Coles County in the Civil War: 1861-1865 (Classic Reprint)

Granting a window into a county at war, this book recounts Coles County’s Civil War years with care and context.Drawing on local records, newspapers, and archival materials, the work maps Coles County’s contribution to the Union effort, explores town life in Charleston and Mattoon, and examines how the war touched politics, daily work, and community loyalties. It also examines specific events, like the Charleston riot, through the lens of local perspectives and available testimony.Readers will gain a grounded view of how a border county balanced support for the Union with divided sentiments, and how war reshaped a rural Illinois region from 1861 to 1865.Details Coles County’s troop numbers, quotas, and the county’s relative rank in the state.Explains how Mattoon and Charleston contributed to the war effort and daily life during the era.Offers insight into local press coverage and how newspapers reflected political loyalties.Delivers a focused look at the Charleston riot and the broader wartime atmosphere.Ideal for readers of local history and Civil War studies who want a grounded, county-level perspective. Read more