"Union surgeon James Dana Benton witnessed firsthand the suffering and death brought about by the ghastly wounds, infections, and diseases that wreaked havoc to both the Union and Confederate armies. A native of New York, Dr. Benton penned a series of letters throughout the war to his family relating his experiences with the 111th New York Infantry as an assistant surgeon, and later with the 98th New York as surgeon. His unique correspondence, together with insights from author Chris Loperfido, coalesce to produce Death and Disease in the Civil War: A Union Surgeon's Correspondence from Harpers Ferry to Richmond. Dr. Benton was present for some of the war's most gruesome and important battles, including Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, and the siege of Petersburg. He was also present at Harpers Ferry, Second Battle of Auburn, Battle of Morton's Ford, and Abraham Lincoln's second Inaugural address. His pen offers an insightful and honest look into what everyday life was like for the surgeons who tirelessly worked to save the men who risked their lives for the preservation of the nation. Loperfido's Death and Disease in the Civil War should be read by every student of the Civil War to better understand and come to grips with what awaited the wounded and the medical teams once the generals were finished with their work"--Provided by publisher.

The 110 letters compiled in Lee's Adjutant shed light on day-to-day life at Lee's headquarters and on the general himself. Written to Taylor's fiancee and family, these letters recount the Army of Northern Virginia's early triumphs, invasions of the North, defeat at Gettysburg, the bloody struggle in the Wilderness, the siege of Petersburg, and final surrender. In them the young officer testifies to the simplicity of Lee's lifestyle as well as the gentility of his demeanor. He describes the bond that developed between himself and the general, and he discusses the furloughs, reports, dispatches, petitions, and grievances that he handled as Lee's alter ego in administrative matters.

In May 1862, Richard Henry Brooks of Blakely, Georgia, enlisted in the Confederate Army for the duration of the war, serving in Longstreet's Corps. He would see his wife and family only once in the next three years. He would suffer hardship and deprivation, become hospitalized, participate in one of the grandest Confederate victories of the war, and be captured and held prisoner for almost a year. He wrote his wife Telitha regularly. He told her repeatedly to save all his letters, which she did, and they are published in this book. These letters give considerable insight into Confederate homelife in southwest Georgia during the war. Brooks gives Telitha advice on the daily details of running the household. He tells her who to go to for help, how to obtain enough corn and pork for the winter, how to handle their slaves, and what supplies to send him in the field. He advises her on the children and directs the children to behave. These glimpses into the homelife of Confederate Georgia grant us a clearer understanding of how people far from the battlefields were still affected by the war.

"Slack's War" consists of 121 letters written from 1862 to 1865 by General James R. Slack, 47th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, to his wife, Ann. Slack's letters span the entire length of his service and include not only his commentary on all the events and battles he participated in (New Madrid, the White River and Yazoo Pass Expeditions, Grant's March, Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Vicksburg, Jackson, the Bayou Teche and Red River Campaigns, Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, New Orleans, and Mobile), but also his commentary on the Indiana home front and the Indiana Treason Trials, life in the occupied Mississippi Valley, life in occupied Mobile and Spring Hill, Alabama, and postwar service at Brazos Santiago Island and Brownsville, Texas. The Indiana State Library (ISL) permitted use of only one-half of the James R. Slack inventory and these letters, transcribed verbatim by the editor, comprise the half he selected from the ISL's annotated bibliography. Excerpts of some of Slack's letters appear in his book, "The 47th Indiana Volunteer Infantry: A Civil War History," Jefferson, NC, and London: McFarland & Company, Publishers, 2012. ------------------------------------------------------------------