Books
about Farm Life, Small Town Life, the Midwest, and
Scandinavian-Americans
Featuring
the Heartwarming Humor of "Those Lutheran
Ladies"
Civil War
Minnesota
in the
Civil
War: An Illustrated History
by
Kenneth Carley
Although
Minnesota was one of the least populated states in 1861 when the
Civil War
broke out, and had achieved statehood less than 3 years earlier,
Minnesotans
—many of Scandinavian origin who had recently arrived in
America, and
quite a few who had not even become citizens in the U.S. yet —
made
enormous contributions to the Union cause and its ultimate success. In
several
northern states, specifically MN and WI, whole regiments were made up
of
Scandinavian immigrants.
Books and articles have been written about various individual
Scandinavian-American regiments, but Carley's book -- rich in detail --
presents the first comprehensive picture of Minnesota's involvement in
the Civil War. Carley, former editor of the magazine, "Minnesota
History", knows historical material and his well-researched text
is fully supplemented with soldiers' diaries and letters, rare
photographs, tintypes, drawings, maps, uniforms and equipment.
Appropriately subtitled "An Illustrated History," this book
creates a vivid picture of the daily life of Minnesota's
soldiers. Helpful and interestingly written are the Appendices
which include a chronology of Minnesota's involvement in the Civil
War and a list of Minnesota's regiments, respective officers and
action in various battles. Also helpful, for one doing family
research, is an index of names mentioned in the book.
Lifelong
interest in history is apparent in the Foreword by Richard Moe,
currently
President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and in the
Introduction and Epilogue by Brian Horrigan, Exhibit Curator and also
Co-chair
of the Education and Cultural Heritage Outreach Committees at the MN
Historical
Society. Both are authors in their own right, and their talent for
making
history come alive through great writing is apparent in the sections
they
contributed to this book. Award-winning author Horrigan is also
co-editor of Christmas in Minnesota.
CW
- 02A Hardcover
$49.95
CW
-02B Paperback
$19.95
Ole Goes to War by Jerry
Rosholt
Interest
in the Civil War had a come-back of sorts in the past decade perhaps
because grandchildren of Civil War Veterans were few in number and
there was concern that the history and stories of these veterans would
also be lost. Several books were written about a few of the regiments
and some of the leaders among 10,000 Norwegian immigrants in the Civil
War. However, with its strong interest in research and the urgency
to
collect as much first-hand knowledge as possible, the curator at
the Vesterheim Norwegian-American
Museum in Decorah, IA asked Jerry Rosholt to compile a
database of Norwegian immigrants who fought in the U.S. Civil War.
Rosholt
had begun his professional life as a newspaper journalist and moved
into television working for the Huntley-Brinkley Report on NBC.
Eventually, he became an Emmy Award winner for his work as producer and head
editor of NBC
Nightly News. Eight years into retirement, Rosholt accepted
Vesterheim's challenge and spent the next 7 years working on the
database. He was able to identify
6,500 of the 10,000 Norwegian-Americans who volunteered to fight in the
Civil War. Using the soldiers' own words, photos, and belongings
to
explore the personal experiences of these volunteers and their
families, Rosholt issued this book and the museum sponsored a special
exhibit of this research in 2003.
In September 2006,
Rosholt was awarded the St. Olav's medal by King Harald V of Norway “in recognition of
[his] great services to Norway, in particular [his]
active involvement with the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum on its
Civil War project." Rosholt died in 2008, but his
"retirement job" lives on to the benefit of other researchers and
to individuals working on family geneologies.As part of a larger project for
Vesterheim, a great user-friendly database is available at www.vesterheim.org/CivilWar/db/.
"Oh
yes, 1,000 of the 6,500 identified were named 'Ole' -- thus the title
for
the book. "And, one of these Ole's was my great-grandfather. He and his
two brothers served in the 15th Wisconsin Regiment and all three have
information
included in the database. "My Ole's" twenty-year-old brother died in
Kentucky.
He had been in the war less than a year, and in America less than two
years." SN
CW - 08
Paperback $14.95
No more Gallant a
Deed: A Civil War Memoir of the first Minnesota Volunteers
by James A. Wright, Orderly Sergeant in
Company F
Steven J. Keillor, editor Wright's
memoir is based on his diaries and letters from this 3 years in
Company
F of the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the Civil War.
Painstakingly edited by Keillor, this book has been called the
fullest
personal account of the battles, marches, and soldier life of one of
the most renowned regiments in the Army of the Potomac. Richard Moe,
referred to before on this page, has
written that this book "is one of the best
first-person accounts of the
First Minnesota's remarkable story. It is certainly the most complete."
This
regiment took part in every significant battle and action in the war in
the East from 1861 to 1864; Bull Run, the Peninsula Campaign,
Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and Bristoe Station. At
Gettysburg, the First Minnesota halted the Confederate charge, and
suffered an 82 percent casualty rate. Wright's account of this battle
is striking in its description of the horror the men felt at facing
their foes, their determination to do their duty, and the shock of the
loss of so many of their comrades. Wright recalls the long
marches, the
poor food, the inadequate shelter, the dedicated officers, the
debilitating illnesses, the longing for home, and yet a sense of pride
to preserve the Union.
Keillor,
a college teacher and author of books based on various facets of MN
history, "stumbled" upon Wright's the letters and
manuscript-in-the-making while Keillow was doing research for
another
book.
CW - 03 Hardcover $34.95
The
Last Full Measure
by Richard Moe
Shipment just arrived at Rural Route
Bookstore.
Description to be added by Sunday.
CW-04
Paperback $17.95
Go If You Think It Your Duty
by Andrea R. Foroughi
Shipment just arrived at Rural Route
Bookstore.
Description to be added by Sunday.
CW-05
Hardcover $32.95
Brackett's
Battalion
by Kurt D. Bergemann
Shipment just arrived at Rural Route
Bookstore.
Description to be added by Sunday.
CW-06
Paperback $15.95
Order
by using the 'Place an Order' form or you
may order by
phone (800 494-9124). For payment and shipping charges, see 'Place an Order.'
All Caragana Press
products are
available at wholesale prices to qualified retailers, organizations,
churches, schools, and libraries. Call 800 494-9124 for details.
Minnesota
in the
Civil
War: An Illustrated History
Ole Goes to War by Jerry
Rosholt
