Notre Dame and the Civil War: Marching Onward to Victory

by James M. Schmidt

While many institutions of higher education made great sacrifices during the Civil War, few can boast of the dedication and effort made by the University of Notre Dame.

For four years, Notre Dame gave freely of its faculty and students as soldiers, sent its Holy Cross priests to the camps and battlefields as chaplains and dispatched its sisters to the hospitals as nurses. Though far from the battlefields, the war was ever-present on campus, as Notre Dame witnessed fisticuffs among the student body, provided a home to the children of a famous general, responded to political harassment and tried to keep at least some of its community from the fray. At war's end, a proud Notre Dame welcomed back several bona fide war heroes and became home to a unique veterans' organization.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Civil War

147 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 24, 2010

About the author

Hi! My name is Jim Schmidt and thanks for visiting my GoodReads Author Page! I am a chemist by training and profession and currently work for a biotech company near Houston, TX.

But by night (and by lunch!) I am a writer!

I have been writing historical pieces for magazines and newspapers for about 15 years. My work has been published in *North & South*, *The Artilleryman*, *Learning Through History*, *World War II*, *Chemical Heritage*, and *Today's Chemist* magazines. My column, "Medical Department," has appeared regularly in *The Civil War News* since September 2000.

My books include "Notre Dame and the Civil War: Marching Onward to Victory" (2010), "Years of Change and Suffering: Modern Perspectives on Civil War Medicine" (2009), and "Lincoln's Labels: America's Best Known Brands and the Civil War" (2008).

My latest book is "Galveston and the Civil War: An Island City in the Maelstrom" from The History Press, published in September 2012!

You can learn more about my interests by visiting my "Civil War Medicine" or "Notre Dame in the Civil War" blogs or e-mailing me at schmidtjamesm at gmail dot com

Thank You!

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Schmidt's Notre Dame and the Civil War is a well-written supplemental history of Notre Dame's participation in and experiences during the bloody battles between the States. A quick read, the book skips across the war quickly and gives scarce context or backstory, so it would be best enjoyed by Civil War buffs or people with a solid familiarity with the war. Despite this, Schmidt succeeds in depicting how a religious community and school, established only 18 years before the start of the war, sacrificed faculty, priests, sisters, and students as they forged a place in the United States. The example of Notre Dame during the Civil War highlights how the war itself was fought by a polyglot assortment of U.S. citizens and foreign nationals that included French nuns, French and Irish priests, and students born in the United States and abroad.

[Greg Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read for ND lovers.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about Notre Dame’s involvement in the Civil War! Learned a lot - the history nerd in me didn’t want to put this down.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Notre Dame and The Civil War (In): Marching Onward to Victory by James M. Schmidt is a gem. I do need to admit that I am loyal Hoosier even though I live in another state, love to read Indiana in Civil War history and fiction and I am very proud of Notre Dame. I didn’t go to Notre Dame but I did visit its beautiful campus and it was my pleasure to perform with a group for the university.

Mr. Schmidt’s book is rich with historical photos and wonderful stories of Notre Dame history during the Civil War times. He thoroughly researched and documented the history of Notre Dame from just before it was granted a state charter in 1844 to years shortly after the Civil War.

The profiles of quite a few former students of Notre Dame and priests actions and lives were seamlessly woven into a great story of honor and devotion to the United States. Also the effect of the Civil War on its enrollment and the way the school dealt with it. The role of women from Notre Dame’s sister school, St. Mary’s in the Civil War was also told. I also learned about the Anti-Catholic prejudice in that time and place.

I highly recommend this well researched and very well written book.

I won this book in a contest on the author’s blog and that in no way influenced my thoughts in this review. No renumeration was received for this review.

[Boots LookingLand · Rating 4 out of 5]

anti-Catholicism was quite the national pastime in antebellum America and here's a great book that demonstrates how and why that prevalent attitude slowly began turning around in the 19th century.

here is a book full of real heroes; nurses, student soldiers, and clergy who rendered aid to a country that didn't want them; helping to alleviate prejudices through their dedication and service. there are some great portraits throughout and excellent details not only of those who left Notre Dame to assist in the fields, but also those who remained at the college. it was especially interesting to read about the aftermath of the war.

a great overview of an underwritten subject, with numerous interesting anecdotes and quotes from primary source documents. one description of a general absolution before battle at Gettysburg was especially affecting.

also a nice starting place for those interested in reading more about general w. t. sherman, whose Catholic wife insisted on raising their many children in the faith (and whose son Tom eventually entered the priesthood despite his father's objections).

excellent photos and notes round this book out very well. as with schmidt's other book (Lincoln's Labels), i only wish it could have been longer!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author is a chemist who writes history and does it well. This short book uses lots of primary sources--letters, journals, memoirs. There are many photographs of the ND men who became soldiers, priests who became chaplains, and sisters who became nurses. The book was a glimpse into the horror of war, not only for the killing on the battlefields, but also for the many deaths from disease and infections.

The incident of Father Corby giving absolution before the Gettysburg battle is recorded at length with some conflicting opinions as to what was really said.

General Sherman's children attended ND during the war years and his connection with ND is written about favorably including the graduation address he gave in 1865. No mention was made of his destructive "March to the Sea."

There were both Confederate and Union supporters at both ND and St. Mary's during the war years. In fact, a fight between St. Mary's women students broke out over the display of flag pins which one group tried to tear off the other. The sisters pulled them apart with much difficulty!

[Roxanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Won this book in a Goodreads giveaway! Loving this historical account of Notre Dame and the Civil War! The author's research of this subject is evident in his depiction of the priests, nuns and students and their involvement in preserving the Union. Enjoying the subject matter, the quotations and the photos. Great read so far! ****7/21/12 Want to add that I am so enjoying the section on the sisters/nurses and their commitment and care of the victims of Civil War! Good stuff. 8/23/12 Again, enjoyed the info on the soldiers/students, their families and the priests/chaplains who served in the Civil War.

[Spectre · Rating 2 out of 5]

The subtitle "Marching Onward to Victory" is an appropriate play off the Notre Dame fight song- the author traces the Civil War experiences of the priests, sisters and students who contributed to the Union cause by administering to spiritual and medical needs of soldiers or actually performing in combat roles. (There were even a few Confederates amongst the student body.) Particularly interesting is the school's relationship with General William Tecumseh Sherman and his family during the war.

[Ryan Splenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting account of the trials, tribulations, and sacrifices of the University of Notre Dame during the Civil War period. There are some wonderful stories of student/soldiers and priests who participated.

Nicely researched using a combination of letters, memoirs, photographs, and other archival materials. Also, it is short and concise, which makes is easy to understand.

[Sarah Alawami · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit much on religion, but still good historically andaccurate