The bond of citizenship earned during the Civil War When curator Diana L. Dretske discovered that the five long-gone Union soldiers in a treasured photograph in the Bess Bower Dunn Museum were not fully identified, it compelled her into a project of recovery and reinterpretation. Utilizing an impressive array of local and national archives, as well as private papers, the author's microhistorical approach records events that often go unnoticed, such as a farmer enlisting in the middle of a crop field, a sister searching her brother's face for signs of war, and an immigrant dying in an effort to become a good American citizen. This book, the most intensive examination of the 96th Illinois Volunteer Infantry since the regiment's history was published in 1887 centers on immigrants from the British Isles who wished to be citizens of a country at war with itself. Far removed from their native homelands, they found new promise in rural Illinois. These men, neighbors along the quiet Stateline Road in Lake County, decide to join the fighting at its most dangerous hour. The bonds of war become then the bonds of their new national identity. The Bonds of War uncovers the common soldier from the cataclysm that is the American Civil War by offering a collective biography of five soldiers of the 96th in the Western Theater. The human drama of their lives unfolds before the reader on battlefields such as Chickamauga and within the high pine stockades of Andersonville. Their lives argue that those who seem to matter least in military history are the very ones who can tell us the most about the experience of war and the reasons for remembering.

The book examines the impact of the Civil War on Quincy, Illinois. Quincy, in 1860 the third largest city in Illinois, is situated on the Mississippi River across from slave state Missouri, thus exposing it to the uncertainties and potential strife of a border region. Quincy entered the war with a rich tradition of providing influential political leaders. In 1860 Quincyan John Wood was the governor of Illinois and the Democrat Stephen A. Douglas, during his first two congressional terms, recognized Quincy as his home district. Quincy had the distinction of providing two U.S. Senators during the war, Orville Hickman Browning and William Richardson. Quincy served as a muster and training site for both white and black troops. Some of the latter served for Massachusetts, and the 29th U.S. Colored regiment trained at Quincy and, after moving out, fought the Battle of the Crater at Petersburg, Virginia in July 1864. In addition, Quincy served as a port of entry for blacks fleeing the South in the aftermath of the Emancipation Proclamation. The city experienced discord related to the influx, but also a measure of altruism appeared among some dedicated to helping blacks make the challenging transition from slavery. Women of Quincy banded together in three organizations designed to serve the needs of Soldiers and their dependents. Economically, the city experienced an early downturn, but rebounded strongly to achieve growth during the war. Quincy and its hinterland in northeast Missouri strove mightily to restrain friction so as to protect the economic vitality of the region.

The book covers the long-forgotten history of Lake County, Illinois. The period takes place mainly in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The first chapter tells the story of Robert Dady. Starting with nothing and never learning to read or write, Robert would become the largest landowner in the county. His daughter, Nellie Conrad, became one of Waukegan’s most successful businesswomen. She built the Times Theater, Roller Rink, two subdivisions, plus miscellaneous other real estate ventures. The next chapters concern Lake County violence in the form of fights, mobs, and riots. Most kinds of violence were common and accepted in society. Penalties were light for all but the worst crimes. Ethnic Lake County and North Chicago follows. Profiles for the various ethnic groups are covered. The area had Albanians, Armenians, Blacks, Bulgarians/Macedonians, Croatians, Czechs, Danes, Finns, Germans, Greeks, Irish, Italians, Jews, Lithuanians, Poles, Romanians, Russians, Slovaks, Slovenes, and Turks. Next are stories about Lake County men who overcame adversity. Most had little education and not many prospects. They overcame it all and became successful men in their communities. Famous Lake County women follow the men. These women had an impact on a number of county affairs. One Lake County woman was the first woman to vote in the state. The Lake County Historical Society is named after one of the county’s most influential women. The next chapter concerns Lake County women acting badly. Some Lake County women were anything but meek, and the reader might be surprised at just how violent some of them actually were. None of the county’s women could keep up with Lake County’s all-time worst woman. The next chapter tells the story of the Bender family. The Benders lived in the country for a time but were sent packing because of their detestable ways. They soon settled in Kansas and became one of the most famous serial killers in American history. Kate bender was the brains of the whole operation. The book finishes up with miscellaneous stories about Lake County men and women. Some of the stories covered include Lake County’s lynching record, hermits, gypsies, women farmers, and Lake County’s strongest man. Also included is the Fats baseball team. The Fats played baseball in the county a number of times and sported a 640- pound first baseman. Located in the ethnic Jewish profile is the story of Meyer Kubelsky, father of comedian Jack Benny. Jack Benny is Waukegan’s favorite son but not so much Meyer.