7 Comments

Thank you for this and I ordered it. It sounds perfect for the classroom!

Expand full comment
author

Which one did you order?

Expand full comment

"Of Age: Boy Soldiers and Military Power in the Civil War Era" is the book I ordered! I am creating a lesson plan based on Carrie Janney's book, "Ends of War" and I think this book may provide another opportunity for kids to embrace the history of the Civil War!!!

Expand full comment
author

That sounds like a great idea. There are a number of really interesting case studies of the experiences of these young men/boys and their conflicts with parents, who attempted to keep them out of the army.

Expand full comment

Interesting you write, "conflicts with parents." I was incredulous and frankly, none too happy when each of my three sons chose to enlist in the military AFTER they earned their undergraduate degrees in history. They never seemed interested in anything military, but their choice kept with something I asked of them all the time, "How are you going to serve your community?" I thought the Peace Corps. I still have one son still serving as a Navy Rescue Swimmer and one daughter-in-law serving in the Air Force. I am anxious to read this book and see if it has wisdom for me as a parent!

Expand full comment

Have you seen Ronald White's On Great Fields: The Life and Unlikely Heroism of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain? I saw him speak at Bowdoin the other day and the book looks terrific.

Expand full comment
author

My copy arrived on Tuesday. I've only had a chance to read through the preface. I am sure it's going to be very good.

Expand full comment