Lincoln's Loyalists: Union Soldiers from the Confederacy

Lincoln's Loyalists examines the untold story of Southern white men who fought for the Union Army during the Civil War. The book documents these soldiers from each Confederate state, analyzing their motivations and experiences. Through letters, military records, and other primary sources, Current reconstructs the challenges faced by these men who chose the Union over their home states. He explores their recruitment, deployment, and the consequences they faced within their divided communities. The work tracks several key military units and individual soldiers across major battles and campaigns. Current provides context about the political climate and social pressures in different Confederate regions that influenced men's decisions to support the Union. The book reveals the complexity of Civil War loyalties and challenges simplified narratives about a unified Confederate cause. Through these personal accounts, Current illustrates how the conflict divided not just the nation but individual states, communities, and families.

Readers find this academic text provides details about Southern Unionists that aren't covered in other Civil War books. Multiple reviews note the book fills an important research gap but can be dry and dense. Liked: - Thorough research with extensive primary sources - Debunks myths about Southern unity during the Civil War - State-by-state breakdown of Union recruitment numbers - Personal accounts from Southern Unionists Disliked: - Academic writing style lacks narrative flow - Too focused on statistics over personal stories - Some chapters get repetitive - Limited coverage of African American soldiers Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (14 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (6 ratings) Sample review: "The research is solid but the presentation is dry. Would have benefited from more first-hand accounts to balance the statistics." - Goodreads reviewer Few reader reviews exist online, likely due to the book's academic nature and specialized topic.

The South vs. The South: How Anti-Confederate Southerners Shaped the Course of the Civil War by William W. Freehling The book examines how border state Unionists and anti-Confederate southerners contributed to the Union's military victory through resistance and military service.

Southerners in Blue: They Defied the Confederacy by Don K. Umphrey This work documents the stories of Southern families who remained loyal to the Union and the persecution they faced in Confederate territories.

Desertion during the Civil War by Ella Lonn The text presents research on Confederate and Union deserters, including Southerners who abandoned the Confederate cause to support the Union.

Confederate Reckoning: Power and Politics in the Civil War South by Stephanie McCurry The book reveals internal conflicts within the Confederacy, including resistance from poor whites and enslaved people who undermined the Confederate war effort.

Bitterly Divided: The South's Inner Civil War by David Williams This study explores the class conflicts, regional divisions, and anti-Confederate movements that fractured Southern society during the Civil War.

🔵 Despite being from Confederate states, approximately 100,000 white southerners served in the Union Army during the Civil War. 🔵 Author Richard N. Current won the prestigious Bancroft Prize in American History for his 1958 book "The Lincoln Nobody Knows." 🔵 East Tennessee was a particular stronghold of Union loyalty, with over 31,000 men from the region joining Federal forces. 🔵 Many southern Unionists faced severe persecution from their Confederate neighbors, including property confiscation, imprisonment, and even execution for their loyalty to the Union. 🔵 The book reveals that Union loyalty in the South often followed geographic patterns, with mountainous regions and areas with fewer enslaved people typically showing stronger Union sentiment.