War Stuff

This important book makes us aware, as never before, of enormous civilian suffering during

the Civil War. It invigorates Civil War studies by treating military history, material culture, the

environment, gender, cultural history, and military–civilian relations from a fresh perspective

and in a deeply researched manner. Cashin shows that in both sections, but especially in the

South, soldiers ruthlessly competed with civilians for resources. The consequences included

widespread hunger, starvation, deforestation, the invasion and destruction of many homes,

and the breakdown of long-established patterns of communalism in the South. This is an

outstanding work by an energetic, insightful, and accomplished scholar.

Paul D. Escott, author of Lincoln’s Dilemma: Blair, Sumner, and the Republican Struggle over Racism and Equality in the Civil War Era

With eloquent prose and rich detail, this book – the first true environmental history of the

Civil War – demonstrates the staggering ecological costs of the conflict and the utter failure

of courts and politicians to safeguard civilians in the face of inadequate supply lines and a

breakdown in military discipline. In this brilliant examination of the intimate connections

between military and environmental history, one of the preeminent historians of the Civil

War era offers strikingly original insights into how the struggle for resources and logistical

challenges shaped military tactics, civilian morale, class and race relations, and the future of

the South’s economy.”

Steven Mintz, author of The Prime of Life: A History of American Adulthood

“Expertly researched and beautifully written, War Stuff is a must-read for anyone interested in

the Civil War and for all who wish to understand the fascinating, complex ways that war (any

war) can fundamentally alter the manner in which humans interact with each other and with

the natural world. Integrating material culture, environmental history, and war and society

studies, Cashin’s book is a tour de force that will shape Civil War studies for years to come.”

Lisa M. Brady, author of War Upon the Land: Military Strategy and the Transformation of Southern Landscapes during the American Civil War