The Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby

The Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby #1

by Marek Bennett (Cartoonist)

1862: A NEW HAMPSHIRE TEACHER GOES TO WAR
Marek Bennett’s comics adaptation of this actual Civil War memoir brings to life the dry humor and grim conviction of teacher-turned-soldier Freeman Colby. Fiercely proud of his Granite State heritage, Freeman Colby bows to no one – not the rowdy students of his rural one-room schoolhouse, not the high-handed Union army officers in town, and certainly not those Rebel traitors causing all that trouble down South. But Colby needs work, and his ne’er-do-well little brother Newton needs looking after, so the boys enlist with a new regiment promising three years’ pay and plenty of adventure in a growing war…
[ Selected by Y.A.L.S.A. as a "Great Graphic Novel for Teens 2017" ]
[ This is Volume 1 of the "Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby" series. ]

Genres: History, Graphic Novels, Comics, Nonfiction, War, Graphic Novels Comics

352 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2016

About the author

Cartoonist, musician, & teacher Marek Bennett lives in New Hampshire and leads COMICS WORKSHOPS for all ages throughout New England and the world beyond.

Reviews

[Erin Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting glimpse into the world of Freeman Colby, a New Hampshire teacher in the union army. This graphic novel is based on writings from Freeman Colby's actual journals. A great way to discover Civil War history in a totally accessible format and a fascinating first hand account of a personal war narrative.

[s.e · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, Marek Bennett is very chill and nice. He came over to my high school almost exactly a year ago and taught a couple of us young nerdy aspiring cartoonists how to fold a piece of paper to make an 8 page mini book. I then taught this ingenious approach to my little brothers, which inspired many amazing collaboratory works, such as-

-Kipchy and the Vampire, volumes 1-10, which makes me want to turn myself in to prison and then shoot myself in the head
-Pregnant at McDonalds
-Death Slide

Needless to say The Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby tops all of these and it was extremely enjoyable and informative, and makes me wonder how I could have such an extreme range of comics I enjoy. (Pregnant at McDonalds will always be a classic.)

The Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby is by far the most interesting primary document about the civil war I've ever seen. In all, he's a normal guy. Just old as hell, and that's why it's interesting to read about him. Here's a part of the dedication Marek makes-

"To Freeman's generation, and all their stories yet untold and undrawn."

By just telling this one story, extremely loyal to the source material, it feels like a privilege and something really, really exciting- By adding the cartooning element it just makes it the more accessible. Relics from the past are cool as hell! That's it.

Something I really liked about this too was that it was the more mundane side of the Civil War- I mean not really, but there was no active fighting here at all, and maybe 10 deaths, but it still showed the way less glamorous side of the war.

For example, most of the book was Freeman, his brother Newton, and their friend Jonas trying not to get cold and wet, but getting almost deathly sick 2 or 3 times each. My dad told me one time that a disproportionate amount of deaths in the civil war were just from the soldiers just getting sick or injured and just never recovering, and here's when I really believed it.

There was no active duty recorded in this diary, but I understand the next volume consists of letters Freeman wrote while he was in battle. This volume definitely focuses on the beginning of the war, the camps, and picket duty.

Overall, very neat book, some sick cartooning, learned a helluva lot. Go check out www.marekbennett.com and see what interests you.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must read. Think diary of a wimpy kid in the American Civil War. A Real primary-source memoir of his soldiering, Colby delivers sharp humor so dry the pages crackle. Bennett does justice to the material with his hilarious depictions of Colby and his fellow hapless companions, particularly his ever-over-eager younger brother. Their attempts to survive the ridiculously bad food, awful sanitation, and self-serving bureaucracy of wartime provide ample comedy and a very real view of historic events that often had a lot more Lice and hardtack than glory. Every person in my family wants to read and reread this book and we all keep stealing our copy back and forth. This is a book I expect will be read to pieces.

[Catharine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a unique and worthwhile read for those interested in Civil War history. The writing is actually that of Freeman Colby and has been illustrated by Marek Bennett. If there was more of a story then I might give this four stars, but this was just Colby's memoir and not historical fiction. I was surprised that keeping the original writing that everything was so easy to follow. This is a credit to Marek Bennett's illustrations which really make this accessible to kids. I would hand this to students grades 4+

[Nora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really intriguing concept for a graphic novel, and I love the use of the historical documents and the approachable window into a Civil War experience that isn't of a well-known military leader but rather reflects the everyday reality of an average enlisted person.
I found it a bit distracting that the text had seemingly random words capitalized; I think that's the style for comics, it just pulled me out of the story often.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cool! Written by a NH author/cartoonist who found a civil war diary in the Henniker Historical Society and turned it into a series of graphic novels. This is the first year of the war and the first volume of the series.

[Emmaline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.

[J.T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book would be just as compelling to an adolescent as to a 42-year old like myself, so I imagine it will be used in many a U.S. History class. Bennett brings a Union soldier's diary to life through simply drawn but extremely emotive stick figure cartoons. You get a real feel for the trials and tribulations of being a soldier in the Civil War. Freeman Colby maintains an upbeat presence throughout, even when he's hungry, sick, cold and missing his family and fiancé.

This book is a great companion to his previous travel diaries "Slovakia" and "Nicaragua". Although those were autobiographical, they both employ his charming cartoony drawing style and obvious love of history and human nature.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bennett's simple, humorous cartoons make this primary source super accessible and super entertaining. It reveals a side of the Civil War we don't hear much about, soldiers just sitting and waiting and marching and shivering. It's informative and enlightening, and would fit well into any curriculum.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much more interesting than primary source material often is. The funny stick cartoon illustrations capture the monotony and uncomfortableness of a war campaign in unfamiliar territory in Autumn and Winter.