All For The Union: The Civil War Diary and Letters of Elisha Hunt Rhodes (1985 original; edició 1991)

Interesting diary following a young man's experiences during the Civil War as he moves from a private to an officer. Gives personal experiences of the war and some of the politics of the time. ( )

Rhodes is a charming model citizen and soldier. He captures the war experience better than some literary figures with his modesty, faith, and writing ability. I can see why he featured so highly in PBS' narrative research, and why this diary has become so important in the Civil War annals. One thing I didn't get out of this book, that I was hoping to, was some exposition about the cause of the north. Rhodes uses phrases like "it is all for the Union" and "a belief that our cause will prevail" without ever detailing what their cause, or his, personally, actually was. I find it odd that a young, passionate man would feel the urge to enlist in a war effort without once in four years penning his exact motivations for enlisting. Four years' worth of fighting, witnessing a tragic loss of life, interacting with civilians on both sides never moved him to express, from his point of view, what separated a Unionist from a Confederate. Perhaps an expression of emotion would have been seen as inappropriate or misplaced, or perhaps he saw himself as a recorder of events, an impartial observer. At any rate, I hope to read other books that shed light on what the war was all about from a personal, rather than political point of view. Rhodes' best passages were toward the end, when the war was winding down and emotions of joy and gratitude and victory were running highest. I especially liked the pages he penned during his time in Winchester, VA. Here is where we saw a little more of Rhodes the gentleman and civic officer, less the muddy soldier. ( )

Hunt, born in Pawtuxet, Rhode Island, enlisted as a 19 year old private in June, 1861. He served for four years in the 2nd Rhode Island Volunteers, finishing the war as lieutenant colonel, commanding the regiment. The book is a collection of his diary and letters, combined into one easily readable volume. It's notable mainly for views of the every day soldier in the Civil War--on saving the Union, freeing the slaves, the secession, and religious expression (and its lack) in his regiment and among his friends in the Army.

The 2nd Rhode Island participated in or was present for every single major battle of the Army of the Potomac from 1st Bull Run to Appomatox Court House. While there are some excellent descriptions of individual engagements within larger battles, as might be expected, there are no lengthy descriptions of the major battles themselves.

The prose is literate and very straightforward; he is not a literary figure. But perhaps for that very reason, his diary and letters are fascinating because they are the record of the thoughts and feelings of the everyday soldier caught up in the horrendous carnage of the American Civil War.

Details of camp life, drill, parade, reviews make up the major part of the writings, offsetting the descriptions of fighting. camp life could be entertaining as well as boring; Rhodes gives an excellent view.

The book was made justifiably famous by the PBS Series, The Civil War. ( )