The Minnesota Historical Society (MHS)hit a home-run with this book. I first read Kenneth Carley's Minnesota in the Civil War when I was twelve years old back in the early 1970s. The book, though a nice overview, remained untouched on my shelves ever since. It was just that, a fine overview.

MHS could simply have continued to reprint the book in its original, almost child-like form, but instead, they decided to use it as a framework to showcase their collections. And the result is nothing less than lavish.

Artifacts ranging from corn pone found in the bottom of a haversack to a suit of cotton clothes made by a Minnesota soldier while a prisoner of war at Libby Prison are liberally sprinkled through the text. Similarly, Carley's original narrative of Minnesota's involvement in the War is almost lost, covered by many excerpts from diaries, letters, and memoirs of participants.

A potential buyer might think this would only interest students of Minnesota's Civil War history. THis if far from the truth. This book, filled with artifacts that are understandably identified to Minnesota soldiers, are typical of any Civil War combatant. This book rivals the great 3-volume Time-Life ECHOES OF GLORY.

The shortfalls are few. The foreword by Richard Moe (author of THe Last Full Measure)is appropriate, whereas the introduction by Brian Horrigan seems labored and forced. Someone, somewhere in the bureaucracy of MHS must have felt a "context" was necessary, so the text of an old exhibit about pre civil war Minnesota was forced between the covers. This isn't horrible, because along with it, are some interesting, though not civil war-related, photos. As for the rest of the images, very few are of the tired, oft-seen, Library of Congress origin, but rather, from the bowels of MHS itself. This book SHOULD stand as an example to other museums. MHS DUG into its collections to find a vast myriad of related artifacts, accounts, and images. Too many museums are content to "protect" and "Preserve." Too many forget to "share," "show," and "provide." Kudos, MHS. The only concession to "museum practices" is an obvious lack of the tools of war in this book. Very few uniforms, muskets, rifles, swords, and the like are included. One spread on pp. 108-109 depicts a musket, bayonet and revolver. The design of the spread belies that it must have been an afterthought concession. I would tend to believe that the collections hold the Austrian Lorenzes, Prussian Muskets, varieties of Springfields, and carbines issued to Minnesota soldiers. So why were they left out? Pity.

BUT, the book IS packed full of photos of personal items, like the contents of one soldier's haversack, the ship's bell from the USS Minnesota, and sketches made by a participant in the Sioux Uprising of 1862. Very cool indeed.

All in all, a very Fine book and a worthwhile addition to a Civil War library, whether concentrated on Minnesota soldiers or not. This book should be included in any library that focuses on the daily life of the average soldier.

I first read Kenneth Carley's original edition of Minnesota in the Civil War as a twelve year old boy back in the 1970s. The book remained on my shelf, but rarely, did I refer back to it as I continued my exploration of Minnesota's role in the Civil War.

Well, the Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) has hit a home run! Using Carley's good overview as a framework, the Society dug deep into its collection to cement a wonderful history of the State's participation in the Civil War. Using very professionally composed photographs of state soldier-identified artifacts, excerpts from diaries and letters, and a limited amount of standard-fare, Library-of-Congress photography, MHS has issued a book on par with the very desirable Time-Life Echos of Glory series.

Actually, MHS has cemented SO much material around Carley's original overview, that it is actually a bit hard to recognize any similarity to the Carley's original work. This is not a bad thing, just an interesting sidenote. The person who buys this book will be busy reading the first-hand accounts, looking at the fantastic artifacts, and enjoying all the great wartime images of Gopher-soldiers.

I applaud MHS for this effort. Other institutions should take note of this work. Too many museums are bent on "protecting" and "preserving" their collections causing them to overlook the very worth of "presenting" the collections. Someone at MHS dug DEEP into the collection to find dynamite relics, accounts and photographs. Items ranging from corn pone found in the bottom of a haversack to a cotton suit of clothes made by a Minnesota prisoner of war while in Libby Prison fill the pages. The welcome, underlying message in this book is "ALL THESE ITEMS ARE FROM THE COLLECTIONS OF THE SOCIETY." That means, for researchers, these are all, more-or-less, accessible. This is where other books in similar styles fail. Private collectors are so eager to show off, but not so often, willing to share. So, whereas the Time-Life books are a great treat to the eye, as an effective document for future scholarship, they can be rather frustrating. Minnesota in the Civil War: An Illustrated History will stand as a fine catalog and finding aid for future historians.

Criticisms of the book are few. The foreword by Richard Moe is appropriate and adds to the book. The Intro by the Curator of a not-too-closely related exhibit seemed like a labored addition, but does not detract. The objects illustrated concentrate on personal objects and very few "tools of war" seem to have made the final cut for inclusion. Clearly lacking in the book are uniform items (forage caps, frock coats, blouses, etc.), identified weapons (there is one 2-page spread that has a design element that belies that it quite possibly was a concession), and identified accouterments. Surely, the Society has these items in their vast collection, so it left me wondering why they chose to downplay this very fundamental aspect of the State's participation in the war. Nevertheless, there are great groupings of items like one soldier's haversack, fry pan and boiler, and many personal items. My criticisms are minimal and should not deter any Civil War fan from buying this book.

In closing, it is important to recognize that this book is for a fan of the Civil War and NOT just a fan of Minnesota in the Civil War. The artifacts, accounts, and photographs reflect the Nation's involvement. It just worked out that the medium chosen for this reflection, was the young state of Minnesota--the first to answer President Lincoln's call for volunteers in 1861. Civil War fans, both north and south, will appreciate this book for its very fresh, personal depiction of common soldiers at war.

The men of the First Minnesota could swing an axe, and did so, building bridges and making roads. They could shoot -- straight and fast, and did so on some of the most famous battlefields of the Civil War. They were a "cool" Regiment, men who stood fast. And they died, as a Regiment, on the battlefield of Gettysburg.

This book should be read by every high school senior in Minnesota, and most elsewhere. Moe captures the simple competence of these frontiersmen, their ability to walk for long distances (Antietam), work with tools (Peninsula Campaign) and to stand fast and fight hard -- in each battle.

The First Minnesota was raised in the West, in the new state of Minnesota, but fought with the Army of the Potomac. This gives their story a sense of an American Odyssey -- Moe captures the changing nation as a backdrop to the war. The First Minnesota struggles to learn how to cook crabs... and how to fight the Secesh. The diaries and newspaper articles of the time illuminate the nation through the stories these men tell.

Finally, the Civil War buff will love this book. The book tells one entire arc of the Civil War through the life and death of this Regiment. And Moe's writing is so simple and clear, the story unfolds and makes the early eastern battles understandable.

This is an outstanding book that gives the detail of the First Minnesota's glorious charge at Gettysburg and helped saved the Union line against a largely superior Confederate force. I have been to Gettysburg and saw the field on which they charged against the Confederate line and closed the gap for the critical time needed for Union reinforcements to fill in the gap. The author also gives great narrative in the book as it does not become overwhelmed with unnecessary details that would be distracting to the reader. The timeframe in the book is mostly the summer of 1863 before the Battle of Chancelorsville and ends with the valliant and brutal charge in which the 1st Minnesota lost so many men in less than five minutes. The details of the charge are gripping and individual accounts by the soldiers who were there make the book impossible to put down. The First Minnesota's bravery ranks it right along with Col Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain's 20th Maine as doing the suprizing and remarkable thing at precisely the right time, in which saved the Union Army and possibly saved the Union from defeat. This book needs to be reprinted quickly so other Civil War/U.S. History readers could know about this fine, brave regiment.

Richard Moe draws heavily from the letters and diaries (many of them unpublished) of the men of the First and weaves them into a complelling story. This is one of the few books on any topic that I have read twice and I am sure I will read it again. You will never forget Lyman and Issac Taylor and many of the other soldiers of the First after you have read this book. Their very personal writings cover a three year period and give the reader an insight into a soldier's life not often found in any book. I found myself not wanting to finish the book. These men had become friends and I knew full well their fate. They also knew their duty and did not hesitate. 262 of them charged 1,200. Gen. Hancock asked them to give him 5 min. to bring up reinforcements, they gave him 15. Of the 262 only 47 walked away. Many of the voices I had come to know fell silent. History does not allow you to change the ending as much as you might wish you could. By the way, I bought this book in Freeport ME at the 20th Maine Bookstore (it was their last copy). It can be argued that these two units, a mile apart, saved the Union line on July 2nd 1863.

Moe and Wilkie describe what has gone wrong with the planning of urban and suburban America, and discuss their solution: a combination of historic preservation, community activism, and more intelligent zoning regulations. Their book is very much in the spirit of New Urbanism - that cities should be looking backward to traditional planning approaches that served us so well before World War II. Memphis gets the most attention in this book, as both a positive and negative example; the authors also focus on New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Denver, St. Paul, Portland (Ore.), and several small towns that revitalized their main streets. Moe and Wilkie write with a journalistic balance that I found refreshing, in contrast to the rabid ranting of certain other books. Even when describing Disney's failed effort to build a theme park in northern Virginia, the authors resist the trap of making Disney sound like the heart of evil, and allow the reader to understand the situation from Disney's perspective. The only drawback is that even though the book is about historic preservation and urban planning, there are only 20 illustrations.

The authors offer a very articulate, well-documented argument that presses for a more preservation-oriented urban planning that respects the nation's architectural treasures. Of course, we have all heard this argument so many times before--- one that often falls on deaf ears because federal policy, urban political priorities, and powerful development interests work against it. With this hard reality in mind, the major contribution of this work is that the authors suggest that preservation is not only about saving historic architecture and historic places, it is also about restoring and rebuilding our nation's shattered urban communities. As they state it so well, "(p)reservation is the business of saving special places and the quality of life they support. It has to do with more than bricks, balustrades, columns, and cobblestones. It has to do with the way individuals, families, and communities come together in good environments" (p. 240).

Beyond the planni! ! ng rhetoric, the authors provide a number of detailed case studies of New Orleans, Memphis, Pittsburg, and snapshots of other towns both big and small that illustrate well exactly how this connection between historic preservation and community can be made. With all of the current attention on "community" as the critical factor in restoring a hospitable environment in urban America, this book necessarily becomes very relevant and useful.

This book is so well written and interesting! I do not hesitate to recommended it to all audiences.

Another book on urban sprawl can understandably be met with diminished expectations. But don't allow your expectations to languish when you pick up Changing Places. Get ready for the passion of two preservationists. And no one is exempt from their stern gaze; not the press, not the politicians, not the professional planners, not the building industry, and not even you and me. Richard Moe has been the president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation since 1992. His attention to detail conspires with his affinity for root causes in the aptly titled Changing Places. Carter Wilkie was a White House speech writer. Moe and Wilkie observe we have abandoned the art of place making. As we are products of our created settings, the disintegration of historic communities leaves us with a loss of identity as a people. We become historically illiterate. This book isn't for everyone. If you have never walked into a traditional urban setting and asked yourself: "How in the world did they ever let this happen?" then you'll find this book unsatisfying. If you've never wondered how to restore the historic, civic, cultural and economic center of a community, then you'll be mystified by the authors' flair for detail in successful plans for reclamation. If you've never sensed the hopelessness in the eyes of our children in urban settings, then you'll have little use for the authors' thoughtful choice of words in defining our loss. If, on the other hand, you perceive the loss and think there is still something worth preserving, something to salvage, then this is a must-read. John F. Rohe (rohe@freeway.net), the reviewer, is an attorney in Petoskey, Michigan and is the author of A Bicentennial Malthusian Essay (ISBN 1-890394-00-9).