Essays on Delaware During the Civil War

This collection of articles addresses the lives and experiences of Delawareans during the mid-nineteenth century in general and the Civil War in particular. It examines the subject matter from three perspectives, political, military and social, that combined provide an understanding of the issues and circumstances that influenced the people of Delaware and their leaders during this traumatic period. The objective of this publication is to provide an understanding of Delaware's role during those stressful years in our country's history. The citizens of Delaware were not found wanting when Northern and, to a certain extent, Southern leadership called upon them for political support and military service. From a societal point of view, specifically regarding racial equality, however, it is important to recognize the slow progress that Delawareans made over the next century following the Civil War.

Thomas J. Ryan is the former president and current member of the Central Delaware Civil War Round Table in Dover, and a member of the Delaware Historical Society, Fort Delaware Society, Civil War Trust, and Gettysburg Foundation. He has published over 125 articles and book reviews about the Civil War in the Washington Times, Washington Post, Coastal Point, Gettysburg Magazine, North and South Magazine, and the Gatehouse Press online magazine. He writes a ＂Civil War Profiles＂ column for the Coastal Point, Ocean View, Delaware. He is a frequent speaker on Civil War subjects to various civic and historical groups. He served three years in the United States Army and thirty-five years with the U.S. Department of Defense. Now retired, he and his wife live in Bethany Beach, Delaware. His book titled ＂Not by Guns Alone: The Critical Role of Intelligence during the Gettysburg Campaign＂ will be released in spring 2014.