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Summary: An outstanding telling of the young soldier at work.
Review: "All for the Union" is an outstanding story of a young soldier at work. Elisha Hunt Rhodes enlisted in the Army of the Potomac and fought in almost every major eastern Civil War engagement. This book is a compilation of his private diary and papers written at the time of these events. The book is one of the most insightful and honest glimpses into the life, hardships, motivations, and opinions of a young soldier that the reader is ever likely to find. Rhodes writes with clarity and candor; if you want to know what it was like to be a Union Civil War soldier, there is perhaps no better book. The PBS Documentary "The Civil War" drew heavily on Rhodes' book. By the way, one of the things I really liked about the book is that it included some contemporary photographs of people that served with Rhodes in his regiment. Being able to match faces with his narrative was delightful. What amazing times Rhodes lived through! As soon as he enlisted, he was sent to the Capitol to help guard it. On the way his regiment was booed and reviled by pro-Rebel citizens in parts of Maryland. Rhodes lived through battlefield defeats and victories--the reader can fully appreciate the signficance to a young soldier like Rhodes when the great Union victory at Gettysburg takes place. After all, there had been many Union defeats preceding it. Rhodes comes through as a good and honest man, very intelligent, but in the beginning somewhat naive as twenty year olds are apt to be. This is an outstanding glimpse into the mind of one of the soldiers who helped to save and preserve the Union. After reading it, one can see that America was fortunate to possess thousands of Elisha Hunt Rhodes because that is what it took to win the war. As the South had many equally good men, equally motivated, the reader can understand why it was a hard and long war.
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Summary: A personal account of the Civil War 1861-1865
Review: An interesting, informative book. This is an account of one man's participation in the American Civil War (1861-1865). Elisha Hunt Rhodes joined the Rhode Island Volunteers in 1861 as a private and left as a colonel in 1865; having earned the respect of not only his peers but his superiors as well. The book is a diary (plus a few letters) he kept during his army life: it includes daily to weekly accounts of the people and places he got to know and see, plus the battles with which he was involved. The diary is well written (better than you'd expect from a 19-year-old in 1861). There are accounts of the marches that covered seemly unbelievable distances: wearing the men in to a state of complete exhaustion. (And often, after reaching their destination, would have to march back to where they started) There are tales of deprivation, hunger, prolonged stress, boredom and even some humorous moments as well. The descriptions of some of the carnage is told in a rather detached, matter of fact manner, (probably understandable, given the circumstances) even though he was in the midst of several of these bloody scenes and lost countless friends and colleagues. The diary was recorded chronologically and with dates: also included, is an excellent map of the area. The map even outlines the marches that the 2nd R. I. Volunteers participated in during their 4 years at war. This is a wonderful addition to this book that not only makes following the events easy but also makes you appreciate the distance that these armies traveled, mostly on foot. All in all, an interesting, personal account of the American Civil War: one that gives new insights into an era of history that has significantly shaped the United States into the country that we know today. Highly recommended!
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Summary: Living History!!
Review: Elisha Hunt Rhodes diary gives a very exquisite perspective of the Civil War not often found in historical works. Obviously moving, it provided much of the "color" commentary in Ken Burn's masterpiece documentary, as one of the few existing books that represented a soldier's view of the conflict from start to finish. Rhodes was with the Army or the Potomac for the whole ride, suffering the disasters in the first few years, then seeing the success of his comrades at Gettysburg, and determining to stay to "see it through". If you're really into learning about the Civil War, this is a book you shouldn't miss. An easy read, even for the occaisional history buff.
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Summary: Wow!
Review: Men of a simpiler time were made of much harder and enduring stuff than our contemporaries. From age nineteen to twenty three, Elisha Hunt Rhodes endured almost all of the worst that a full tour of duty with the Army of the Potomac entailed. Frequently cold, wet, tired and unfed, preiodically the witness to death, destruction incompetence and poor generalship, he endured knowing that it was "All for the Union." This book gives a great soldier's eye view of the Civil War experience. Knowing more of the fear and boredom that were Rhode's life (and that of all line troops) while generals contemplated their moves rounds, out one's understanding of the Civil War. Easy to read, Rhodes is a good writer who convey's scenes and experiences with an economy of words. This is the type of book one would be tempted to read by pulling an "all-nighter."
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Summary: Civil War Buffs Rejoice
Review: The diary and letters of Elisha Hunt Rhoades is very aptly named "All for the Union," as that is the way that he lived his life. Rhoades was with the Union army from the beginning of the war to the end, and he fought in almost every one of the major battles. Throughout this book, I laughed, I cried, and I now feel that I really know what a Civil War soldier's life was like. The only problem with the book is putting it down! Rhoades' personal integrity and commitment to his country make this book a definite winner!!!
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Summary: Excellent diary of a Civil War Soldier
Review: This is a very well written diary of a Civil War Soldier that enlisted as a private and ended the war as a Col. He does not go into great detail about battles but, he does go into detail about the daily life of a soldier. E.H. Rhodes writes a very easy to follow text. I highly recommend this book!!!!
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