A More Civil War

During the US Civil War, Americans confronted profound moral problems about how to fight in the conflict. In this innovative book, D.H. Dilbeck reveals how the Union sought to wage a just war against the Confederacy. He shows that northerners fought according to a distinct “moral vision of war”, an array of ideas about the nature of a truly just and humane military effort.

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During the Civil War, Americans confronted profound moral problemsabout how to fight in the conflict. In this innovative book, D. H. Dilbeckreveals how the Union sought to wage a just war against the Confederacy. Heshows that northerners fought according to a distinct “moral vision of war,”an array of ideas about the nature of a truly just and humane military effort.Dilbeck tells how Union commanders crafted rules of conduct to ensuretheir soldiers defeated the Confederacy as swiftly as possible while also limitingthe total destruction unleashed by the fighting. Dilbeck explores howUnion soldiers abided by official just-war policies as they battled guerrillas,occupied cities, retaliated against enemy soldiers, and came into contact withConfederate civilians.

In contrast to recent scholarship focused solely on the Civil War’scarnage, Dilbeck details how the Union sought both to deal sternly withConfederates and to adhere to certain constraints. The Union’s earnest effortto wage a just war ultimately helped give the Civil War its distinct