The left-armed corps : writings by amputee Civil War veterans / edited by Allison M. Johnson.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Johnson, Allison M., 1984- editor.

Rosengarten Family Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Veterans' writings, American.

Amputees' writings, American.

Disabled veterans.

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

United States.

Genre:

Personal narratives.

Physical Description:

ix, 391 pages : illustrations, charts, facsimiles, portraits ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Baton Rouge : Louisiana State University Press, [2022]

Summary:

"The Left-Armed Corps: Writings by Amputee Civil War Veterans collects and annotates a unique and little-known body of Civil War literature: narrative sketches, accounts, and poetry by veterans who lost the use of their right arms due to wounds sustained during the conflict and who later competed in penmanship contests with their left hands in 1865 and 1866. Organized by William Oland Bourne, the contests called on men who lost their right arms while fighting for the Union to submit "specimens" of their best left-handed "business" writing in the form of personal statements. Bourne hoped the contests would help veterans re-enter the work force and become economically viable citizens. Following Bourne's aims, the contests commemorated the sacrifices made by veterans and created an archive of individual stories detailing the recently ended conflict. However, the contestants and their entries also present visible evidence-in the form of surprisingly elegant or understandably sloppy handwriting specimens-of the difficulties veterans faced in adapting to life after the war and recovering from its traumas. Their written accounts relate the chaos of the battlefield, the agony of amputation, and the highs and lows of recovery. Editor Allison M. Johnson organizes the selections thematically in order to highlight issues crucial to the experiences of Civil War soldiers, veterans, and amputees, offering invaluable insights into the ways in which former fighting men understood and commemorated their service and sacrifice. The introduction describes the contests and indicates the literary and historical significance of the veterans and their writings. Chapter subjects include political and philosophical treatises by veterans, amateur but poignant poetic testaments, and graphic accounts of wounding and amputation. The Left-Armed Corps makes accessible this archive of powerful testimony and creative expression from Americans who fought to preserve the Union and end slavery"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note: 1. Mustering and Marching

8. The Soldiering Life

3. Experiencing Battle

4. Wounding, Amputation, and Recovery

5. New Americans

6. The Poets

7. Politics, Philosophy, and Patriotism

8. Life as One-Armed Men.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Rosengarten Family Fund.

Other Format:

Online version: Left-armed corps

ISBN:

9780807177075

0807177075

9780807177464

0807177466

OCLC:

1281585463

Publisher Number:

99991321349