A Wisconsin Boy in Dixie: Civil War Letters of James K. Newton

by James K. Newton, Stephen E. Ambrose (Editor)

“Unlike many of his fellows, [James Newton] was knowledgeable, intuitive, and literate; like many of his fellows he was cast into the role of soldier at only eighteen years of age. He was polished enough to write drumhead and firelight letters of fine literary style. It did not take long for this farm boy turned private to discover the grand design of the conflict in which he was engaged, something which many of the officers leading the armies never did discover.”—Victor Hicken, Journal of the Illinois State Historical Societ y
    “When I wrote to you last I was at Madison with no prospect of leaving very soon, but I got away sooner than I expected to.” So wrote James Newton upon leaving Camp Randall for Vicksburg in 1863 with the Fourteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. Newton, who had been a rural schoolteacher before he joined the Union army in 1861, wrote to his parents of his experiences at Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, on the Red River, in Missouri, at Nashville, at Mobile, and as a prisoner of war. His letters, selected and edited by noted historian Stephen E. Ambrose, reveal Newton as a young man who matured in the war, rising in rank from private to lieutenant.
                A Wisconsin Boy in Dixie reveals Newton as a young man who grew to maturity through his Civil War experience, rising in rank from private to lieutenant. Writing soberly about the less attractive aspects of army life, Newton's comments on fraternizing with the Rebs, on officers, and on discipline are touched with a sense of humor—"a soldier's best friend," he claimed. He also became sensitive to the importance of political choices. After giving Lincoln the first vote he had ever cast, Newton "In doing so I felt that I was doing my country as much service as I have ever done on the field of battle."

Genres: Civil War, History, American History, American Civil War, Nonfiction

206 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1995

Reviews

[Alex Kvalheim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel A Wisconsin Boy in Dixie illustrates the life of a teenager plunged into the bloody mess called The Civil War. James K. Newton was an 18-year-old school teacher before leaving his job to enlist as a private with 14th Wisconsin Company F. Over the next four Years he would see some of the hardest fighting of the Civil War. This book brings with it an aspect of what life was like for a boy turned soldier.
In the intro to the book Stephen Ambrose states, “The Civil War was the central theme of the boys’ lives who fought in it.” The book is focused on James’ experiences during the war. In the War he was engaged in many of the major battles in the Western Theater. These battles included “Shiloh, Vicksburg, Corinth, The Red River expedition, and Sherman's March to the Sea”. These battle were major victories for the Union Army and helped them win the war against the Confederacy. It was very interesting to read about an individual’s perspective of battles including finding a bit of comedy in the first engagement:
“We agreed not to run until we saw something to run [from]...we stayed there until the rebel came up again, and then we saw something to run for and I can tell you we did run ...when we got there the regiment had left and we did not know whether they had gone back or forward.We concluded that we would not go forward until we found out-wise conclusion wasn’t it-”
Relationships were a crucial part of James life just as relationships are crucial to my life. Many young men today who are off overseas fighting feel and develop the exact same relationships as James did during his fighting. This book depicts James as a loyal, trustworthy and good natured friend as well as son, brother, and comrade. James was very close to his family and felt a great deal of responsibility for them. During the war he sent his pay home to help support them, sent a letter home every two weeks and met up with his brother before getting shipped to the front.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written letters of a young man from DePere WI, to his parents, as he was moved from place to place during the Civil War. As a 17 year old going off to fight at Shiloh, Vicksburg, Nashville, his letters home were an interesting and informative journal of his life in the army.

[Gloria · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was refreshing to read a Civil War book that was told from the eyes of a "native" boy from Wisconsin. No, he wasn't near the action or turning point battles ... but it gave a different perspective that we rarely get to see-- those who believe strongly in what they're fighting for, even if in more "mundane" ways.

[Laurie Stelmachlaurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Letters from a Wisconsin soldier during the Civil War, very personal.