3 Review(s)

Sketches of the war is a collection of letters detailing the experience of an officer serving in the American Civil War. Through personal correspondence transformed into public testimony, the work captures the intimate realities of military life, both during battle and in quieter moments of reflection. The writing focuses on the psychological and physical toll faced by ordinary soldiers, avoiding romanticized portrayals in favor of sincere observation. The opening scene recounts the death of a young soldier in a hospital far from home, showing how illness, isolation, and bureaucratic neglect could devastate morale more than combat itself. This story, like others in the book, reflects on duty and loss, giving voice to lives often overlooked in official war records. Rather than documenting strategy or victory, the letters convey quiet moments of humanity—nursing a horse, writing to grieving families, or walking through rows of wounded men—revealing the deep costs of service. The collection offers readers an unembellished portrait of wartime sacrifice, shaped by the writer’s resolve to preserve its emotional truths.