Between Home and the Front: Civil War Letters of the Walters Family

During the Civil War, personal letters from Americans provide a unique insight into the horrific events and their effects on individuals, families, and communities. The letters from the Walters family, held by the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum, offer a perspective not often seen, including the exchange of correspondence between the home front and front line. The letters by Private David Walters and his wife Rachel reveal their poignant questions, answers, and sentiments, providing details about the lesser-known actions of the western theater of combat and the challenges faced by women on the home front. The letters offer valuable historical context and add incomparable details to the study of the Civil War.

Format: Hardback
Length: 230 pages
Publication date: 06 September 2022
Publisher: Indiana University Press

The personal letters of Americans during the Civil War offer a unique insight into the horrific events of the war and its impact on individuals, families, communities, and America. While many letters sent home survived, leaving half of the story untold, Between Home and the Front presents previously unpublished letters from the Walters family collection, held by the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum. These letters provide a perspective not often seen, showcasing the exchange of correspondence between the home front and the front line.

Private David Walters of the 5th Indiana Calvary and his wife Rachel shared their poignant letters in the collection. David's letters detail some of the lesser-known actions of the western theater of combat, such as Morgan's Raid. Rachel's letters, on the other hand, capture how she managed the household and a young child while serving as the family's hub of communication, receiving missives from David's brothers, Isaac and John Wesley, both of whom served with Indiana units. She then relayed the information to others.

The letters of the Walters family span from the early days of a Civil War soldier's enlistment to his widow's struggle in the aftermath of the war. They provide incomparable details to the study of the Civil War, covering various aspects of life during that period.

Between Home and the Front not only offers unique first-person accounts from those who experienced the Civil War but also includes meticulous annotations that provide valuable historical context for the events, people, and material culture described in the letters. The collection sheds light on the experiences of ordinary Americans and their contributions to the war effort.

In conclusion, Between Home and the Front is a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about the Civil War and its impact on American society. The letters of the Walters family provide a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people and their experiences during a tumultuous period in history.

Weight: 486g
Dimension: 236 x 158 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780253062963