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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 6 page paper discusses Edward Ayers' civil war narrative history, "In the Presence of Mine Enemies." Bibliography lists 1 source.
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6 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_HVEAyers.rtf
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might call a "narrative history." The classic novel of the genre, and arguably a better book, is Shelby Footes three-volume novel The Civil War. But Foote has tackled the entire
conflict from beginning to end, and in every theater, while Ayers concentrates on the war as seen through the eyes of the inhabitants of two specific counties: Franklin County, Pennsylvania
and Augusta County, Virginia, both of which lie in the great Shenandoah Valley. This paper is a reaction paper to the book. Discussion Ayers has done what Foote did: blended
historical fact with personal documents and some degree of logical speculation to present a picture of the war from the point of view of those involved. The book doesnt concentrate
on the generals and politicians, but on the ordinary soldiers and their families, and how they reacted to the bloodbath in which they were involved. This is far more compelling
than official accounts, because we can identify with the farmer whose land becomes a battlefield, or the woman who suddenly has to try and nurse dozens of wounded men who
are bleeding on her carpets. The war becomes real to us when we read of these things, much more so than when we read that Lincoln was angry with McClellan,
or that Lee wanted to resign after Gettysburg. Ordinary people behave in ordinary ways. The North was shocked and dismayed by the Battle of Bull Run, because it violated their
expectations of war in every way. Not only did they lose the battle, the Northern soldiers ran. Neither of these were supposed to happen. "The North had expected its army
of proud volunteers to triumph in one climatic battle. When that battle turned into a route, with Union soldiers fleeing the field in panic, Northerners were stunned."1 For the people
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