Harold Holzer. The Civil War in 50 Objects. Viking, 2013.

The Civil War in 50 Objects presents the history of the American Civil War in an effective and unique way. The author shares numerous artifacts from the Civil War owned by the New-York Historical Society. This New York City establishment is old enough that the hyphen in New-York is not a misprint.

Included in the collection of about a hundred articles are works of art, letters, military orders, weapons, flags, and photographs. The book presents them so that it follows the trajectory of the war, starting with events leading up to the war. For example, it begins with two pairs of slave shackles owned the historical society followed by some works of art giving various perspectives on the life of slaves. It ends with some memorial ephemera of Abraham Lincoln and one of the two existing copies of the Thirteenth Amendment signed by Lincoln.

The pictures themselves are clear, and by themselves are interesting, but the author tells as best he can the story of each. In some cases, the society has a detailed record of how it obtained the relic and the persons responsible. In other cases, the provenance may be uncertain, but we still learn about the significance of the article or articles and how they illustrate the progress of the war.

Because it is the historical society of New York City, there is a certain understandable slant. Many of the articles come from or are associated with army units or soldiers from New York. One artifact owned by the society was made famous by the Ken Burns PBS series on the Civil War—the George Templeton Strong diary. We see a photo of a page from the diary here, but Holzer cites it when describing other events as well, particularly those in New York City.

The city has an interesting if somewhat rebellious streak concerning the war. The mayor and the city were both strongly Democrat-leaning and opposed Lincoln. We see a copy of letters that Mayor Fernando Wood wrote to each of the states that had seceded by February 1861 supporting their cause, and perhaps thinking himself that New York City should secede from New York State. Reading one of the letters, it comes as no surprise that there might be riots in the city protesting the war later on.

Speaking of the riots, the society owns an original draft wheel used in the city for the draft lottery. It also owns a charred but still readable Bible from the Colored Orphan Society orphanage which was burned during the draft riot.

At the war’s end, it appears that most New Yorkers did honor the black soldiers who fought for the Union in the war. Speaking of them, Strong’s diary, for example, quotes the Song of Songs 1:5 (KJV) “I am black but comely.” The book misses this allusion and sees it as “unfortunate,” when the context taken from the Bible shows something quite different. In the Song of Songs, the King’s beautiful lover is described here, and while some people despise her because of her dark skin and hireling status, the king calls her the fairest. If anything, it appears Strong was criticizing those who thought black men would not make good soldiers.

Remarkably, the New-York Historical Society owns one of only four original copies made of Grant’s surrender terms to Lee at Appomattox, a life mask and hand casting of Abraham Lincoln, and lots of printed propaganda from both sides. Some tracts and pictures would be considered downright offensive today. Northern Copperhead and Southern fears of “miscegenation” (a word coined during the war) come through in various pamphlets, sketches, and etchings.

At the same time, we get a sense of General Grant’s leadership through not only the above mentioned terms of surrender but the various photographic and painted portraits—some of which were not even based on Grant himself. Holzer several times contrasts the patrician style of Lee with the simple and plebian style of Grant. A trap for military men as much as anyone else can be to focus on appearance rather than results.

Many other names appear, some known, some little known. Some are curiosities. There is a painting of a cavalry officer at the point of death in battle, but Holzer calls the battle was insignificant and unnecessary except that the officer’s parents were wealthy enough to commission the painting and present their son as a hero. Holzer compares him to Col. Elmer Ellsworth, considered a hero by many because he was the first Union officer killed in the war, even though he was probably killed by a civilian defending his property. Still, both men were willing to risk their lives for their country and for the cause of liberty.

There are some significant broadsides from various sources including Frederick Douglass’s appeal to allow black men to fight in the war. But all told, and in the order the tales are told, we get a fascinating overview of the war. While there is an obvious New York slant, we hear from many regions and from both sides. The title sums up the book. It is not 50 objects from the Civil War, but a history of the Civil War based on 50 stories of approximately 100 objects—fascinating, detailed, and inspiring.