A More Civil War

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224 pp., 6.125 x 9.25, notes, bibl., index

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4696-5905-3
Published: February 2020
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4696-3051-9
Published: October 2016
eBook ISBN: 978-1-4696-3052-6
Published: September 2016

Civil War America

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Awards & distinctions

Finalist, Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize, Gettysburg College and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

During the Civil War, Americans confronted profound moral problems about how to fight in the conflict. In this innovative book, D. H. Dilbeck reveals how the Union sought to wage a just war against the Confederacy. He shows that northerners fought according to a distinct "moral vision of war," an array of ideas about the nature of a truly just and humane military effort. Dilbeck tells how Union commanders crafted rules of conduct to ensure their soldiers defeated the Confederacy as swiftly as possible while also limiting the total destruction unleashed by the fighting. Dilbeck explores how Union soldiers abided by official just-war policies as they battled guerrillas, occupied cities, retaliated against enemy soldiers, and came into contact with Confederate civilians.

In contrast to recent scholarship focused solely on the Civil War's carnage, Dilbeck details how the Union sought both to deal sternly with Confederates and to adhere to certain constraints. The Union's earnest effort to wage a just war ultimately helped give the Civil War its distinct character, a blend of immense destruction and remarkable restraint.

About the Author

D. H. Dilbeck is assistant professor of history at Oklahoma Baptist University.
For more information about D. H. Dilbeck, visit the Author Page.

Reviews

“Concisely analyzes both the legal underpinning of the evolving rules of war and how they were applied in the field.”--Civil War Times

“Addresses important issues and provides insight into the difficult and complex questions confronting the North during this great and devastating conflict.”--New England Quarterly

“Well organized and deeply researched, with ample notes and an impressive bibliography. . . . It breaks new ground.”--Civil War News

“Valuable insight into the war that marks an embrace of modern warfare and abandonment of traditional just war ideals. Highly recommended.”--Choice

"D. H. Dilbeck presents a clear and provocative treatment of a very difficult and complex subject, offering a well-balanced assessment of the effort to conduct ‘hard war’ in a humane way. Nuanced, complex, and captivating."--George C. Rable, author of God’s Almost Chosen Peoples

"D. H. Dilbeck has produced a judicious, accessible, and fresh book answering the complicated question: was the American Civil War a just war? A More Civil War examines the elements of a conflict waged hard but one that also yielded humane and legal restrictions codified by Columbia professor Francis Lieber in 1863. An excellent introduction to the role of morality and law in wartime for students and general readers alike."--Joan Waugh, author of U. S. Grant