The Sixth Wisconsin and the Long Civil War

“Of great interest and value to Civil War enthusiasts, historians, and students, Marten’s account offers a detailed exploration of the war’s long-term impact. The book’s literary quality is exceptional, presenting a well-researched and engaging narrative that captivates from start to finish.”—Library Journal, STARRED review

“James Marten should be commended for delivering such an important and interesting addition to the growing scholarship covering Civil War regiments.”—Emerging Civil War

“Compelling. . . . [Marten’s] research is exhaustive. . . . Readers interested in a deep dive into how soldiers in one regiment experienced the Civil War and then, in the postwar years, commemorated that conflict, will find much of value here.”—Civil War Monitor’s Best Civil War Books of 2025

“Ground breaking. . . . This is important scholarship for anyone interested in the Civil War, the Eastern Theater, regimental history, and memory of soldiers.”—NYMAS Review

“The plentiful vignettes straight from the soldiers’ mouths [is] the very thing that elevates the book and makes it so interesting. . . . The Sixth Wisconsin is an excellent addition to any Civil War library because it uniquely examines the perspective of individual members of one regiment across the entire expanse of the conflict and into the postwar years beyond.”—Journal of Military History

“The Sixth Wisconsin stand[s] out over other regiment histories. . . . Marten’s research and work on the Sixth Wisconsin extends the lifespan of the regiment by emphasizing the variety of ways the war took its toll on these men.”—Journal of Southern History

“Marten skillfully recaptures the world of the Sixth Wisconsin regiment in all its diversity. He deftly handles military operations and combat with just the right combination of strategic and tactical detail. And he vividly recaptures the humanity of the common soldier, from suffering to frolic and from remembrance to recrimination. This is an outstanding piece of work by a historian of great depth and range. It should become the gold standard for any work on a Civil War regiment.”–George C. Rable, University of Alabama

“James Marten’s The Sixth Wisconsin and the Long Civil War strips the gloss from our memory of the Civil War and brilliantly provides readers the gritty reality of the soldiers’ experience and the terribly high price paid to preserve the Union and destroy slavery.” — D. Scott Hartwig, author of I Dread the Thought of the Place