A Minor War History Compiled from a Soldier Boy's Letters to "the Girl I Left Behind Me": 1861-1864

"A Minor War History Compiled from a Soldier Boy's Letters to 'The Girl I Left Behind Me'" by Martin A. Haynes, presents heartfelt wartime correspondence. Through intimate letters penned by Martin A. Haynes, a soldier for the Second New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, to his dear Cornelia T. Lane, this book paints a vivid picture of daily life in the Civil War from 1861 to 1864. Haynes shares his raw experiences, thoughts, and feelings, illuminating the everyday struggles and human connections of a soldier’s life far away from glory. The book opens with Haynes remembering moments spent in camp, the friendships he built, and little day-to-day moments of army experience that were at times even funny. His heartfelt words show readers the repetition of military life, the bonds between comrades, the difficulties they faced, and his aching for home and his love. With sentiments of remembering far past memories, Haynes's compilation preserves small personal stories from his time that stand in contrast to big, official-feeling war accounts. Ultimately, the letters speak to the importance of untold stories and experiences in the history of war.