Death Ground

Sample

Coralou Peel Lassen

"Cpl. John H. Pardington, a member of the 24th Michigan Infantry of the famous Iron Brigade, was an articulate and observant soldier. His letters are filled with patriotic dedication to the cause, longing for his wife and baby, details of camp life, and reflections on the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Battle of Chancellorsville, and other engagements. They are also touching love letters, made even more poignant by the knowledge that Pardington will be killed at the Battle of Gettysburg. The letters reflect John's concerns about everything at home: how Sarah is being treated by relatives, the baby's exposure to scarlet fever, Sarah's money needs, and their plans to buy a home. The letters also reveal the stresses of war and the heroics of everyday life, whether at home or on the battlefield."--BOOK JACKET. "The collection also includes letters to his sister and father-in-law in which his opinions of President Lincoln, the changing leadership of the Army of the Potomac, and the hoped-for outcome of the war are expressed with wisdom and insight."--BOOK JACKET.

Sample

Thomas Boyd

A story of the horrors of World War I and their effects on the psyche of a young American Marine. (The author died in his early thirties of a brain tumor, thought to be caused by gassing during the war.).

Sample

Julian E. Zelizer

Taxing America offers a new interpretation of the American state between 1945 and 1975 by tracing the career of Wilbur D. Mills, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee from 1958 to 1974. Blending methodological insights from history, political science, and sociology, Julian Zelizer provides one of the first comparative histories of income taxation, Social Security, and Medicare in this study of the crucial role Mills played in the national tax agenda as he negotiated between the tax policy community and Congress.

Sample

Richard V. Barbuto

"Barbuto covers every aspect of a campaign that saw the American army come of age, even as its military leaders blundered away potential victory and the acquisition of a coveted expanse of North American territory. Vividly recreating the major battles on the Niagara peninsula - at Chippawa, Lundy's Lane, Fort Erie, and Cook's Mill - Barbuto also clarifies the role of these engagements within the overall framework of American strategy.". "Barbuto's analysis, unmarred by national bias, presents a balanced picture of these events from the perspective of all participants - American, British, Canadian, and Native American. He also fills an important gap by providing capsule histories of all regimental-sized units involved in the campaign. Breathing new life into these events, his far-ranging study should become the definitive work on this long-neglected campaign."--BOOK JACKET.