The Civil War Sacrifice of Somerset County, Pennsylvania

This book tells the story of Somerset County, Pennsylvania, during the American Civil War through the experiences of its fallen soldiers and their comrades who served with them, those people who supported them in life and mourned them in death. Built on the collective knowledge gained from researching the date, place, and cause of death for the hundreds of Union soldiers from the county who died during the war, and whose names are memorialized in stone, the narrative describes the physical, emotional, and societal toll that those losses exacted on the citizens of the county whether they served in uniform or not. First-person accounts from Somerset's men in the ranks provide unique perspectives of famous battles like Gettysburg, lesser-known actions like Piedmont, and incidents in camp and on the march. Ultimately, the story emphasizes the exorbitant price paid by these soldiers, their families, and their community because of the war.