Rebel Yell & the Yankee Hurrah: The Civil War Journal of a Maine Volunteer - Softcover

Haley, John W.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0892722509 ISBN 13: 9780892722501

Publisher: Down East Books, 1987

Synopsis

On an "I will if you will" dare, John Haley enlisted in the 17th Maine Regiment in August 1862 "for three years, unless sooner discharged." ("Discharged, shot, or starved" would have been more accurate, Haley later wryly observed.) Though a reluctant soldier at first, he served steadfastly in the Army of the Potomac for nearly three years, participating in some of the most significant battles of the Civil War. John Haley was not the only soldier to record each day's events in his journal by firelight or by picket's lantern, for his was a literate generation. He was unusual in that he later painstakingly rewrote his battlefield notes, "reflecting at leisure" and adding fascinating political and personal commentary to produce the remarkable volume he calls Haley's Chronicles.

About this title

Review:

A significant bit of Americana and an absolute must for Civil War buffs. Publishers Weekly This reviewer has never read a Civil War journal quite like this one. Haley was a wonderfully witty writer...the universal soldier...The Rebel Yell & the Yankee Hurrah is destined to become a classic among Civil War journals. Civil War Times The journal is a real "find" which provides poignant insight into the war as viewed by a young, articulate man in the ranks. Blue & Gray Magazine Haley's journal is a wealth of details, from the daily mileage counts of marching over hill and dale, frequently in foul weather and unfamiliar terrain, to encounters with strangers of great wealth or great poverty. The Quoddy Tides

About the Author:

Freelance writer Ruth Silliker lives in Saco, Maine with her husband. She unearthed John Haley's chronicles in 1981, while researching another project at Saco's Dyer Library, and she was so taken with her discovery that she put aside her other writing pursuits in order to devote all her time and energy to editing this memoir.

About this edition

• Publisher: Down East Books
• Publication date: 1987
• ISBN 10: 0892722509
• ISBN 13: 9780892722501
• Binding: Paperback
• Editor: Silliker Ruth L.