The calculus of violence : how Americans fought the Civil War

Winner of the Jefferson Davis AwardWinner of the Johns Family Book AwardWinner of the Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Award“A work of deep intellectual seriousness, sweeping and yet also delicately measured, this book promises to resolve longstanding debates about the nature of the Civil War.”―Gregory P. Downs, author of After AppomattoxShiloh, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg―tens of thousands of soldiers died on these iconic Civil War battlefields, and throughout the South civilians suffered terrible cruelty. At least three-quarters of a million lives were lost during the American Civil War. Given its seemingly indiscriminate mass destruction, this conflict is often thought of as the first “total war.” But Aaron Sheehan-Dean argues for another interpretation.The Calculus of Violence demonstrates that this notoriously bloody war could have been much worse. Military forces on both sides sought to contain casualties inflicted on soldiers and civilians. In Congress, in church pews, and in letters home, Americans debated the conditions under which lethal violence was legitimate, and their arguments differentiated carefully among victims―women and men, black and white, enslaved and free. Sometimes, as Sheehan-Dean shows, these well-meaning restraints led to more carnage by implicitly justifying the killing of people who were not protected by the laws of war. As the Civil War raged on, the Union’s confrontations with guerrillas and the Confederacy’s confrontations with black soldiers forced a new reckoning with traditional categories of lawful combatants and raised legal disputes that still hang over military operations around the world today.In examining the agonizing debates about the meaning of a just war in the Civil War era, Sheehan-Dean discards conventional abstractions―total, soft, limited―as too tidy to contain what actually happened on the ground. “a Work Of Deep Intellectual Seriousness, Sweeping And Yet Also Delicately Measured, This Book Promises To Resolve Longstanding Debates About The Nature Of The Civil War.” —gregory P. Downs, Author Of After Appomattoxshiloh, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg—tens Of Thousands Of Soldiers Died On These Iconic Civil War Battlefields, And Throughout The South Civilians Suffered Terrible Cruelty. At Least Three-quarters Of A Million Lives Were Lost During The American Civil War. Given Its Seemingly Indiscriminate Mass Destruction, This Conflict Is Often Thought Of As The First “total War.” But Aaron Sheehan-dean Argues For Another Interpretation.the Calculus Of Violence Demonstrates That This Notoriously Bloody War Could Have Been Much Worse. Military Forces On Both Sides Sought To Contain Casualties Inflicted On Soldiers And Civilians. In Congress, In Church Pews, And In Letters Home, Americans Debated The Conditions Under Which Lethal Violence Was Legitimate, And Their Arguments Differentiated Carefully Among Victims—women And Men, Black And White, Enslaved And Free. Sometimes, As Sheehan-dean Shows, These Well-meaning Restraints Led To More Carnage By Implicitly Justifying The Killing Of People Who Were Not Protected By The Laws Of War. As The Civil War Raged On, The Union’s Confrontations With Guerillas And The Confederacy’s Confrontations With Black Soldiers Forced A New Reckoning With Traditional Categories Of Lawful Combatants And Raised Legal Disputes That Still Hang Over Military Operations Around The World Today.in Examining The Agonizing Just War Debates Of The Civil War Era, Sheehan-dean Discards Conventional Abstractions—total, Soft, Limited—as Too Tidy To Contain What Actually Happens On The Ground. Shiloh, Chancellorsville, Gettysburgtens of thousands of soldiers died on these battlefields, and throughout the Southern states civilians suffered terrible cruelty. At least three-quarters of a million lives were lost during the American Civil War. Given its seemingly indiscriminate mass destruction, this conflict is often thought of as the first total war. But Aaron Sheehan-Dean argues for another interpretation. The Calculus of Violence demonstrates that this notoriously bloody war could have been much worse. Military forces on both sides sought to contain casualties inflicted on soldiers and civilians. In Congress, in church pews, and in letters home, Americans debated the conditions under which lethal violence was legitimate, and their arguments differentiated carefully among victimswomen and men, black and white, enslaved and free. But as Sheehan-Dean shows, these well-meaning restraints could lead to more carnage by implicitly justifying the killing of people who were not protected by the laws of war. As the Civil War raged on, the Unions confrontations with guerillas and the Confederacys confrontations with black soldiers forced a new reckoning with traditional categories of lawful combatants and raised legal disputes that still hang over military operations around the world today. In examining the agonizing Just War debates of the Civil War era, Sheehan-Dean discards conventional abstractionstotal, soft, limitedas being too tidy to contain what actually happens on the ground. He helps us appreciate instead how the wars participants lived with the contradictions inherent in a conflict that was both violent and restrained. Cover Title Page Copyright Dedication Contents Introduction: The Puzzle of the Civil War 1. ​Who Can Make War? 2. ​The Rising of the People 3. ​Soldiers and Citizens 4. ​Kindling the Fires of Liberty 5. ​Unnecessary Violence 6. ​Discipline, Order, and Justice 7. ​Children of God 8. ​The Importance of States Conclusion: The Double-Edged Sword Notes Acknowledgments Illustration Credits Index Discarding tidy abstractions about the conduct of war, Aaron Sheehan-Dean shows that the notoriously bloody US Civil War could have been much worse. Despite agonizing debates over Just War and careful differentiation among victims, Americans could not avoid living with the contradictions inherent in a conflict that was both violent and restrained.-- Provided by publisher