The Civil War Soldier - His Personal Items

The personal objects left behind by the Civil War soldier are small windows which allow us to get a brief glimpse into the most momentous part of his life. When I came across an item to use in this book - what we might consider today as trivial - I tried to figure out why it was so important to him. In today's "world of disposable goods", who would take the time to meticulously inscribe their name or initials, or save, such an inanimate object as a razor or soap dish? We may think it was done to prove ownership, maybe it could identify him if killed or wounded, or maybe it was just out of boredom. Some of these scenarios might be true, but I think it was much more than that. He knew the war would be scrupulously studied by future generations. Many of these veterans carefully packed away their menial possessions as a personal time capsule, hoping that someone in the future would discover them, and if only for a brief moment, remember the part they played in American History.
This is only one of seven books I have published with Civil War topics. They are on subjects I truly found meaningful and interesting. Gettysburg has always been one of my favorite subjects since my first visit many years ago. I discuss the artifacts, the battle, souvenirs, and just about anything associated with Gettysburg, showing hundreds of rare photographs. I even wrote a children's book on Gettysburg. Canteens and artillery were also part of my many Civil War passions, so I published books on those topics, again with hundreds of photographs.