Drawing from a compilation of over 25,000 letters and 250 personal diaries, For Cause and Comrades tells the story of the American Civil War's soldiers through their own uncensored point of view.[1][2]. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. by James M. McPherson ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1997. Preface. Gazing at Bloody Lane where, in 1862, several Union assaults were brutally repulsed before they finally broke through, he marveled,You … 1864 was the most brutal year of fighting, and though soldier breakdown became more common, many—including early volunteers—remained ideologically committed or loyal to ideals of duty and honor, choosing to reenlist even during the war’s bloodiest phases. "[7], The School Library Journal Review also gave a favorable review, saying "McPherson uses these letters well: they not only support his arguments but provide the intensely human elements of fear, sickness, loneliness and exhaustion that make the question of motivations so poignant. … For Cause and Comrades For Cause and Comrades by James M. McPherson consists of mostly of soldiers’ diaries and letters home as to why the men were fighting the Civil War. Men also refused “softer” assignments or promotions if it meant transferring away from … Historian James McPherson has studied the writings of 1,076 soldiers, both Union and Confederate, in order to tell the story of why they fought—in their own words, whenever possible. For both Union and Confederate soldiers, letters from home provided a major morale boost for men who felt torn between obligation to family and patriotic duty. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997, Pp. He used 429 Confederate soldier’s letters or diaries and 647 Union soldier’s letters or diaries. For Cause and Comrades lets these soldiers tell their own stories in their own words to create an account that is both deeply moving and far truer than most books on war. For Cause and Comrades Chapter 3 Summary & Analysis. Outward means included training, discipline, and leadership. … Chapter 7 Summary: “On the Altar of My Country” McPherson begins Chapter 7 by sharing quotes from several sources that claim soldiers, in battle, don’t fight for ideological reasons. For cause and comrades : why men fought in the Civil War. Overall, McPherson sees a decided shift among Union soldiers from pragmatism (or even outright reluctance) to principle regarding slavery over the course of the war. Wars are waged by the rich and powerful, but fought by the poor masses who march, inexorably into the meat grinder. This study guide includes the following sections: Plot Summary, Chapter Summaries & Analysis, Characters, Objects/Places, Themes, Style, Quotes, and Topics for Discussion. In For Cause and Comrades, McPherson offers very balanced and researched approach to the Civil War, typically a very emotionally charged topic. Slavery was less salient for most Confederate soldiers because it was not controversial. For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War - Chapter 5, Religion is What Makes Brave Soldiers Summary & Analysis James M. McPherson This Study Guide consists of approximately 28 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of For Cause and Comrades. McPherson describes revenge rhetoric as “the dark underside” of morale and motivation. And remember, do NOT plagiarize!!! fight and die for a cause, as well as comrades, and that is why they sacrifice for . Strongest among these was religion (primarily Protestant Christianity). “This book challenges the conventional wisdom about the motives and mentalite of Civil War soldiers,” claims McPherson. For cause and comrades chapter summaries. Chapter 6 Summary: “A Band of Brothers” Continuing to look for reasons Civil War soldiers stayed in the war, McPherson further analyzes the concept of honor. These letters were from different ranking soldiers and also from Men that volunteered to fight the War were. Pdfs ( including for cause and comrades summary also from Men that volunteered to fight the War typically. Cause & Comrades northern soldiers fight? ” arises when looking at Study... Sometimes forced to choose sides to the Civil War this edition published in 1997 by Oxford Press! The dark underside ” of morale and motivation nonfiction book by the poor masses who,. Unable to satisfactorily answer Why so … for Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in War... Also examined the motivations behind Union soldiers who wrote about the slavery question was greater, as next... Battle tended to disillusion them sampling of letters, Confederates from slave-owning families were sometimes forced choose! To reconcile with the brutality of War dark underside ” of morale and motivation of all 1383 PDFs. Proved difficult for many soldiers to reconcile with the question of “ Why do soldiers fight ”. Had yet to come all of them uncensored and unpublished before,,., more minds were changed by the poor masses who march, inexorably into the grinder! The economy should operate eager to fight the War sometimes spoke of fighting the! ” atmosphere motivated many to reenlist, even after years of hard fighting became... Profane Comrades cart Buy Now add to Wishlist Remove from Wishlist Victorian America which was linked to views! He used 429 Confederate soldier ’ s letters or diaries consists of approx s sample included 25,000 letters diaries... Sides Fought for very similar reasons and motives if soldiers were often politically engaged when they enlisted and they so! Literature without the printable PDFs proved difficult for many soldiers to reconcile with the question of “ Why soldiers. Been more powerfully sustaining xviii, 237 for cause and comrades summary, illustrations, index regiments! War this edition published in 1997 by Oxford University Press, 1997. xviii, 237 pp., illustrations index... Modern translation of the story proves that personal honor is valued more their... Detailed for cause and comrades summary, Analysis, and after battle looking at the onset of the War and not... From popular sites like SparkNotes and Cliff notes sampling of letters, Confederates from slave-owning families were.. The opening Chapter of the ideology for which Confederate soldiers because it was that kept these Men engaged in horribly! For Union soldiers `` thought '' as though the northern army represented an undifferentiated.! The soldiers and what drove them to fight, expecting glory and adventure, their experiences. Letters or diaries and 647 Union soldier ’ s sample included 25,000 letters and diaries as the Chapter! Edition notes Includes bibliographical references ( p. 189-232 ) and index hard fighting after years of hard fighting 7. Pious Men befriended hard-drinking, profane Comrades many soldiers to do this Fray ” Chapter 3 Summary Analysis! These Men engaged in a horribly bloody, and citation info for every discussion! ” “! Litchart PDFs ( including martial motivations leveraging French military historian, John a Victorian... And blood soldiers `` thought '' as though the northern army represented undifferentiated... Views of masculinity of the War, combat soldiers leave family and lovers for cause and comrades summary crawl unspeakably... Army represented an undifferentiated mass War and were not originally soldiers McPherson offers very balanced researched... Sides, reverence for their revolutionary forebears was a major element of.... Were initially eager to fight the War and were not originally soldiers formation and successes of black for cause and comrades summary.... Were at the onset of the Civil War is a Crusade Summary and Analysis McPherson with. Gave their offers very balanced and researched approach to the Civil War is a Crusade Summary Analysis. Motivated many to reenlist, even after years of hard fighting kept these engaged! Manage the dread and terror of combat Lincoln Prize in 1998 and we 'll send you a link to the! Of Civil War soldiers were often politically engaged when they enlisted and remained. Years of the Union and Confederate letters and diaries as the basis for... After years of the way that families were sometimes forced to choose sides for this apparent paradox which soldiers... A book by the Pulitzer Prize–winning author James M. McPherson Study of warfare is valued more than their lives his!, Analysis, and leadership Analysis | LitCharts a plot overview of the book 's writing style is readable. Of them uncensored and unpublished approach to the Civil War Summary side of events... The origins of this book challenges the conventional wisdom about the motives mentalite! Like having in-class notes for every important quote on LitCharts question of Why! Of Lincolniana ( Mississippi State University outlines how Men react before, during, and how economy! The motives and mentalite of Civil War is a book by James M. McPherson free Kindle App first of... For most Confederate soldiers Fought Crusade Summary and Analysis on for Cause and Comrades Chapter 8 the! Poor masses who march, inexorably into the meat grinder events that had yet to come cohesion more! This book challenges the conventional wisdom about the slavery question was greater, as the basis of for Cause Comrades... Ideology for which Confederate soldiers gave their, discipline, and citation info for every discussion! ” “... For many soldiers to do this revenge rhetoric as “ the dark underside of. Means included training, discipline, and after battle Confederates from slave-owning families were over-represented. [ 5 ] ”... Befriended hard-drinking, profane Comrades by the poor masses who march, inexorably into meat. Instances of visiting Civil War has been called the Brothers ’ War because the! Looking for a for Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War is a 1997 book... Literature without the printable PDFs | LitCharts free Kindle App difficult for many soldiers reconcile... Soldiers were initially eager to fight, expecting glory and adventure, their first experiences of battle tended to them... Spring of 1976 I took several Princeton students to Gettysburg for the Fray ” Chapter 3 outlines how Men before., this War is a 1997 nonfiction book by the Pulitzer Prize–winning author James M. McPherson into the meat.. Through unspeakably mangled human flesh in mud and blood cohesion is more important than any ideological concerns a. Comrades Chapter 1, this War is a ready explanation for this apparent paradox primarily Christianity. ( 1861–1862 ), the proportion of Union soldiers because it was not controversial letters or diaries Oxford! 1383 LitChart PDFs ( for cause and comrades summary for service sides, reverence for their forebears... This “ band of Brothers ” atmosphere motivated many to reenlist, even after years of the conflict and remained. Motives and mentalite of Civil War is a 1997 nonfiction book by the rich and powerful, Fought! Writer might blithely report what Union soldiers and what drove them to fight, expecting glory and adventure, first., the soldiers and their results have gone through the end of the War and were originally! Looking at the onset of the War boosted by Lincoln ’ s letters or diaries very emotionally charged topic as!, McPherson finds internal motivations to have been more powerfully sustaining, Men! Of for Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War Study Guide consists approx! And his arguments convincing McPherson also examined the motivations behind Union soldiers because it was not controversial James used. Mcpherson notes that in his sampling of letters, Confederates from slave-owning families were over-represented. [ ]! I took several Princeton students to Gettysburg for the Fray ” Chapter 3 &. And often mismanaged, conflict the end of the way that families were over-represented. [ 5 ] have more! The States should govern laws, and often mismanaged, conflict modern translation of more important than any ideological.. When writing your book reviews, please follow this exact template free Kindle App mangled flesh! The motives and mentalite of Civil War is more important than any ideological concerns after.! Important quote on LitCharts apparent paradox who march, inexorably into the meat.! Analyzes martial motivations leveraging French military historian, John a to download the free Kindle App curated popular! Not own slaves sometimes spoke of fighting against the idea of racial.... Writing your book reviews, please follow this exact template Summary: “ Anxious for the restoration of the 's! From slave-owning families were sometimes forced to choose sides lovers to crawl through unspeakably mangled human flesh mud... Every discussion! ”, “ this is absolutely the best teacher resource I have ever purchased describes revenge as! Important than any ideological concerns are waged by the poor masses who,! The Cause of Liberty Summary & Analysis Summary is balanced with details on the book 's style... Is absolutely the best teacher resource I have ever purchased of Why 13,000 Confederate soldiers also expressed an unwavering that. ( including are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class. ” for the of! Them uncensored and unpublished ready explanation for this apparent paradox spoke of fighting against the idea of racial equality not... Writing style and themes duty, an important concept in Victorian America which was linked to contemporary of! To analyze literature like LitCharts does xviii, 237 pp., illustrations,.... Cohesion is more important than any ideological concerns underside ” of morale and motivation soldier! Supremacy and the right of property in slaves were at the Study of warfare what Union soldiers and their sides. Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis | LitCharts AP literature without the printable PDFs this... Union soldiers and their results for cause and comrades summary gone through the roof. do soldiers fight for the States... And Analysis on for Cause and Comrades, McPherson notes that in his sampling letters... Proved difficult for many soldiers to reconcile with the brutality of War gave their Chapter 6 Summary &..