Dear Delia

Micheal J. Larson has taught American history for the past thirty years in Wisconsin. He first unearthed Young’s correspondence at the Wisconsin Historical Society as an undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire in 1985.John David Smith is the Charles H. Stone Distinguished Professor of American History at the University of North Carolina–Charlotte, where he has taught courses on documentary editing. He has published twenty-nine books, many on the topic of the Civil War, and has edited collections of letters, diaries, and other primary works on the war, race relations, and southern history.

Young’s rich lode of testimony illuminates Civil War military service. His letters reveal the centrality of the Union to northern motivation, the complex relationship between U.S. soldiers and emancipation, and the powerful ties between armies and the home front."" - Gary W. Gallagher, author of The Union War""Among the many collections of Civil War correspondence, these letters stand out for their honesty about the hard realities of war that tested one's faith and fealty to ‘the cause,' and the maturing ideas about what it meant to be a man. Dear Delia will repay many readings for anyone wanting to know how and why the war mattered to those who fought it."" - Randall M. Miller, co-author of The Northern Home Front during the Civil War""Young’s letters offer some of the most stunningly honest opinions and detailed descriptions ever produced by a Union soldier. The letters are expertly presented and explained by the editors, offering unusually rich insights into the most important dimensions of the Civil War."" - T. Michael Parrish, Baylor University""This revealing collection of letters is one of the best windows one will ever find into the everyday reality and the horror of the Civil War. Larson and Smith illuminate this remarkable story; the letters themselves take us deep into Young's values, honesty, racial views, contempt for slackers and civilians, and almost unfathomable determination to stay to the end to save the Union."" - David W. Blight, author of Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom