Robert Bonner Books

The book offers a poignant reconstruction of the Civil War through the personal accounts of sixteen infantrymen, highlighting their diverse backgrounds, including a German-speaking artist and a free black soldier from Syracuse. Utilizing over 60,000 documents from the Gilder Lehrman Collection, it weaves together diaries, letters, and illustrations to provide an intimate perspective on their experiences. The combination of humor, artistry, and personal narratives reveals the multifaceted nature of the conflict, capturing both the struggles and the humanity of these soldiers.

Exploring the complex interplay of imperialism, federalism, and nationalism in the nineteenth century, this book delves into the strategies employed by proslavery nationalists. It highlights their attempts to frame American exceptionalism and mission in explicitly proslavery language, revealing the ideological battles that shaped the era's political landscape. Through detailed analysis, the narrative uncovers how these figures sought to legitimize and promote their beliefs amid changing geopolitical dynamics.