Lincoln's Veteran Volunteers Win the War, the Hudson Valley's Ross Brothers and the Union's Fight for Emancipation, by D. Reid Ross (SUNY Press, Sept. 2008) is an in-depth look at the war from the soldiers' perspective, examining not only their experiences in battle and on the march, but also their motivations for continuing to fight. Veteran Volunteers enlisted for two three-year terms - a stunning commitment given the hardships and dangers they faced. Ross spent 30 years researching the story of his own grandfather and three great-uncles, and expanded his research to include hundreds of the men who served with them in their New York and Illinois regiments.
This book is an inspiration on many levels!