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

Jennifer Cain Bohrnstedt

ISBN 10: 0875802613 / ISBN 13: 9780875802619

Published by Cornell University Press Aug 2000, 2000

About this Item

Neuware - -- Sergeant George Cram's letters unveil a young man's reflections as he advances with Sherman's army through the Confederacy. With the 105th Illinois Infantry Regiment Volunteers, Cram -- a highly literate college student who carried a copy of Shakespeare in his knapsack -- vividly recounts spectacles of bloodshed, hardship, and campsite camaraderie.

Seller Inventory # 9780875802619

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Soldiering with Sherman : The Civil War Letters of George F. Cram
• Publisher: Cornell University Press Aug 2000
• Publication Date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0875802613
• ISBN 13: 9780875802619
• Binding: Buch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 229W x 152H x 24D millimeters 229 millimeters width by 152 millimeters height by 24 millimeters depth
• Weight: 907 grams

About this title

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 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.