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After The Civil War Summary

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The Civil War was a devastating war with many casualties for both sides. The physical side of these wounds is widely written about and there is a lot of detail on the topic. John E. Talbott decided to write about the mental side effects of the Civil War instead. He uses different sources to prove his claim that Civil War soldiers and veterans suffered from “shell-shock” or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or P.T.S.D. He shows how those effected by these disorders acted, how they were seen by those around them, and how they were treated by the public or government by analyzing articles written during or after the Civil War. Talbott begins his article by writing about a prisoner of war, Private Williams Leeds, under the charge of Captain J. McEntire. Entire says that looked lost and was desperate to escape. He was finally admitted to an Insane Asylum. Talbott says this may have been his best option because usually they were hanged or shot instead of treated. He then goes on to discuss the James brothers, a set of four brothers. The oldest two did not fight in the war while the younger two did. The younger brother, Wilky and Bob, both sustained injuries and endured heavy fighting. After the war Wilky was a poor drifter and schemer while Bob became an …show more content…

He commented on a senior officer named Wadsworth who was known to be very competent in the field. Suddenly Wadsworth had a change of heart and became very wild and exuberant while in command. He rode to another company, took command of it and charged the regiment into a hidden and well protected force, destroying the force Wadsworth led. Many accounts show Wadsowrth as crazy, wild, and not himself. He was noted saying that he was tired from the fighting and most likely not fit to command. Tolbett uses this as a way of showing how the fatigue and stress of war had gotten to him, and could happen to

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