Civil War In 50 Objects By Henry Holzer

The importance of the Civil War The Civil War in 50 Objects, by Henry Holzer and the New-York Historical Society, is a collection of fifty primary sources, varying in type and format. Each of these objects is accompanied by a description of the source, as well as a story which establishes the source in the proper context in history. Through the sources Holzer shows the importance of the Civil War, not only at the time they were created or used, but also establishes its significance for us today. The Civil War transformed the United States in many ways, of course the most noticeable and important being the ending of slavery. However, the war also transformed other aspects of the United States, such as the future of war. From the time the Civil

On both sides of the war, there were groups of soldiers who were called Zouaves. They wore bright red pants and blue shirts in a very old-fashioned and French style. They were known for their loyalty, courage, and ability. Thomas Wentworth Higginson, an abolitionist officer, wrote; “Nobody knows anything about these men who has not seen them in battle, … There is a fierce energy about them beyond anything of which I have ever read, unless it be the French Zouaves. It requires the strictest discipline to hold them in hand.” (Henry Holzer and the New-York Historical Society, The Civil War in 50 Objects, 81) A picture of the uniform is included on page 80 of Holzer’s book. It is easy to imagine how brave the men must have been to wear a uniform so bright and eye catching. This shows us just how important this cause was to them, and how proud they were of their ability. The Civil War was a very important event in the soldiers’ lives. They were ready to fight and possibly die to protect the cause they believed

Some of the criteria he includes is that mass armies met each other with weapons of slaughter, railroads were major advantages, and naval warfare was revolutionized by the ironclad ships that replaced wooden ships. The Civil War generals were aided by the telegraph, as well as the modern rifle and bullet. (xxvii-xxviii) Another example of this is seen on pages 126-132, where Holzer describes the CSS Virginia, and the USS Monitor. These ships were covered in steel plate, making them nearly impossible to damage. “Most daringly of all, the novel design featured a revolving gun turret, the first of its kind ever proposed and a direct forerunner of the rotating guns on modern warships.” If these men had not come up with this idea during the Civil war, it likely would have taken many years until another war before they figured it out. It led the way to better ships for each future