The clash of armies in the American Civil War left hundreds of thousands
of men dead, wounded, or permanently damaged. Skirmishes and battles
could result in casualty numbers as low as one or two and as high as
tens of thousands. The carnage of the battlefield left a lasting
impression on those who experienced or viewed it, but in most cases the
armies quickly moved on to meet again at another time and place. When
the dust settled and the living armies moved on, what happened to the
dead left behind?
Unlike battle narratives, The Aftermath of Battle: The Burial of the
Civil War Dead picks up the story as the battle ends.
The burial of the dead was an overwhelming experience for the armies or
communities forced to clean up after the destruction of battle. In the
short-term action, bodies were hastily buried to avoid the stench and
the horrific health concerns of massive death; in the long-term,
families struggled to reclaim loved ones and properly reinter them in
established cemeteries.
Visitors to a battlefield often wonder what happened to the dead once
the battle was over. In this easy-to-read overview that will complement
any Civil War library, author Meg Groeling provides a look at the
aftermath of battle and the process of burying the Civil War dead.
The Aftermath of Battle is part of the Emerging Civil War Series
offering compelling, easy-to-read overviews of some of the Civil War's
most important stories. The masterful storytelling is richly enhanced
with hundreds of photos and illustrations.
