Sons of Abraham in the Civil War: What Was It Like To Be a Jew in Lincoln’s Armies?

What was it like to be a Jew in Lincoln’s armies? The Union army was as diverse as the embattled nation it sought to preserve, a unique mixture of ethnicities, religions, and identities. Almost one Union soldier in four was born abroad, and natives and newcomers fought side-by-side, sometimes uneasily. Yet though scholars have parsed the trials and triumphs of Irish, Germans, African Americans, and others in the Union ranks, they have remained largely silent on the everyday experiences of the largest non-Christian minority to have served. In ways visible and invisible to their fellow recruits and conscripts, the experience of Jews was distinct from that of other soldiers who served in Lincoln’s armies. Join the Orange County Community Scholar Program to examine the collective experience of Jewish soldiers and recover their voices and stories. Prof. Mendelsohn will explain why Jews decided to enlist, share stories about the encounters of Jewish soldiers with fellow soldiers, and describe how Jewish soliders created community within the ranks.