Love and Valor : Intimate Civil War Letters Between Captain Jacob and Emeline Ritner

by Charles F. Larimer, Emeline Ritner, Jacob B. Ritner

A tremendously moving and literate story of the Civil War based on letters, regimental histories, newspaper stories, and additional writing. Jacob Ritner answered Lincolns first call for 75,000 men in April 1861. After serving a three month term with the 1st Iowa Infantry, Jacob acted as a recruiting officer for the Union Army, and then re-enlisted in the 25th Iowa Infantry. He participated in most of the major campaigns of the Western Theater, including Wilsons Creek, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, the Atlanta Campaign, Shermans March to the Sea, the occupation of Savannah, the Carolinas campaigns, and the Grand Review in Washington, DC. He was in the first brigade that entered Columbia, South Carolina, that led to the removal of the Confederate flag and the raising of the US flag over the state capitol building. Emeline remained in Iowa, raising four small children and managing the family farm. Her letters provide a description and stories of a small town in Iowa during the Civil war, of the women who stayed behind and dealt with the tragedies of losing husbands, brothers and fathers to the war.

Genres: Civil War, History

453 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2000

Reviews

[Tamara Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

On April 12, 1861, in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, the first shot was fired in what would become known as the War of the Rebellion, and later, the American Civil War. Shortly after, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for 75,000 men to aid in the suppression of the rebellion against the government of the United States. In Iowa, Jacob Ritner was one of these men who answered that call and joined the newly formed 1st Iowa Infantry, to serve an enlistment term of three months. During this time, and his enlistments to follow, Jacob and his wife Emeline wrote numerous letters to each other. In these letters, compiled by Ritner’s great great Grandson, Charles Larimer, the couple discuss everything from the war to their children’s ailments. They express their longing for each other and the hardships each faces because of Jacob’s decision to serve his country. Though very much a novel of the Civil War, this work touches on themes still very timely. When a married soldier deploys, the partner left behind must somehow keep their life moving along. They must tend to the children, see to the house, and work hard at their own tasks. The more things change, the more they stay the same it seems.

It would be easy to discount this work as simply another gathering of material about Civil War military history. It is so much more. Because we have Emeline’s answering letters to Jacob’s, it is a rare look at domestic history in this time in a woman’s own voice. We hear her fears and joys firsthand. We also have abolitionist history, social history, medical history, and so much more. This is truly a gold mine for researchers!

Love and Valor by Charles Larimer is a multi-layered, long researched work that defies easy categorization. On one hand, it is an epistolary non-fiction love story. Letters between Captain Jacob Ritner and his wife Emeline are loving and full of longing and deep emotion. It is also an important research document. Larimar has spent years compiling the letters as well as other historical documents which help to make this book a vital resource for scholars of the American Civil War. His numerous, careful annotations help to place the letters in a larger historical context. At its very basic core, this book is one man’s tireless and determined genealogy project that very quickly took on a life of its own and grew into something even he could not have foreseen when he began. His work has contributed greatly to the scholarship of the Civil War period.

[Denise Hartley]

Great Civil War book. Captain Jacob gives good description of "Life as a Union Soldier". It is interesting how much they had to pay for their own food and lodging (when it was available!)

[Kristel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't actually finish it all, the idea is wonderful. The letters are so repetitive that it became a chore to read.

[Dana Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this book for over 15 years --- the author came to my high school and I was so interested in the story as he was telling us about it....unfortunately, 17 year old me wasn't that interested in history-topics such as the Civil War, so I didn't read it until now. And I'm glad I did because I definitely could appreciate it more.

It's obvious how much time the author spent putting the material together to have a cohesive story about the Civil War and what people experienced during that time period. Through Jacob's letters, you can feel like you're actually there with him as he's writing to his wife while on the battlefields. It's a great story -- if you're a history buff and also like a love story, this is a good book for you.

[Graceann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please see my detailed review at Amazon Graceann's "Love and Valor" Review"

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What a coup for the editor (who happens to be a descendant of Emeline and Jacob) to have letters from both sides of this correspondence. So often we don't know what one of the parties is responding to - here the correspondence is about as complete as it will get. Very interesting.

[Becky Sidney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of letters written by an IA Civil War soldier to his wife. The author (the soldier's great-great grandson) was also able to find a number of reply letters from the wife. Capt. Ritner was a good writer and his desciptions of battles and living conditions are fascinating and horrifying. Also a lot of reminders of how many people died of routine illness at that time.

[Jessica Jewett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The letters between this couple were honest, beautiful and moving. I have read this book a number of times and I have never grown tired of it.