BOOK REVIEW

Creighton, Margaret S. Colors of courage: Gettysburg’s forgotten history: immigrants, women, and African Americans in the Civil War’s defining battle

In ten words or less: The subtitle tells it all.
Review:
An examination of the Battle of Gettysburg with the emphasis on the immigrants who fought as soldiers (especially the Germans), African-Americans, and women. Oshkoshers might be interested in the information about Carl Schurz—the subject of the statue in Menominee Park, and of the other tales of the men of the Iron Brigade.
The contributions of immigrants, African-Americans, and women to the civil war are examined in author’s book. German-American soldiers, such as Corporal Adam Muezenberger, of Greenfield, WI, fought in the Union Army. Sometimes they were disparaged by native born Yankee troops, and called cowards.
Major General Carl Schurz, who came to American as a political exile in 1852 from Germany, was a commander of the Eleventh Corps. He joined the army in large part because he hated slavery and was committed to abolitionism and civil rights. For those who want to look beyond the military strategy, weapons, and army histories, this book shows the impact on most important battle of the war by immigrant soldiers, slaves and free men of color, and women.

Why bother? War is so much more than the armies and soldiers who fight it. Even those groups which had few rights under the government believed that freedom was worth sacrifice.