Relive the Civil War through a frontline voice
This volume compiles Rutherford B.
Hayes’s diary entries and letters from 1861–1865, offering a vivid, personal window into the early days of secession, the march of armies, and the shifting tides of the war. The pages capture day-to-day thoughts, battlefield updates, and intimate correspondence that reveal a leader in the making and a nation in upheaval.
Written in a clear, approachable voice, the diary traces Hayes’s evolving views on union, strategy, and peace, while his letters to family and friends provide rare glimpses of life on the move, the anxieties of war, and moments of personal connection amid national crisis. This edition preserves the immediacy and humanity of a man who would later become a key American figure.
- Firsthand observations of key campaigns and political crises of 1861–1865
- Personal letters and diary entries that illuminate daily life during the war
- Historical context blended with warm family communication and humor
- A focused look at the ideas, doubts, and resolve that shaped a future president
Ideal for readers of Civil War history and presidential biographies seeking a grounded, human perspective on the war years.
RUTHERFORD BIRCHARD HAYES DIARY AND LETTERS OF RUTHERFORD BIRCHARD HAYES DIARY AND LETTERS OF RUTHERFORD BIRCHARD HAYES