In this book Mr. White looks at sleep and dreams during the Civil War and does an excellent job on a unique study of the Civil War. To be honest, when I picked up this book I thought it might be an intellectual study, one that "tries to link the excess sleep of urbanized Union soldiers towards a thoughtful approach of war vice the more rural Confederates who lacked sleep and thuis were more inclined to brutality and bigotry." Instead, this is a carefully considered look at sleep and how its lack affected soldiers. How Lincoln declined to have sleeping sentries shot even though this was the standard punishment for such an offense. The types of dreams soldiers had during the war. The types of dreams civilians had during the war. How soldiers dealt with dreams of their own deaths in combat. And, of course, the dreams of President Lincoln and his own supposed premonition of death.
White uses first-hand accounts of dreams written in journals and newspapers and excerpts from documents talking about sleep. It makes for an interesting read and is illustrated with contemporary artwork and photos. Well worth taking time for, especially if you're a Civil War reader.
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