Your Brother in Arms

A Union Soldier's Odyssey (Shades of Blue and Gray, Book 1)

De: Robert C. Plumb

Narrado por: Doug McDonald

George P. McClelland, a member of the 155th Pennsylvania Infantry in the Civil War, witnessed some of the war’s most pivotal battles during his two and a half years of Union service. Death and destruction surrounded this young soldier, who endured the challenges of front line combat in the conflict Lincoln called “the fiery trial through which we pass”. Throughout his time at war, McClelland wrote to his family, keeping them abreast of his whereabouts and aware of the harrowing experiences he endured in battle. McClelland’s letters offer fresh insights into camp life, battlefield conditions, perceptions of key leaders, and the mindset of a young man who faced the prospect of death nearly every day of his service.

Your Brother in Arms follows McClelland through his Civil War odyssey, from his enlistment in Pittsburgh in the summer of 1862 and his journey to Washington and march to Antietam, followed by his encounters in a succession of critical battles: Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Spotsylvania Court House, the North Anna River, Petersburg, and Five Forks, Virginia, where he was gravely injured.

Beating the odds of Civil War treatment, McClelland recovered from his injury at Five Forks and was discharged as a brevet-major in 1865 - a rank bestowed on leaders who show bravery in the face of enemy fire. He was a common soldier who performed uncommon service, and the 42 documents he and his family left behind now provide the opportunity to know the war from his perspective.

The book is published by University of Missouri Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

©2013 The Curators of the University of Missouri (P)2020 Redwood Audiobooks

This book helped bring the Civil War to Life

I love history so I enjoyed this book. I would have given it 5 stars except there were areas which did bore me some. I guess I expected more letters from soldiers than what was actually in this book telling of their experiences during this time. That said, I really found the letters interesting that are included. To hear a letter from 182-1865 describing the weather, the scene around the soldier first thing in the morning when he wakes up with the sun beaming on his face, the birds chirping and the woods all around him.... that brings the civil war to life! It was interesting to hear that as soon as darkness fell, all fighting stopped. Men went to sleep except those on watch on both sides. If only it was still this way. To hear just how awful scenes on the battlefield were, the stench, the sounds of the men hurt and not being able to help them. I hadn't realized this but it sounds like both sides allowed the other side time to check the battlefield for dead, dying and wounded so they could recover them all but sometimes they could be mean and say, "No!"

Listening to real letters from real soldiers really brought the Civil War to Life way better than any movie or documentary ever can. You hear the situation in their own words, not a made up storyline.