Many a Hand: Michigan and the Civil War - Paperback

by Roger L. Rosentreter (Author)

When war came to the nation in 1861, Michiganians rallied around the Stars and Stripes and readily agreed with a veteran politician who declared, "He who is not for his country is against her." Even as the conflict grew bloody and costly, they remained committed to suppressing the rebellion. By war's end, an astonishing 50 percent of its military-age males had enlisted in the army. This Michigan Civil War chronicle is more than a story about soldiers' heroism on distant battlefields. It also includes the often-overlooked role of women--some of whom refused to stay home and went to war. Also buried in the historical record are accounts of white soldiers whose views on slavery and African Americans, especially those in uniform, were transformed. There is also a much-needed exploration of Michigan's response to the shocking assassination of a beloved president. Many a Hand captures these stories in a single volume.

Author Biography

Roger L. Rosentreter is a visiting professor at Michigan State University. He served twenty-two years as the editor of Michigan History Magazine, one of the most popular state history magazines, and is the author of Michigan: A History of Explorers, Entrepreneurs, and Everyday People and Grand Rapids and the Civil War. He coauthored Michigan's Early Military Forces: A Roster and History of Troops Activated Prior to the American Civil War, Michigan Remembers Lincoln, and Seeking Lincoln in Michigan: A Remembrance Trail.