They Died to Make Men Free

The gripping story of the 19th Michigan Infantry Regiment, fighting for the Union in the American Civil War.

"All Civil War regimental histories should be judged by the standard of excellence set by this one." - Albert Castel

During the war, 1,206 young men from Michigan enlisted and marched across the battlefields of the American South. Farmers, teachers, students, lawyers, preachers, and merchants, they were ordinary citizens united to fight slavery and defend the Union. For four long years they endured battle, hunger, disease, and hardship. Two hundred and twenty-four would never return home.

Drawing on more than 800 preserved letters and diaries, historian William M. Anderson tells their story in their own words, capturing what they thought and felt as they wrote to loved ones back home. He combines these voices with meticulous research into regimental and military records to chart the 19th Michigan's journey from its formation in 1862 to the final victory parade in 1865.

Both deeply human and richly researched, They Died to Make Men Free is essential reading for anyone interested in the Civil War, military history, or the enduring sacrifice of ordinary soldiers.