Animal Histories of the Civil War Era

During the Civil War, animals played a significant role, providing mobility, support, and companionship to soldiers. Horses and mules died in large numbers, and diseases swept through army herds. Pets of all kinds, including dogs, accompanied regiments. Soldiers also encountered wild animals, such as insects, fish, and alligators. Animal Histories of the Civil War Era explores how the animal world became deeply involved in the war, including the use of horses, camels, smaller wildlife, and animals as veterans. The volume argues for an animal-centered narrative to complement the human-centered accounts of the war and emphasizes the need to recognize and appreciate the animal experience of this period.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 30 March 2022
Publisher: Louisiana State University Press

Animals played a significant role in the Civil War, with horses and mules powering the Union and Confederate armies, providing mobility, pulling artillery pieces, and serving as fighting platforms for cavalrymen. Drafted to support the war effort, horses often died or suffered terrible wounds on the battlefield, while raging diseases also swept through army herds, killing tens of thousands of other equines. In addition to weaponized animals, pets of all kinds accompanied nearly every regiment during the war, including dogs, which served as unit mascots and were used in combat against the enemy. Soldiers often encountered a variety of wild animals, such as insects, exotic fish, and alligators, in the natural environment.

Animal Histories of the Civil War Era explores the complex relationship between animals and the war, shedding light on how the animal world became deeply involved in the most divisive moment in American history. The volume includes essays on the dominant role of horses in the war, the use of camels by individuals attempting to spread slavery in the American Southwest, the impact of smaller wildlife on soldiers and their environment, the congressional debate surrounding the creation of a national zoo, and the story of Beautiful Jim Key and his owner, a former slave. Other topics include canines, hogs, vegetarianism, and animals as veterans in post–Civil War America.

The contributors to this volume are scholars of animal history, who bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to their essays. Their insights provide a fresh perspective on the Civil War and its impact on animals, challenging traditional narratives and revealing new dimensions of the conflict. This volume is essential for anyone interested in animal history, American history, or the broader implications of human-animal relationships.

Weight: 251g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780807176917