We are in His hands whether we live or die : the letters of Brevet Brigadier General Charles Henry Howard / edited by David K. Thomson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Howard, Charles H. (Charles Henry), 1838-1908.

Contributor:

Thomson, David Ker, 1958-

Series:

Voices of the Civil War

Standardized Title:

Correspondence. Selections

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

War--Religious aspects.

War.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives.

United States.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Religious aspects.

Howard, Charles H. (Charles Henry), 1838-1908--Correspondence.

Howard, Charles H.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (309 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Knoxville : University of Tennessee Press, c2013.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Many soldiers who served in the American Civil War found solace in their faith during the mosttrying times of the war. But few soldiers took such a providential view of life and the CivilWar as Charles Henry Howard. Born in a small town in Maine, Howard came from a familywith a distinguished history of soldiering: his grandfather was a Revolutionary War veteranand his brother, the older and more well-known Oliver Otis Howard, attended West Point androse to command an army in the Civil War. Following in his brother's footsteps, Charles HenryHoward graduated from Bowdoin College in 1859. Following graduation, Charles visited hisolder brother at West Point during the tumultuous election of 1860. While at West Point, Howardsaw the tensions between Northern and Southern cadets escalate as he weighed his options for amilitary or theological career. The choice was made for him on April 12, 1861, with the firing onFort Sumter. Responding to his brother's plea for the sons of Maine to join the Union cause, Charlesfound himself a noncommissioned officer fighting in the disastrous Battle of First Bull Run. Alltold, Howard fought in several major battles of the Eastern Theater, including Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg, and went on to participate in various militaryactions in the Western Theater including Sherman's bloody Atlanta Campaign. He was woundedtwice, first at the Battle of Fair Oaks and again at Fredericksburg. Yet, despite facing the worsthorrors of war, Howard rarely wavered in his faith and rose steadily in rank throughout theconflict. By war's end, he was a brevet brigadier general in command of the 128th U.S. ColoredTroop Regiment. Howard's letters cover a wide-ranging period, from 1852 to 1908. His concern for hisfamily is typical of a Civil War soldier, but his exceptionally firm reliance on divine providenceis what makes these letters an extraordinary window into the mind of a Civil War officer.Howard's grounded faith was often tested by the viciousness of war, and as a result his letters arerife with stirring confessions and his emotional grappling with the harsh realities he faced.Howard's letters expose the greater theological and metaphysical dilemmas of the war faced byso many on both sides.

Contents:

"The Savior says ask & have faith & ye shall receive? : Charles and his early years

"Now all is right and I am in the place marked out by providence" : Charles and the Civil War, 1861-1862

"The Lord is gracious & we are in His hands whether we live or die" : Charles and the 1863 eastern theater

"A kind providence has been with us all along" : Charles and the western theater, 1863-early 1864

"Pray for me, mother, that I may have all the grace requisite for my new duties & responsibilities" : Charles and the end of the war

"I am growing old I think rapidly" : Charles and his postwar career

Appendix. Bowdoin College alumnus referenced by Charles Howard.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781572339903

157233990X

OCLC:

851576274