Patriotism in Print: Soldiers’ Newspapers in Civil War West Virginia with Zac Cowsert

Wed Jun 16 2021 at 06:30 pm

West Virginia Independence Hall | Wheeling

West Virginia Independence Hall Foundation
Publisher/HostWest Virginia Independence Hall Foundation
Patriotism in Print: Soldiers\u2019 Newspapers in Civil War West Virginia with Zac Cowsert
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Patriotism in Print: Soldiers’ Newspapers in Civil War West Virginia
A Union officer once remarked, “Does not a newspaper follow a Yankee march everywhere?” During the Civil War, tens of thousands of Union soldiers marched across, fought for, and garrisoned West Virginia. Apparently true to Yankee form, nearly a dozen soldier-run camp newspapers were established throughout the war across West Virginia. These Union regimental newspapers provide glimpses into soldiers’ motivations and experiences in Civil War West Virginia. Soldiers espoused their patriotism and denounced the Confederacy. They monitored military developments and participated in Northern politics. They detailed the sundry experiences of camp life: baking bread, holding sermons, mourning the loss of friends.
In this talk, Zac Cowsert illuminates these newspapers’ political, military, and cultural themes, shedding light on how Union soldiers in West Virginia participated in and recorded their place within the wider American Civil War.
Zachery Cowsert
Zac Cowsert holds a PhD in 19th-century United States history from West Virginia University, where he also received his master's degree. He earned his bachelor's degree in history and political science from Centenary College of Louisiana. Zac's dissertation explored the Civil War in Indian Territory (modern Oklahoma). His work has been published in North Louisiana History, the Chronicles of Oklahoma, and Hallowed Ground. He is a regular presenter at academic conferences, historic sites, and Civil War roundtables. Outside of academia, Zac spent numerous summers working for the National Park Service at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park in Virginia. He is the co-editor of Civil Discourse (http://www.civildiscourse-historyblog.com), a popular blog of the Civil War era.
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West Virginia Independence Hall, 1528 Market Street, Wheeling, WV 26003, United States

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