{"product_id":"2940015020045","title":"Under The Gun - Personal Reminiscences of a Woman in the Civil War","description":"One of the best books written on the Civil War – ever.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUnder the Gun by Annie Wittenmeyer gives a unique look at the war from a woman deeply involved in trying to make life easier for the sick and wounded soldiers.\u003cbr\u003eAnnie Wittenmeyer was Sanitary Agent for the Iowa State Sanitary Commission beginning in 1862 through the end of the war in 1865.  During that time she was often in the heat of the battle.  She was on the battlefield in Shiloh and at Vicksburg visiting the sick and wounded, in Military Field Hospitals.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe met often with General Grant, General McPherson, Secretary of War – Edwin Stanton, and even with President Abraham Lincoln.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut her stories are not about battles, or the heroic sides of the leaders, rather about ordinary soldiers, their sufferings, and of the people who tried to comfort them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe has a chapter on Mother Bickerdke, one of the great Civil War nurses, at the Battle of Corinth. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHungry and utterly exhausted as were the men, who, without food or rest, had fought all day, their first duty was to their wounded comrades. Every available building, and every church but one, was taken for hospital purposes; and long rows of tents were put up on the grounds of the Ladies' College. But there was a lack of supplies. There were no cots or pillows — only the bare ground. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003eAmong the heroic workers there, was Mother Bickerdyke, who could always find supplies if they were within reach. She took some wagons and a squad of men, and went down to the quartermaster's storehouse. \"Come on, boys,\" she said; \"we will see if we can find anything to make the wounded comfortable.\"   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe quartermaster was there to receive her, and to say, \"We have no hospital supplies; they are all given out.\"   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Then, I'll have to take what I can get. Boys, roll out some of those bales of hay and cotton! They will make better beds than the ground.\"   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"You must bring me an order, madam.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I have no time to hunt up officers to get orders.\" \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"But I am responsible for these supplies, and cannot let them go without proper orders.\"   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe wagons were soon loaded up, and the bales of hay and cotton were soon at the hospital tents. An axe cut the hoops, and the hay went flying into the tents in long even rows with the help of ready hands. An armful of cotton made a good pillow. All night long the work went on. Some with lanterns were searching among the dead for the wounded and bringing them in; others dressing the wounds. No one was idle. The utmost of strength and energy must be put forth at such a time.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnother chapter, recounts the founding of the Orphans’ Home Association, and how Mrs. Wittenmeyer got the government to donate buildings and supplies to found the Soldiers’ Orphans Home at Davenport, Iowa.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEvery story she tells – deals with the soldiers’ sufferings, and how she, or the women working like her struggled to make life better for them, in little ways.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReading this book gives you a whole different look at the Civil War.","brand":"history-bytes","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47069500801264,"sku":"2940015020045","price":5.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940015020045_p0.jpg?v=1763618938","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940015020045","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}