Touch the Elbow - Blogging the Civil War

Because Tom wrote a fairly extensive review of Charles Sanders’ book “While in the Hands of the Enemy: Military Prisons of the Civil War” I’m going to purposely keep my own remarks short.




Once in a while a book comes along that smashes what has passed for “the truth” right in the mouth. Sanders, through carefully documented and balanced research, has destroyed all previous efforts to excuse Union and Confederate treatment of prisoners. If you haven’t read the book, buy it. It will turn your existing notions and opinions upside down, while making you sad, angry and ashamed all at the same time.

Very simply, this book should be considered the gospel when discussing the treatment of P.O.W’s during the war.