What was it like living in a small sleepy Southern town when the
war suddenly arrived on the doorstep 150 years ago? Th ese are the
stories of residents from various walks of life, and the struggles
they face as the Union's Peninsula Campaign deploys forces to Fort
Monroe, engages just east of Williamsburg, then continues, 'On to
Richmond ' as their battle cry went. For example,
-William & Mary students, like Th omas Barlow, face
life-changing decisions: to return home, or enlist with his
classmates? Some of them would become heroes, but many more
casualties.
-Slaves, like W.B. Nelson, must decide as well: should he remain
with his master or runaway? While some remain, many become
'contrabands, ' and later freedmen, and 'colored troops.'
-Politicians, like Benjamin Butler of Boston, are given the rank
of Major General despite the lack of any military experience, while
General George B. McClellan, who despised President Lincoln and
Washington politics, later runs for national offi ce. Neither
transformation is particularly successful."
-Williamsburg residents, like shopkeeper William W. Vest and
family must decide between fl eeing as refugees, or staying, like
William Peachy, lawyer, to endure Federal occupation.
-Williamsburg's women, like Letitia Tyler Semple, lead efforts
to improve soldier medical care, opening their homes to thousands
of wounded. Others, like Mary Payne, persevere to be at her
husband's bedside, while Miss Margaret Durfey falls in love with
her patient.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!