From Conciliation to Conquest: The Sack of Athens and the Court-Martial of Colonel John B. Turchin (2006)

In the summer of 1862, the U.S. Army court martialed Colonel John B. Turchin, a Russian-born Union officer, for'outrages'committed by his troops in Athens, Alabama In the summer of 1862, the U.S. Army court martialed Colonel John B. Turchin, a Russian-born Union officer, for offenses committed by his troops in Athens, Alabama, including looting, safe cracking, the vandalization of homes, and the rape of young black women. The pillage of Athens violated a government policy of conciliation; it was hoped that if Southern civilians were treated gently as citizens of the United States, they would soon return their allegiance to the federal government. By examining the volunteers who made up Turchin's force, the colonel's trial, his subsequent promotion, the policy debate surrounding the incident and the public reaction to the outcome, the authors further illuminate one of the most provocative questions in Civil War studies: how did the policy set forth by President Lincoln evolve from one of conciliation to one far more modern in nature, placing the burden of war on the civilian population of the South? In The Summer Of 1862, The U.s. Army Court-martialed Colonel John B. Turchin, A Russian-born Union Officer, For Outrages Committed By His Troops In Athens, Alabama. By Modern Standards, The Outrages Were Minor: Stores Looted, Safes Cracked, And Homes Vandalized; Although There Was One Documented Act Of Personal Violence, The Rape Of A Young Black Woman. The Pillage Of Athens Violated A Government Policy Of Conciliation; It Was Hoped That If Southern Civilians Were Treated Gently As Citizens Of The United States, They Would Soon Return Their Allegiance To The Federal Government. By Following Turchin To Athens And Examining The Volunteers Who Made Up His Force, The Colonel's Trial, His Subsequent Promotion To Brigadier General, The Policy Debate, And Public Reaction To The Outcome, The Authors Further Illuminate One Of The Most Provocative Questions In Civil War Studies: How Did Union Policy Evolve From One Of Conciliation To One Far More Modern In Nature, Placing The Burden Of War On The Civilian Population Of The South?--jacket. Introduction -- The Policy -- The Man -- The Men -- Advanced Basic -- Leadership -- The Orders -- The Campaign -- Outrage -- The Nomination -- The Indictment -- The Court-martial -- The Switch -- Confirmation -- The Verdict -- The Conquering Hero -- Afterward -- Epilogue. George C. Bradley And Richard L. Dahlen. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [275]-290) And Index. In the summer of 1862, the U.S. Army court martialed Colonel John B. Turchin, a Russian-born Union officer, for "outrages" committed by his troops in Athens, Alabama In the summer of 1862, the U.S. Army court martialed Colonel John B. Turchin, a Russian-born Union officer, for offenses committed by his troops in Athens, Alabama, including looting, safe cracking, the vandalization of homes, and the rape of young black woman. The pillage of Athens violated a government policy of conciliation; it was hoped that if Southern civilians were treated gently as citizens of the United States, they would soon return their allegiance to the federal government. By examining the volunteers who made up Turchins force, the colonel's trial, his subsequent promotion, the policy debate surrounding the incident and the public reaction to the outcome, the authors further illuminate one of the most provocative questions in Civil War studies: how did the policy set forth by President Lincoln evolve from one of conciliation to one far more modern in nature, placing the burden of war on the civilian population of the South? In the summer of 1862, the U.S. Army court martialed Colonel John B. Turchin, a Russian-born Union officer, for outrages committed by his troops in Athens, Alabama. By modern standards, the outrages were minor: stores looted, safes cracked, and homes vandalized. There was one documented act of personal violence, the rape of a young black woman. The pillage of Athens violated a government policy of conciliation; it was hoped that if Southern civilians were treated gently as citizens of the United States, they would soon return their allegiance to the federal government. By following Turchin to Athens and examining the volunteers who made up his force, the colonel's trial, his subsequent promotion, the policy debate, and public reaction to the outcome, the authors further illuminate one of the most provocative questions in Civil War studies: how did the policy set forth by President Lincoln evolve from one of conciliation to one far more modern in nature, placing the burden of war on the civilian population of the South? In the summer of 1862, the US Army court martialed Colonel John B Turchin, a Russian-born Union officer, for ""outrages"" committed by his troops in Athens, Alabama. By following Turchin to Athens and examining the volunteers who made up his force, this work illuminates one of the provocative questions in Civil War studies.