Hidden History of Civil War Oregon

Hidden History

by Randol B. Fletcher

Many Oregonians think of the Civil War as a faraway event or something that happens when the Ducks and the Beavers tangle. Few know that the state raised two Union regiments or that more than ten thousand Union and Confederate veterans made their way to Oregon after the war. In fact, the Beaver State has impressive Civil War ties, including the battle death of Senator Edward Baker, the Long Tom Rebellion in Eugene and famous figures like U.S. Marshal Virgil Earp. Join Civil War enthusiast Randol B. Fletcher as he explores the tales behind the monuments and graves that dot today's landscape and unearths the Hidden History of Civil War Oregon.

Genres: History

144 pages, Paperback

First published September 22, 2011

Reviews

[Kevin Keating · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting stories of Oregon's involvement in the Civil War was what I was expecting, but for whatever reason there wasn't that much meat. There were several people who fought in the Civil War that eventually came to Oregon - Thorp and Bell for instance, but I was hoping for stories of Oregon's or Oregon's sons' involvement in the war. Not so much of that. Might have been more interesting to discuss the adventures of so many of the generals who would eventually play a large role in the war but who spent a lot of time in Oregon before it - like Pickett, Grant, McClellan, Reynolds - fighting in the Rogue Indian Wars or stationed in Oregon. Anyway, I'm glad I read it but there were no huge revelations. Kinda interesting in that it gives the addresses that some of these men (and women nurses) lived at.

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had always wondered how the Civil War affected Oregon so I was interested when I discovered this book. It turns out there are quite a few Oregon connections, but mainly it was from Civil War veterans moving out here after the war was over. It was interesting reading their stories and their accounts of battles, etc. Several participants in the war made Oregon their home and made some significant contributions to the state.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to read collection of stories about men who served in the American Civil War and later in life ended up in Oregon. I would have loved more emphasis on Oregonians during the war. My ancestor served in the briefly mentioned Olney's Detachment so I was looking for more about how Oregon was affected by the fighting back east. As a historian, I would have also appreciated source citations.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book, I found, was very incomplete and only focused on certain parts of Oregon and people. There were many more Civil War veterans that settled in Oregon and had contributed to it's history.

[Shay Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable despite the dearth of actual Oregonians’ involvement in the Civil War