Sing Not War

The Lives of Union and Confederate Veterans in Gilded Age America

By James Marten | Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

About the book

After the Civil War, white Confederate and Union army veterans reentered — or struggled to reenter — the lives and communities they had left behind. In Sing Not War, James Marten explores how the nineteenth century’s “Greatest Generation” attempted to blend back into society and how their experiences were treated by nonveterans.

Many soldiers, Marten reveals, had a much harder time reintegrating into their communities and returning to their civilian lives than has been previously understood. Although Civil War veterans were generally well taken care of during the Gilded Age, Marten argues that veterans lost control of their legacies, becoming best remembered as others wanted to remember them — for their service in the war and their postwar political activities. Marten finds that while southern veterans were venerated for their service to the Confederacy, Union veterans often encountered resentment and even outright hostility as they aged and made greater demands on the public purse. Drawing on letters, diaries, journals, memoirs, newspapers, and other sources, Sing Not War illustrates that during the Gilded Age “veteran” conjured up several conflicting images and invoked contradicting reactions. Deeply researched and vividly narrated, Marten’s book counters the romanticized vision of the lives of Civil War veterans, bringing forth new information about how white veterans were treated and how they lived out their lives.

Editions of Sing Not War

Hardcover
ISBN 9780807834763
Paperback
ISBN 9781469622026
EBook
ISBN 9781469603087
EBook
ISBN 9780807877685
PDF
ISBN 9798890881359

Read an Excerpt

After the Civil War, white Confederate and Union army veterans reentered — or struggled to reenter — the lives and communities they had left behind. In Sing Not War, James Marten explores how the nineteenth century’s “Greatest Generation” attempted to blend back into society and how their experiences were treated by nonveterans.

Many soldiers, Marten reveals, had a much harder time reintegrating into their communities and returning to their civilian lives than has been previously understood. Although Civil War veterans were generally well taken care of during the Gilded Age, Marten argues that veterans lost control of their legacies, becoming best remembered as others wanted to remember them — for their service in the war and their postwar political activities. Marten finds that while southern veterans were venerated for their service to the Confederacy, Union veterans often encountered resentment and even outright hostility as they aged and made greater demands on the public purse. Drawing on letters, diaries, journals, memoirs, newspapers, and other sources, Sing Not War illustrates that during the Gilded Age “veteran” conjured up several conflicting images and invoked contradicting reactions. Deeply researched and vividly narrated, Marten’s book counters the romanticized vision of the lives of Civil War veterans, bringing forth new information about how white veterans were treated and how they lived out their lives.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sing Not War about?

After the Civil War, white Confederate and Union army veterans reentered — or struggled to reenter — the lives and communities they had left behind. In Sing Not War, James Marten explores how the nineteenth century’s “Greatest Generation” attempted to blend back into society and how their experiences were treated by nonveterans.

Many soldiers, Marten reveals, had a much harder time reintegrating into their communities and returning to their civilian lives than has been previously understood. Although Civil War veterans were generally well taken care of during the Gilded Age, Marten argues that veterans lost control of their legacies, becoming best remembered as others wanted to remember them — for their service in the war and their postwar political activities. Marten finds that while southern veterans were venerated for their service to the Confederacy, Union veterans often encountered resentment and even outright hostility as they aged and made greater demands on the public purse. Drawing on letters, diaries, journals, memoirs, newspapers, and other sources, Sing Not War illustrates that during the Gilded Age “veteran” conjured up several conflicting images and invoked contradicting reactions. Deeply researched and vividly narrated, Marten’s book counters the romanticized vision of the lives of Civil War veterans, bringing forth new information about how white veterans were treated and how they lived out their lives.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Sing Not War?

History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas

Where can I read a sample of Sing Not War?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807834763

How long is Sing Not War and how many pages does it have?

Sing Not War has 352 page(s)

Is Sing Not War part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?

Yes it is a part of series Civil War America

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Sing Not War?

James Marten

Who is the Publisher of the book Sing Not War?

The University of North Carolina Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Sing Not War is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807834763) and paperback(ISBN 9781469622026) and ebook(ISBN 9781469603087) and ebook(ISBN 9780807877685) and pdf(ISBN 9798890881359)

Where can I buy Sing Not War online or support local independent bookshops?

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Where can I buy Sing Not War?