Union Veterans And Their Unending Civil War

The American Civil War was undoubtedly one of the most significant events in the history of the United States. Lasting from 1861 to 1865, it pitted the Confederate States of America against the Union, a group of states that remained within the United States of America. The war claimed the lives of thousands of soldiers and civilians and left a lasting impact on the country as a whole. However, for Union veterans, the effects of the Civil War did not end when the final shots were fired and the Confederate armies surrendered.

The Aftermath of the Civil War

The end of the Civil War marked a turning point for Union veterans. While their Southern counterparts faced the arduous task of rebuilding their lives and communities, Union veterans returned to a nation that was forever changed by the conflict. Despite their victory, many veterans found themselves struggling to reintegrate into society. The trauma they had witnessed on the battlefield, coupled with the loss of comrades, had a profound impact on their mental and emotional well-being.

Additionally, Union veterans faced challenges in the post-war job market. Many industries had been completely transformed by the war, and returning soldiers often found themselves competing with newly freed slaves for employment opportunities. This economic uncertainty added to the difficulties that Union veterans faced as they tried to establish a new life after the war.

Marching Home: Union Veterans and Their Unending Civil War

by Brian Matthew Jordan(Illustrated Edition, Kindle Edition)

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5617 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	395 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

Continued Friction

The end of the Civil War may have been a military victory for the Union, but it did not bring an end to the ideological differences that had fueled the conflict in the first place. Union veterans found themselves still grappling with the same issues that had divided the nation and led to war. Whether it was the fight for civil rights, the question of states' rights, or the ongoing debate over the role of the federal government, the issues that had divided the country during the war continued to have a lasting impact on Union veterans.

The Fight for Recognition

Despite their sacrifices and contributions to the war effort, Union veterans often found themselves overlooked and undervalued in the years following the conflict. While the South celebrated its Confederate heroes and erected monuments in their honor, Union veterans struggled to find the same level of recognition. This lack of acknowledgment only added to the ongoing sense of frustration and disillusionment felt by many Union veterans.

Union veterans and their families formed various organizations and associations in an attempt to secure their place in history. These groups lobbied for pensions, established memorial sites, and fought for public support and recognition. While their efforts were not always successful, they played a crucial role in ensuring that the sacrifices of Union veterans were not forgotten.

The Legacy of Union Veterans

The impact of the Civil War and the experiences of Union veterans can still be felt today. The fight for civil rights, the ongoing debate over the balance of power between state and federal governments, and the struggle for recognition and acknowledgment are all issues that continue to shape American society. While the physical scars of the Civil War may have faded, the legacy of Union veterans lives on.

It is important to remember and honor the sacrifices of Union veterans, not only for their contributions to the Union's victory but also for the lasting impact they had on American society. Their stories serve as a reminder of the complex and enduring nature of the Civil War and the ongoing challenges faced by those who have served in the armed forces.

Marching Home: Union Veterans and Their Unending Civil War

by Brian Matthew Jordan(Illustrated Edition, Kindle Edition)

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5617 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	395 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History

Winner of the Gov. John Andrew Award (Union Club of Boston)

An acclaimed, groundbreaking, and “powerful exploration” (Washington Post) of the fate of Union veterans, who won the war but couldn’t bear the peace.

For well over a century, traditional Civil War histories have concluded in 1865, with a bitterly won peace and Union soldiers returning triumphantly home. In a landmark work that challenges sterilized portraits accepted for generations, Civil War historian Brian Matthew Jordan creates an entirely new narrative. These veterans— tending rotting wounds, battling alcoholism, campaigning for paltry pensions— tragically realized that they stood as unwelcome reminders to a new America eager to heal, forget, and embrace the freewheeling bounty of the Gilded Age. Mining previously untapped archives, Jordan uncovers anguished letters and diaries, essays by amputees, and gruesome medical reports, all deeply revealing of the American psyche.

In the model of twenty-first-century histories like Drew Gilpin Faust’s This Republic of Suffering or Maya Jasanoff ’s Liberty’s Exiles that illuminate the plight of the common man, Marching Home makes almost unbearably personal the rage and regret of Union veterans. Their untold stories are critically relevant today.