Reluctant Witnesses: Children's Voices From The Civil War

by Emmy E. Werner

Between 250,000 and 500,000 boy soldiers fought in the U.S. Civil War. Many more children were exposed to the war's ravages in their home towns—in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Columbia, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Harper's Ferry, Richmond, and Vicksburg—and during Sherman's March to the Sea. Based on eyewitness accounts of 120 children, ages four to sixteen, Reluctant Witnesses tells their story of the their experience of the hardships they endured and how they managed to cope. Their voices speak of courage and despair, of horror and heroism, and of the bonds of family and community and the powers of faith that helped them survive. Their diaries, letters, and reminiscences are a testimony to the astonishing resiliency in the face of great adversity and their extraordinary capacity to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. Like children of contemporary wars, these children from the Union and the Confederacy speak to us across centuries without hate but with the stubborn hope that peace might prevail in the end.

Genres: History, Civil War, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published March 19, 1998

About the author

Resilience researcher

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reluctant Witnesses reviews the American Civil War experience as lived through various minors who were exposed to its horrors. These include boy soldiers — both children serving as drummer boys, or young teenagers who fudged their ages to take up arms — as well as numerous civilians. Although the titular focus of the book was of children’s reactions to what they saw unfolding around them, for the most part I would have been hard-pressed to separate this from a narrative history of the war from civilian perspectives — in part, I suspect, because 19th century adolescents were forced by the circumstances of their society to mature far more quickly than their counterparts of today. I’m glad I snatched this title up on its way out of the library, as in addition to the narrative which follows the general course of the war, there are special sections on the siege of Vicksburg, and the grisly spectacle of Andersonville: although I’m familiar with its sad story, I had no idea there were such young soldiers contained within its death-filled walls. The work is a valuable read for readers who want to experience something of the home front, made especially poignant through the letters of children who dearly missed their fathers and brothers, and as a reminder that the hell unleashed by war often visits those who had no say about being involved — like the children who were killed during the siege of Vicksburg, for instance.

[Anthony Bracciante · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book that explores the American Civil war as seen through the eyes of children who experienced it as both witnesses and as young soldiers in both the Union and Confederate armies through diary writings and journals that they kept. In the epilogue very valid comparisons are made to what children are still experiencing today throughout the world and as they did through most of the 20th century with what these children experienced here in our own war torn country. It truly seems we can never learn from our past.

[Christie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yet another library book sale find. Picked this book up because though I've read quite a bit about adults during the Civil War, there is not a lot I've seen about children during the Civil War. This book collects a lot of primary sources from young people during that time. There is a great mix of experiences recorded here from teenage boys serving in both armies to runaway and freed slaves to children dealing with deprivation and danger on the home front. It had to be quite the undertaking for the author to gather up all of these sources, since I'm sure there wasn't a lot to choose from, and she can't really be blamed for supplementing it with adult sources as well. The book is relatively short and I would have liked more detail on some of the things mentioned, but its a good introduction to what children's lives were like during the Civil War. I like also that the last chapter links these experiences to experiences of child soldiers and refugees from war torn countries of the modern age.

[Violet]

Very informational- much like a textbook

[Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent collection of stories from the perspectives of kids who lived through the Civil War.

[John Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

We experience the American Civil War by not only reading descriptions of battles, but also through firsthand accounts of children, preteen and younger. This account of many of the major battles and besieged cities gives us better insights into the brutality and even compassion of the American Civil War. From the caves and cellars of Vicksburg under seige, the assault, burning and occupation of Atlanta, the bloody battles of Bull Run, Antietam and Gettysburg and many other important places and events, we gain some amazing insights. The resilience and courage shown by children in the roles of soldiers, drummer boys, residents of cities under attack and witnesses of battles, is fascinating and amazing. In the epilogue, the author compares these experiences to contemporary examples of children at war. The author's style and skill at bringing the Civil War to life and the fascinating descriptions by the children make this one of my favorite books, likely deserving of rereading.

[Dave Glorioso · Rating 4 out of 5]

This tells a chronological story of the civil war using letters written by children. Each event, includes it's own participants. Therefore, every chapter has it's own "authors" with the stories fleshed out by the author of the book.
This makes it somewhat incomplete. Yet, the books author does a great job with a creative idea.
The chapter's on Vicksburg and Gettysburg are the most thorough and interesting.
Vicksburg was a very bad place to be during Grant's siege.
Admittedly, some other chapters I pored over.
Still, highly recommended as it is unique.

[Duane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book focuses on the different aspects that children on both sides of the Civil War experienced. I enjoyed the diary entries from children who were stranded in cellars and caves while the Union besieged their cities. This book does not have many photographs, which I guess could be because there are limited supplies. Overall, I nice book for anyone interested in the genre of Civil War or children's aspects of war.

[Jocelyn Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Important stories of children in teh Civil War.