Rufus R. Dawes (1)

I got this as part of a Kindle Fire download setup. Originally published in 1890, it is a collection of letters written by Brevet Brigadier General Rufus R. Dawes to various people, especially to "vbg," (very best girl). Arranged largely in chronological order, it tells the story of his Civil War experiences as only an eyewitness to that gut-wrenching event can tell.

As soon as Ft. Sumter was fired upon in April, 1861, Rufus Dawes was instrumental in helping to organize an enthusiastic group show more of volunteers who answered Lincoln's initial call. These enlistees, however, were no 90-day wonders. Their terms of enlistments were not really specified, which this writer did not know about, but they would not expire until 1864.

Rufus Dawes was appointed Captain and his new company called themselves the "Lemonweir Minute Men." Little did they know at that time that the Sixth Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, to which they would be assigned, would become a part of the famed "Iron Brigade" of the great Army of the Potomac and see some of the most intense fighting and gain some of the greatest fame of any Brigade in either army of the entire war.

One also sees the bravery, considered decisions during battle, and narrow escapes of death that Rufus Dawes experiences during combat, along with the untimely deaths and/or transfers of his superiors, that results in his own promotions through the commissioned ranks from Captain to Lieutenant-Colonel, the rank he held when mustered out after three years. His brevet as a Brigadier General at the time of the original publication of the book is not explained.

This is not a typical history text in that there is little to no analysis of troop movements or strategic decisions. It is simply an eye-witness account of what happens in battle to your front and immediate sides, and sometimes you don't know the whys and what fors. And that is what makes this primary source a unique and interesting read. But that can also sometimes be a source of frustration for this reader. For example, the 6th Wisconsin was stationed on Culp's Hill during the Battle of Gettysburg. After that action, Dawes' letters make little to no mention of the more famous actions on Little Round Top or perhaps the most famous infantry charge in U.S. History: Pickett's. His unit wasn't involved. But this is more than made-up for with vivid descriptions the following year about the carnage associated with the Wilderness Campaign. Surly this helped convince Rufus Dawes to honorably exit military service and go home when his obligations expired as his letters terminate at this point and the book is concluded with others.

Just as an interesting aside, Rufus Dawes happened to be the Great Grandson of William Dawes who, along with Samuel Prescott and Paul Revere helped to warn the Massachusetts countryside that April night in 1775 that the Regulars were coming! Highly recommended for anyone interested in the Civil War. show less