Civil War America : Midnight in America : Darkness, Sleep, and Dreams during the Civil War

The Civil War brought upheaval to America, not only in waking hours, but also at night. Sleeplessness plagued the Union and Confederate armies, and dreams of war glided through the sleeping brains of Americans in both North and South. Sometimes the war intruded on soldiers’ and civilians’ nightly visions, vividly bringing the horrors of the conflict to life. For others, nighttime was an escape from the hard realities of life and death in wartime. In this innovative new study, Jonathan W. White explores what dreams meant to Civil War-era Americans, and what their dreams reveal about their experiences during the war. He shows how Americans grappled with their deepest fears, desires and struggles while they slept, and how their dreams helped them make sense of the confusion, despair, and loneliness that engulfed them. __Midnight in America__ takes readers into the deepest, darkest, and most intimate places of the Civil War, connecting the emotional experiences of soldiers and civilians to the broader history of the conflict, confirming poets have known for centuries: that there are some truths that are only revealed in the world of darkness. The Civil War Brought Many Forms Of Upheaval To America, Not Only In Waking Hours But Also In The Dark Of Night. Sleeplessness Plagued The Union And Confederate Armies, And Dreams Of War Glided Through The Minds Of Americans In Both The North And South. Sometimes Their Nightly Visions Brought The Horrors Of The Conflict Vividly To Life. But For Others, Nighttime Was An Escape From The Hard Realities Of Life And Death In Wartime. In This Innovative New Study, Jonathan W. White Explores What Dreams Meant To Civil Warera Americans And What Their Dreams Reveal About Their Experiences During The War. He Shows How Americans Grappled With Their Fears, Desires, And Struggles While They Slept, And How Their Dreams Helped Them Make Sense Of The Confusion, Despair, And Loneliness That Engulfed Them. White Takes Readers Into The Deepest, Darkest, And Most Intimate Places Of The Civil War, Connecting The Emotional Experiences Of Soldiers And Civilians To The Broader History Of The Conflict, Confirming What Poets Have Known For Centuries: That There Are Some Truths That Are Only Revealed In The World Of Darkness. Amazon. The Soldier's Rest -- The Soldier's Dream -- Civilians' Dreams -- African American Dreams -- Dreams Of The Dying -- Dreams In Popular Culture -- Lincoln's Dreams Of Death -- Epilogue: It Seems Like A Dream. Jonathan W. White. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 191-260) And Index. The Civil War brought many forms of upheaval to America, not only in waking hours but also in the dark of night. Sleeplessness plagued the Union and Confederate armies, and dreams of war glided through the minds of Americans in both the North and South. Sometimes their nightly visions brought the horrors of the conflict vividly to life. But for others, nighttime was an escape from the hard realities of life and death in wartime. In this innovative new study, Jonathan W. White explores what dreams meant to Civil War era Americans and what their dreams reveal about their experiences during the war. He shows how Americans grappled with their fears, desires, and struggles while they slept, and how their dreams helped them make sense of the confusion, despair, and loneliness that engulfed them. White takes readers into the deepest, darkest, and most intimate places of the Civil War, connecting the emotional experiences of soldiers and civilians to the broader history of the conflict, confirming what poets have known for centuries: that there are some truths that are only revealed in the world of darkness. " Cover -- Contents -- Preface -- Chapter One. The Soldier's Rest -- Chapter Two. The Soldier's Dream -- Chapter Three. Civilians' Dreams -- Chapter Four. African American Dreams -- Chapter Five. Dreams of the Dying -- Chapter Six. Dreams in Popular Culture -- Chapter Seven. Lincoln's Dreams of Death -- Epilogue. It Seems Like a Dream -- Note on Method -- Acknowledgments -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- J -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- R -- S -- T -- V -- W