05/22/2023
In his deeply researched debut, psychiatrist Goldman parlays decades of experience in academic and clinical medicine, including the treatment of combat veterans, into a unique history of the Civil War era. Focusing primarily on the Union Army’s Left-Armed Corps of amputee veterans, Goldman investigates the “warrior identity that motivates veterans in civilian life just as in uniform,” drawing on unpublished letters to reveal servicemen’s evolving views of the conflict and their lifelong commitment to the “unfinished work” of racial equality. Goldman delves into the important service that Union Army veterans provided in the Freedman’s Bureau, their vociferous opposition to Andrew Johnson’s racial policies and the Ku Klux Klan, and their “grand-scale political activism,” which helped Republicans in the 1866 midterm elections and eased the way for the ratification of the 14th and 15th Amendments. Even as the nation “stripped the Civil War of its underlying ideology and racial foundation,” Goldman writes, those “who defeated the Confederacy remembered the truth” and continued to fight for equality. Fresh and persuasive, this study of Union veterans whose battles did not end at Appomattox will appeal to Civil War buffs and fans of civil rights histories. (July )
Numerous recent histories have taken new approaches in examining the tumultuous events in post-Civil War America that led to the collapse of the civil rights agenda advanced by the Republican Party in Congress, the failure of Reconstruction in the South, and the subsequent rise of an era of entrenched racial inequality represented by Jim Crow laws. In his new book, One More War to Fight , Stephen A. Goldman centers the political views and activism of northern soldiers and sailors in this larger narrative.... Remarkable strengths of this work are Goldman’s investigation of the writings of the Left-Armed Corps and his further investigation, beyond their contest letters, into their postwar experiences, whether with the Freedmen’s Bureau or as active members of the GAR. He demonstrates their dedication to uphold the causes for which they fought not merely through their left-handed compositions but also in the postwar deeds. This work is an essential read for any historian studying Civil War veterans or northern postwar politics. Its chapters outlining the broader history of Reconstruction, Redemption, and the rise of Jim Crow make it accessible to any reader interested in this time period as well.
H-Net: Humanities and Social Science Reviews Online
One More War to Fight is an impressive, moving book that commemorates American Civil War veterans and the causes of Patriotism and Justice for which they lived.
The essence of Dr. Goldman’s study is the lasting influence of military service on individual soldiers, particularly those with combat experience. One More War to Fight touches on the root causes of this historic contest…and the psychological effect of involvement in what, from hindsight, was an ‘unfinished work’ in the cause of freedom and equality for all Americans.
Perhaps this is why their stories are best told by a trained psychiatrist, particularly this author, who has not only treated those who have been to war, but also extensively studied the Civil War and Reconstruction. Dr. Goldman’s work offers an innovative look at the most important event in United States history, and not only how, but why, its great impact continues to this day.
Stephen Goldman offers a compelling argument in this comprehensively researched volume that addresses ways in which certain groups of northern white Union veterans supported a “just” Reconstruction that aimed to protect and extend the rights of African Americans. Of particular interest is Goldman’s discussion of the role of the members of the Veterans Reserve Corps (wounded warriors), whose political activism, especially in veterans’ organizations; Freedmen’s Bureau work; and opposition to Andrew Johnson’s Reconstruction plans, countered the prevailing prejudices and racism of post-Civil War America. This is a study that will enlighten both the serious student of history as well as the general reader.
In One More War to Fight , a deeply researched, highly readable study of the most terrible war in American history, Stephen Goldman shows that it is not only Southerners, and not only traditionalists, over whose minds and memories the war exerted lasting power. The lesson of Civil War trauma and service is eternal. The history of the Left-Armed Corps is a notable chapter in this story. One More War to Fight ably examines the Civil War from an unaccustomed angle – a perspective that reflects Goldman’s experience as a psychiatrist, as well as his affection for history.
The Key Reporter (Phi Beta Kappa Society)
One More War to Fight is an exceptional book that draws the reader through chapter after chapter with a clear writing style and selection of quotes that blend so well into the narrative. Dr. Goldman outlines a history that began over 160 years ago, but which alludes to the scourge of white nationalism and bigotry that, today, has captured parts of our culture and portions of the polity. With the incandescent intellectual and creative contributions Black Americans have made, why are these so difficult for some people to see? To read this book only as a history is to miss its most powerful message.
Goldman, a psychiatrist rather than a trained historian, is nevertheless well versed in the literature and adept at reading the historical record. Indeed, his professional emphasis on the psyche of combat veterans helped me assess the worldview of these men and served to be a much-needed look at the lingering effects of psychological trauma. Those of you who have tuned in to the so-called “dark turn” niche in Civil War studies will feel right at home here…. Reading this book one will quickly understand that the postwar historical narrative is not so simple, and that broader efforts to establish equality find their roots in the ashes of war. One More War to Fight is a welcome addition to the growing collection of volumes on the subject of Civil War veterans and should be an enlightening source for a long time to come.
Numerous recent histories have taken new approaches in examining the tumultuous events in post-Civil War America that led to the collapse of the civil rights agenda advanced by the Republican Party in Congress, the failure of Reconstruction in the South, and the subsequent rise of an era of entrenched racial inequality represented by Jim Crow laws. In his new book, One More War to Fight , Stephen A. Goldman centers the political views and activism of northern soldiers and sailors in this larger narrative.... Remarkable strengths of this work are Goldman’s investigation of the writings of the Left-Armed Corps and his further investigation, beyond their contest letters, into their postwar experiences, whether with the Freedmen’s Bureau or as active members of the GAR. He demonstrates their dedication to uphold the causes for which they fought not merely through their left-handed compositions but also in the postwar deeds. This work is an essential read for any historian studying Civil War veterans or northern postwar politics. Its chapters outlining the broader history of Reconstruction, Redemption, and the rise of Jim Crow make it accessible to any reader interested in this time period as well.
Goldman documents the story of Northern veterans.... His research for this book helped save historical documents that may have been lost due to lack of interest.... One More War to Fight is an excellent historical nonfiction.
Nathan's Papers: Books for CONGRESS
One More War to Fight should earn a place on the shelves of post-war studies and collections. It is a focused look at some Union veterans’ continuing battles through politics, words, and actions to support freedom and respond to the Lost Cause.
Steve Goldman has taken us to new ground in his study of Reconstruction, Jim Crow, reconciliation, and remembrance following the Civil War. Goldman’s double identity as a psychiatrist and solid Civil War scholar combine with his narrative skills to make this a highly original, riveting view of the contentious post-war events from the perspective of that special breed, Union veterans who lived by the bayonet and survived to carry on the fight for equality in the decades to follow.
Stephen Goldman offers a compelling argument in this comprehensively researched volume that addresses ways in which certain groups of northern white Union veterans supported a “just” Reconstruction that aimed to protect and extend the rights of African Americans. Of particular interest is Goldman’s discussion of the role of the members of the Veterans Reserve Corps (wounded warriors), whose political activism, especially in veterans’ organizations; Freedmen’s Bureau work; and opposition to Andrew Johnson’s Reconstruction plans, countered the prevailing prejudices and racism of post-Civil War America. This is a study that will enlighten both the serious student of history as well as the general reader.
