"Michael G. Mahon presents the diaries of two Winchester women, Laura Lee and Julia Chase. Mahon provides context for the diaries by introducing each chapter before juxtaposing their opposing viewpoints in order to let the women tell the story themselves. Lee, a diehard Southerner, and Chase, a firm supporter of the Union, are profiled by their own words, their diaries written at a time when the uncertainties of the violent conflict weighted heavily on the minds of the nation"--Jacket.

The meanings and practices of American citizenship were as contested during the Civil War era as they are today. By examining a variety of perspectives—from prominent lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to enslaved women, from black firemen in southern cities to Confederate émigrés in Latin America—The Civil War and the Transformation of American Citizenship offers a wide-ranging exploration of citizenship’s metamorphoses amid the extended crises of war and emancipation. Americans in the antebellum era considered citizenship, at its most basic level, as a legal status acquired through birth or naturalization, and one that offered certain rights in exchange for specific obligations. Yet throughout the Civil War period, the boundaries and consequences of what it meant to be a citizen remained in flux. At the beginning of the war, Confederates relinquished their status as U.S. citizens, only to be mostly reabsorbed as full American citizens in its aftermath. The Reconstruction years also saw African American men acquire—at least in theory—the core rights of citizenship. As these changes swept across the nation, Americans debated the parameters of citizenship, the possibility of adopting or rejecting citizenship at will, and the relative importance of political privileges, economic opportunity, and cultural belonging. Ongoing inequities between races and genders, over the course of the Civil War and in the years that followed, further shaped these contentious debates. The Civil War and the Transformation of American Citizenship reveals how war, Emancipation, and Reconstruction forced the country to rethink the concept of citizenship not only in legal and constitutional terms but also within the context of the lives of everyday Americans, from imprisoned Confederates to former slaves.

The Land of the Divided: American Civil War Collection stands as a monumental compendium of American literature, offering a panoramic view of the American Civil War through a carefully curated selection of narratives, each reflecting diverse literary styles and perspectives. Encompassing a range of genres from historical fiction to memoirs, and even journalistic accounts, this anthology presents an unmatched exploration of the era's complexities and contradictions. The collection is remarkable not only for its breadth but also for including seminal works that have shaped the American literary canon, allowing readers to witness the wars impact on both the national psyche and individual lives within different societal spheres. The chosen pieces serve as a testament to the period's rich literary fabric, woven from the threads of tragedy, valor, despair, and hope. The collaborative effort of esteemed authors like Jules Verne, Mark Twain, and Ambrose Bierce, among others, brings a diverse array of voices into a harmonious dialogue about a pivotal moment in American history. These authors, coming from varied backgrounds and holding different stakes in the civil conflict, provide a multifaceted view that enriches the collection. Their contributions reflect the zeitgeist of their times and the enduring human conditions influenced by war, capturing the nuanced essence of a divided nation. The anthology aligns with significant literary and historical movements, embedding personal narratives within the broader context of national identity and conflict. It is a critical resource for understanding the diverse literary landscapes and cultural narratives that emerged from the Civil War era. The Land of the Divided: American Civil War Collection is an indispensable anthology for scholars, students, and enthusiasts alike, offering a comprehensive and immersive journey into the heart of American civil conflict through the lens of literature. It promises not only a profound educational experience but also a deep, empathetic insight into the tumultuous period it covers. Readers are invited to traverse this literary mosaic, engaging with the voices that collectively portray the strife, resilience, and evolution of the American spirit during one of the nation's most defining trials. This collection epitomizes the power of literature to connect the past with the present, urging a reflective exploration of the themes that continue to shape the fabric of American society.

Immediately after the Civil War, white women across the South organized to retrieve the remains of Confederate soldiers. In Virginia alone, these Ladies' Memorial Associations (LMAs) relocated and reinterred the remains of more than 72,000 soldiers. Challenging the notion that southern white women were peripheral to the Lost Cause movement until the 1890s, Caroline Janney restores these women as the earliest creators and purveyors of Confederate tradition. Long before national groups such as the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and the United Daughters of the Confederacy were established, Janney shows, local LMAs were earning sympathy for defeated Confederates. Her exploration introduces new ways in which gender played a vital role in shaping the politics, culture, and society of the late nineteenth-century South.