Lizzi’s Reviews > This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War > Status Update

•1860s rise of spiritualism-ouija board, books, magazines, group meetings
•”The Gates Ajar” promised the notion that heaven is a more perfect earth, an extension of earthly world

•Death was reconceptualized as transition to a different life rather than an end, soldiers sought it over the battlefields. “Redefined as eternal life, death was celebrated in mid-nineteenth-century America.”
•Swedenborg’s Heaven and Hell in 1758 marked origin of movement away from the idea of heaven being far away/theocentric, but a modern notion of heaven being the same world except in its perfection

•conflict between religious beliefs and new scientific discoveries led to increasing questions about what happens after death.
•some argued religion enabled the slaughter—“confidence in immortality could encourage soldiers to risk annihilation”, “firm conviction could yield confidence that bordered heartlessness”. Christian soldiers contributed more to the war machine bc of the lack of fear of death.

•heavy public mourning of Lincoln’s death was a substitute for the funerals of soldiers regular people could not attend
•published funeral sermons

•denial and difficulty of realizing deaths until physical proof is presented.
•women were expected to mourn longer—widow mourned 2.5 years, widower 3 months.
•”sorority of grief” in the south because of high death toll.
•mourning attire became a huge part of fashion industry.

•many uncounted casualties of noncombatant civilians by disease, stray bullets, slave/owners, and white northern citizens protesting against going to war for emancipation.
•Slaves were encouraged by disruptions to challenge masters and masters became paranoid and “witch hunted” those suspected of planning uprising, as well as retribution toward wives of runaway male slaves who joined the Union army.

•personal efforts to communicate info about soldiers’ status
•dog tags, pre-written letters, bible inscribed with name and address

•sanitary commissions size far exceeded Christian commission; more importance on modern warfare realism rather than sentimentalism
•sanitary commission created Hospital Directory which acted as communication agency for families about soldiers’ conditions

•acknowledgement of the importance of information, whether a soldier is dead or alive
•wrong and confusing info in casualty lists

-embalming and the entire funeral industry started during civil war
-embalming as a way to “defy death” and grieve