What do you think?
Rate this book
Campaigns of a Non-Combatant: and His Romaunt Abroad during the War
“I have endeavored to reproduce not only the adventures, but the impressions of a novitiate, and I have described not merely the army and its operations, but the country invaded, and the people who inhabit it.” —George Alfred Townsend, Preface, 1866
Although George Alfred Townsend is no longer a well-known name today, by the end of the Civil War he had become a popular war correspondent covering the Civil War for the New York Herald and the New York World. In 1866 his book Campaigns of a Non-Combatant and his Romaunt Abroad during the War was published. This book represented his reflections on the Civil War and on his two-year journey in Europe during the war.
Campaigns of a Non-Combatant and his Romaunt Abroad during the War is a must read for historians, fellow journalists, and all who are interested in personal stories about the Civil War.
Although George Alfred Townsend is no longer a well-known name today, by the end of the Civil War he had become a popular war correspondent covering the Civil War for the New York Herald and the New York World. In 1866 his book Campaigns of a Non-Combatant and his Romaunt Abroad during the War was published. This book represented his reflections on the Civil War and on his two-year journey in Europe during the war.
Campaigns of a Non-Combatant and his Romaunt Abroad during the War is a must read for historians, fellow journalists, and all who are interested in personal stories about the Civil War.
- GenresCivil War
372 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1866
About the author
George Alfred Townsend
110 books6 followers1841-1914
War correspondent during the American Civil War and novelist.
He wrote for the Philadelphia Inquirer, in 1861 he started to write for the New York Herald.
By 1868, he became a Washington correspondent, working for the "Chicago Tribune," and after 1874, for the "New York Graphic.
His novels included The Entailed Hat (1884), which fictionalized a true story of a woman named Patty Cannon who kidnapped free blacks and sold them into slavery. Townsend's other works include the short story collection Tales of the Chesapeake (1880) and the novel Katy of Catoctin (1887).
Townsend wrote under the pen name "Gath", which was derived by adding an "H" to his initials, and inspired by the biblical passage II Samuel 1:20.
War correspondent during the American Civil War and novelist.
He wrote for the Philadelphia Inquirer, in 1861 he started to write for the New York Herald.
By 1868, he became a Washington correspondent, working for the "Chicago Tribune," and after 1874, for the "New York Graphic.
His novels included The Entailed Hat (1884), which fictionalized a true story of a woman named Patty Cannon who kidnapped free blacks and sold them into slavery. Townsend's other works include the short story collection Tales of the Chesapeake (1880) and the novel Katy of Catoctin (1887).
Townsend wrote under the pen name "Gath", which was derived by adding an "H" to his initials, and inspired by the biblical passage II Samuel 1:20.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
October 24, 2019
This starts out a little slow.
Mainly it is autobiographical about the author.
Not a lot of detail about about battles.
It is more focused on himself, and people of the time.
At one point, for a couple of chapters. He goes into events of his European travels.
Some of it does give a nice accounting, of people of the times.
A Mark Twain like, sense of humor coming forth.
Townsend not above humor at his own expense. Usually battles with his current horse or mount.
Yet so much seems to be centered on trivial things. As well as military figures, that may not.
Have played much of a role, in the war. That you would know of.
Townsend a journalist, at times. Seeming to be very well worded or educated.
At times goes off on tangents, of events or things. Past history, not doing with the war.
Including a public execution in France.
He does drift into philosophical musings as well.
I doubt the common man or woman of the day. Would have been able.
To follow along or understand what they were trying to read.
As many of the paths of his thoughts. Tangle in heavy wordage.
Needing a nearby dictionary or thesaurus to keep up with.
A decent window into the mind sets, and behind the lines of a war antics.
At times interesting.
Not a fast read or one that honestly. Draws you into it, by action or in depth.
Major events or battles in the war.
For anyone interested in complete knowledge all aspects of the war.
Not for the casual reader or anyone looking for a lot of action, and battles.
Mainly it is autobiographical about the author.
Not a lot of detail about about battles.
It is more focused on himself, and people of the time.
At one point, for a couple of chapters. He goes into events of his European travels.
Some of it does give a nice accounting, of people of the times.
A Mark Twain like, sense of humor coming forth.
Townsend not above humor at his own expense. Usually battles with his current horse or mount.
Yet so much seems to be centered on trivial things. As well as military figures, that may not.
Have played much of a role, in the war. That you would know of.
Townsend a journalist, at times. Seeming to be very well worded or educated.
At times goes off on tangents, of events or things. Past history, not doing with the war.
Including a public execution in France.
He does drift into philosophical musings as well.
I doubt the common man or woman of the day. Would have been able.
To follow along or understand what they were trying to read.
As many of the paths of his thoughts. Tangle in heavy wordage.
Needing a nearby dictionary or thesaurus to keep up with.
A decent window into the mind sets, and behind the lines of a war antics.
At times interesting.
Not a fast read or one that honestly. Draws you into it, by action or in depth.
Major events or battles in the war.
For anyone interested in complete knowledge all aspects of the war.
Not for the casual reader or anyone looking for a lot of action, and battles.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review