Profile of a Citizen Army: Shiloh's Soldiers

Based on an analysis of the letters, diaries, and reminiscences of approximately 450 raw recruits at the Battle of Shiloh in the American Civil War, the study elaborates a comparative profile of the Civil War volunteers in contrast to professional armies. The analysis assesses sources of combat motivation such as political articulateness, nationalism, attitudes toward officers, relations with the home front, and how these affected fighting style and the citizen-soldier ethos.