as our regts. were being massed, an almost deathlike silence pervaded the ranks. Every man knew that in a few moments death would be at work among us and all seemed to fully realize the fact, but they all stood up like men and seemed to vie with each other in real courage. At 12 we fixed bayonets and dashed over the hill. A perfect shower of shot, shell and grape met us thinning our ranks sadly, (Tirtlot fell on the first shot) but without the least check we flew down the hill, crossed the road at the front, climbed over some breastworks the rebels had left and began the run of the hill where they were posted. The 105th was the last regt., but the two in front of us (79 Ohio and 129 Ill.) immediately laid down at the foot of this hill and our regt. ran right over them. They were behind and in among us which so mixed us up that amidst the tangled underbrush it was impossible to distinguish our lines and keep together, so it was every man for himself. (Grant, Bachelder and I managed to keep together during most of the fight.) After we had arrived nearly on the rebels, we were repulsed and driven back to the foot of the hill, (here one of our boys, John McGilfrey, was wounded by my side) but we rallied here and charging again drove them from their battery and back into their rifle pits beyond. The scene was grand and awful beyond description; a terrible sheet of lead bridged the air above us and leaden hail flew threw our ranks. Man after man went down, but no fear entered the hearts of the others. Grant, Bachelder and I laid half an hour within seven rods of the rebel rifle pits from whence a terrific shower of bullets came. A sergt. here was shot on the left and a private on the right of me. Arthur Rice was killed here, a few feet of me, but we managed at length to escape from that position and reached a place which afforded a little cover . . . The many escapes, the many acts of bravery I saw, and the thousand little things which might afford conversation a lifetime, but sufficient to say that at five o'clock we were reformed under cover of a hill and the fight ceased, we having captured four beautiful guns which our brigade threw off next morning. This description is written hurriedly for now the fight here is going on all around us and we expect every moment to be engaged. We are about 35 miles from Atlanta yet. . . . Your affectionate son George (letter from George F. Cram to his mother, excerpted from "Soldiering with Sherman.")

Edition details

• Publisher: Northern Illinois University Press
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0875802613
• ISBN 13: 9780875802619
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 238
• Editor: Burton Orville