Book Reviews

that they could make much more money than Sandow notes that many men, unable to a soldier’s $13 per month wage by working in pay substitutes, turned to violence and marshals oil fields or lumbering. were even murdered, although some claims The new Republican Lincoln were probably exaggerated. The mood in the administration demanded complete loyalty, wildcat oil region had reached near-anarchy, passing sweeping radical measures like the 1863 but the worst was in Clearfield County. Conscription Act that required all males 18 After the 1864 election, the government and older to register for the draft. The author sent out companies of the 16th Veteran Reserve Deserter Country; Civil War Opposition in notes that the Confederacy’s draft, begun in Corps—the Invalid Corps—mainly disabled, the Pennsylvania Appalachians 1862, was just as unpopular in the Southern injured veterans. The roads were impassable By Robert Sandow Appalachian mountains of North Carolina. in winter of 1864, and only 25 men at a time (New York: Fordham University Press, 2009) Although most Democrats were “War could travel by sled into the rough northern 234 pps., $25.00 softcover, illustrations, maps Democrats,” there was also a peace wing, Pennsylvania forests. Reviewed by Ken Turner branded “Copperheads.” Safe havens like The adventure culminated in the “Bloody “Deserter Country” allowed them to practice Knox Massacre,” which really was not a Most Civil War books are about famous the recently outlawed freedom of speech and massacre at all, and not particularly bloody. battles or leaders. But Robert Sandow, a press. They paid so that members could avoid Twenty-five men from the Veteran Reserves Lock Haven University associate professor the draft and stave off federal provost marshals surrounded the home of a ringleader, Tom of history and Laurel Highlands native, went searching for draftees. Women misled Adams, who had served a short stint in the outside the norm with his study of opposition, authorities, and some sent civilian clothes to 149th PA Bucktails before deserting. Adams violence, and desertion in North Central and new recruits as an incentive to desert. tried to escape, then went to the second floor North Western Pennsylvania. With the recent Federal authorities in Pittsburgh and window and fired on the soldiers, killing one. softcover release of Deserter Country: Civil War Harrisburg received complaints. The Provost He jumped from the window and was shot and Opposition in the Pennsylvania Appalachians, Marshall in Pittsburgh, Colonel Richard killed. readers get a second chance at an intriguing Dodge, wrote, “I am informed there are The book’s true message is that the war book they may have passed over when it was 1,200-1,800 deserters in Clearfield County,” was about loyalty, and what constitutes loyalty released as a much more costly hardcover. lumbermen who have committed “outrages can be especially problematic in a democracy. The few prior books on resistance were and assaults.” Sandow also corrects the myth of the heavily confined to New York City’s deadly draft riots. urban and industrialized North, showing that But this was Pennsylvania’s mountainous portions, like Pennsylvania’s Deserter Country, lumbering region; Appalachia’s poor farmers were rural, mountainous, and populated by and lumbermen had close family ties and an poor, nonconformist farmers, much like their isolated sense of community—a perfect haven Southern Appalachian Mountain counterparts. for opposition, dissent, and desertion. We still debate the balance, in a free When the war began, there was already society, between a nation’s right to preserve some opposition in Pennsylvania, mainly near itself and the freedom of individual rights. In the counties bordering the Mason Dixon line. that sense, the book is timeless, and well worth But most people supported the Union, and your time. even in far northern counties, young men joined regiments like the 1st PA Rifles, known Ken Turner is co-author of The Civil War In as Bucktails for their penchant for wearing Pennsylvania: A Photographic History, to be deer tails on their caps, or the “Wildcat” 105th published this fall by the Heinz History Center. PA regiment from Venango County’s newly discovered oil regions. Men realized though

62 western pennsylvania history | summer 2012 Senator John Heinz History Center Board of Trustees*

of events and people, and only occasionally Robert J. Cindrich, Chairman Beverlynn Elliott, Vice Chair puts in a full letter to give readers a sense of Joe W. Trotter, Jr., Ph.D., Vice Chair Paul O’Neill, Jr., Treasurer Duff’s devotion for Harriet. Sigo Falk, Secretary Duff entered service as a private in the Andrew E. Masich, President & CEO, Senator John Heinz History Center* Ninth Reserve and was immediately made corporal. After the Battle of Dranesville, Arthur L. Baldwin Susie Barbour Virginia, late in 1861, he was promoted to David E. Barensfeld Charles W. Bitzer captain and took command of Company D of Nadine E. Bognar To Petersburg with the Army of the the 105th Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment, J. Bracken Burns, Sr. Steven H. Cohen Potomac: The Civil War Letters of Levi known as the Wild Cat Regiment because of the Dr. Verna Corey, ScD The Honorable Jay Costa, Jr. Bird Duff, 105th Pennsylvania Volunteers rural areas of Pennsylvania from which the men Charles J. Dougherty, Ph.D. Edited by Jonathan E. Helmreich came. (Most of the men in the regiment were The Honorable Brian L. Ellis The Honorable D. Mike Fisher (Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland, 2009) from Clarion, Jefferson, Clearfield, Indiana, The Honorable Rich Fitzgerald 232 pps., $45.00 softcover Shawn Fox and Westmoreland counties; Company D was Kathleen Gallagher Reviewed by Art Louderback recruited in Clearfield and Jefferson counties.) Alvaro Garcia-Tunon Stan Geier The 105th eventually numbered 2,040 troops. Laurence Glasco, Ph.D. Jonathan Helmreich, a professor emeritus Chuck Hammel Battles such as Bull Run, Chancellorsville, in history at Allegheny College, uncovered a Matthew Harbaugh Gettysburg, and Petersburg left 164 dead Franco Harris treasure trove of insightful letters in the archives Donald J. Heberle and 714 wounded, more than half of the Torence M. Hunt of the college’s Peltier Library. Alumnus Levi William M. Lambert original muster. Bird Duff graduated from Allegheny College in Judy Linaberg Duff was promoted to major after the Gerald F. MacCleary 1857 and went to Pittsburgh to start his career. James C. Martin, Esq. Battle of Chancellorsville and his promotion to Tom McMillan He passed the bar on his second try and had lieutenant colonel was being sent to him when Sandy Mellon modest success until he enlisted for the Civil Ralph J. Papa he lost his leg at the Siege of Petersburg. After Robert N. Peirce, Jr., Esq. War. While in Pittsburgh, he met his future Jack B. Piatt his discharge, Duff became a successful lawyer The Honorable John R. Pippy wife, Harriet Nixon, who lived in Allegheny in Pittsburgh and served as district attorney of Paul M. Pohl City. They married in 1862 while he was on The Honorable Luke Ravenstahl** Allegheny County for three years. Art Rooney II convalescent leave after being shot in the lung. Dan D. Sandman The letters show a remarkable, well- Lynne Schmidt The majority of the letters in this collection are educated man describing terrible events with Carol Semple Thompson written to Harriet but there are also letters to The Honorable Matthew Smith clarity. The careful editing brings out the flavor Margaret Snavely Duff from Harriet, his father, and others. Stephen R. Tritch of the letters and the people. An introduction H. Woodruff Turner, Esq. Professor Helmreich has judiciously recalls the events that led to the marriage of Mike Wagner edited Duff’s letters, most of which begin with Dennis A. Watson Levi and Harriet. The book ends by tying up Bruce Wiegand love notes, then descriptions of events and Dennis Yablonsky the threads of Levi Duff’s life after the war, people, followed by a closing of more love letting readers see his life in perspective. Emeritus & Honorary Trustees notes. Little is mentioned in the letters about Robert Barensfeld John F. Bitzer, Jr. his rise in rank but it is an important aside. Art Louderback is the chief librarian at the Frank V. Cahouet Joseph Calihan Helmreich often employs just the descriptions Heinz History Center. John P. Davis, Jr. Teresa Heinz** Maxwell King William C. King Look for more reviews at http://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/secondary.aspx?id=340 Robert B. Knutson** The Honorable Frank J. Lucchino David McCullough 100 Things Penguins Ulster to America: The Scots- NEW FOR Martin G. McGuinn Fans Should Know & Irish Migration Experience, SUMMER: The Honorable Tim Murphy Do Before They Die 1680-1830 Ambassador Dan Rooney

* Legally: Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania ** Honorary Trustee

western pennsylvania history | summer 2012 63