About this item
James McPherson's classic book For Cause & Comrades explained "why men fought in the Civil War" - and spurred countless other historians to ask and attempt to answer the same question. But few have explored why men did not fight. That's the question Paul Taylor answers in this groundbreaking Civil War history that examines the reasons why at least 60 percent of service-eligible men in the North chose not to serve and why, to some extent, their communities allowed them to do so. Did these other men not feel the same patriotic impulses as their fellow citizens who rushed to the enlistment office? Did they not believe in the sanctity of the Union? Was freeing men held in chains under chattel slavery not a righteous moral crusade? And why did some soldiers come to regret their enlistment and try to leave the military?'Tis Not Our War answers these questions by focusing on the thoughts, opinions, and beliefs of average civilians and soldiers.
About the Author
Paul Taylor is a retired insurance professional and an author of seven books on the American Civil War. His biography of O.M. Poe titled "Orlando M. Poe: Civil War General and Great Lakes Engineer" (Kent State Univ. Press, 2009) was a recipient of the Library of Michigan's 2010 Notable Books Award, the 2010 State History Award from the Historical Society of Michigan, and the Society of Midland Authors 2010 Honorable Mention Award for Biography. His Civil War-era history of Detroit titled "Old Slow Town": Detroit during the Civil War (Wayne State Univ. Press, 2013) was a recipient of the 2013 ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Award in the War & Military category and the 2014 State History Award from the Historical Society of Michigan. His deluxe, limited edition (only 100 handmade copies) of 37 letters from brothers in the Union army to their homes in Frankfort, New York during the Civil War is titled "Give My Love to All Our Folks" and is available direct from the publisher (www.deepwoodpress) or the author.
