For Cause and Comrades

Why Men Fought in the Civil War

By: James M. McPherson

Narrated by: David Colacci

General John A. Wickham, commander of the famous 101st Airborne Division in the 1970s and subsequently Army Chief of Staff, once visited Antietam battlefield. Gazing at Bloody Lane where, in 1862, several Union assaults were brutally repulsed before they finally broke through, he marveled, "You couldn't get American soldiers today to make an attack like that." Why did those men risk certain death, through countless bloody battles and four long, awful years? Why did the conventional wisdom - that soldiers become increasingly cynical and disillusioned as war progresses - not hold true in the Civil War?

It is to this question - why did they fight - that James McPherson now turns his attention. He shows that, contrary to what many scholars believe, the soldiers of the Civil War remained powerfully convinced of the ideals for which they fought throughout the conflict. Motivated by duty and honor, and often by religious faith, these men wrote frequently of their firm belief in the cause for which they fought: the principles of liberty, freedom, justice, and patriotism.

McPherson draws on more than 25,000 letters and nearly 250 private diaries from men on both sides. For Cause and Comrades lets these soldiers tell their own stories in their own words to create an account that is both deeply moving and far truer than most books on war.

©1997 Oxford University Press, Inc. (P)2020 Tantor

Slavery tied to southern motives

I wish it was done more chronologically. It was interesting that to wards the end the south was arguing over enlistment of blacks and how racism raised its ugly head. I wish I knew why my two great grandfathers fought - one for the union, but only one year - fought at Antietam and Chancellorsville. The other for confederate forces and was mortally wounded at Chancellorsville - his only son married the daughter of the other when he moved to Indiana. Some of the Union soldiers family moved to Alabama as I assume as carpet baggers.

Great POV from Americas greatest epic

Hear the story if the men who fought the war. No punches pulled in this one

Hear it from the soldiers themselves

Outstanding book. I don't believe there is a better way to understand the Civil War than to hear it from the soldiers who fought and died. James McPherson provides an in depth, personal and critical look at the motivations and drive of the soldiers on both sides. It is remarkable to hear soldiers speak of why they continued to fight through such a terrible conflict. I highly recommend it to anyone even remotely interested in the U.S Civil War or U.S. history.

True

The words of our forefathers whether one agrees with their sentiments or not. What was as it was then, rather than what was along with the judgments and biases of today. History as it was. Good, bad, honorable, ugly.

Great Book!

This is a really great book if you have to write a book review for a U.S. Military class. It's very interesting and I love how James M. McPherson uses letters and diaries from Confederate and Union soldiers. I learned a lot throughout the book.