Thomas P. Lowry

"Lowry, a physician and medical historian, weaves a fascinating history of a little-discussed aspect (sex) of a much-discussed subject (the Civil War)." - Library Journal Drawing on a wide variety of primary sources - from letters that escaped the censoriousness of their writers' descendants to court-martial reports, prostitutes' diaries, and the modest remaining examples of very immodest Victorian erotica - Lowry argues that, in spite of Victorian mores, a thoroughly normal amount of sexual activity went on under the covers and in other places during the war."- Booklist This is the first book to cover all aspects of sexuality during the Civil War. Based on area original sources, including the soldiers' jokes, songs, letters, and diaries it provides a extraordinary look at life beyond the battlefield. Explore the secret life of the men in blue and grey - from pornography, bawdy songs, and prostitution to stories of love and marriage.

The Union army had over 75,000 courts-martial. The most controversial 1,100 came to Lincoln for a final decision. Would this man live or die? Would this officer be booted out in disgrace or given another chance? Did Lincoln mellow, become more merciful, as the war progressed? How did his clemency compare with that of Jefferson Davis? All these questions are answered by full Lincoln quotes and rigorous statistical analysis. Aspects of the war, hidden for generations, come to light here.

A true life story, which no book has presented before, of a poor soldier who plumbed the depths of misery, became a national hero, was punished for his good deeds, and ended as a wealthy man, married to a Polynesian princess. Twelve thousand Union men died in Andersonville prison. Atwater kept a secret list of the 12,000 dead, hidden in his coat lining. He knew that when the war ended, the families of the dead would want to know what happened to their loved ones. When he returned home, a copy was made of the list. The army bureaucrats refused to publish either copy and put Atwater in prison when he kept one copy hidden. Though weak from starvation, malaria, and diphtheria, he was put to hard labor when not in his cell. From this almost fatal low point he rose to unimaginable heights. At the end of his life he was embraced by a Royal family, proprietor of coffee, citrus, and sugar plantations, owner of a fleet of pearl schooners, and, with famous author Robert Louis Stevenson, co-owner of a steamship line. His life was one of astonishing triumphs and setbacks. His most precious possession vanished in the great San Francisco earthquake and fire. His wife's Tahiti home was blown up by German armored cruisers in 1914. His remarkable circle of friends included Red Cross founder Clara Barton, crusading editor Horace Greeley, and litterateur Henry Adams. An 8,000 pound cannon marks Atwater's memorial in Connecticut. His story is no fairy tale, but rests entirely on original documents and old photographs, in a narrative dramatically told.

The Lewis and Clark journals report an outbreak of venereal disease among the men three weeks after their visit with the Arikaras. The disease was most likely a result of their sexual contact with the Arikara women and most likely syphilis, yet there is no evidence of syphilis on the bones of the early 19th century Arikara. We examine this mystery and explanations for this discrepancy.

From fishing through different seasons to making use of safety pins, PVC pipe, and nail clippers, Gene Kugach serves up a new collection of useful fishing hints. He also includes instructions for filleting and dressing various kinds of fish and provides recipes such as Perch with Cheese Sauce, Baked Bullhead, and New England Fish Chowder. Includes detailed information on 31 species of fish, including sturgeon, walleye, perch, and bluegill.

As in his previous book, "Tarnished Eagles", Thomas Lowry - this time with Jack Welsh - brings to light the various misdeeds of Union officers. In this new book, the authors examine the relationship between the principles of the medical profession and the often Bzantine regulations of the army. As a result, the courts-martial in this book primarily fall into two categories: failure to practice proper medicine and failure to follow the procedures and administrative rules that govern army life, with some overlap. As usual, Lowry peppers many of these accounts with his dry wit, but he also offers penetrating analyses of the problems faced by many of these doctors, who often were forced to work under intolerable conditions.

This is an engaging roster of curmudgeons, drunkards, and fools in the early days of the Civil War.