Manhood and Patriotic Awakening in the American Civil War

It has been over sixty years since the first book that tried to explain the life and lot of the common soldier in the American Civil War was published. Since Bell Wiley's Life of Johnny Reb (1943), there have been many thousands of pages devoted to the troops and the social history underlying the conflict of the Civil War. Within that historical record, one question still captivates and provokes: why did they fight? This book constitutes a valuable case study illuminating the motives, experiences, and ultimate realizations of a young cavalry volunteer.