America's Buried History: Landmines in the Civil War
“Masterfully researched . . . destined to become a classic study of one of the most horrific weapons ever utilized during the Civil War—landmines.” —Jonathan A. Noyalas, director, Shenandoah University’s McCormick Civil War Institute

Despite all that has been published on the American Civil War, one aspect that has never received the in-depth attention it deserves is the widespread use of landmines across the Confederacy. These “infernal devices” dealt death and injury in nearly every Confederate state and influenced the course of the war. Kenneth R. Rutherford rectifies this oversight with America’s Buried History: Landmines in the Civil War, the first book devoted to a comprehensive analysis and history of the fascinating and important topic.

Modern landmines were used for the first time in history on a widespread basis during the Civil War when the Confederacy, in desperate need of an innovative technology to overcome significant deficits in material and manpower, employed them. The first American to die from a victim-activated landmine was on the Virginia Peninsula in early 1862 during the siege of Yorktown. Their use set off explosive debates inside the Confederate government and within the ranks of the army over the ethics of using “weapons that wait.” As Confederate fortunes dimmed, leveraging low-cost weapons like landmines became acceptable and even desirable.

Dr. Rutherford, who is known worldwide for his work in the landmine discipline, and who himself lost his legs to a mine in Africa, has written an important contribution to the literature on one of the most fundamental, contentious, and significant modern conventional weapons.

“A MUST for military history buffs! A thrilling and chilling read.” —His Royal Highness Prince Mired Raad Al-Hussein, UN Special Envoy for Landmine Prohibition Treaty
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America's Buried History: Landmines in the Civil War
“Masterfully researched . . . destined to become a classic study of one of the most horrific weapons ever utilized during the Civil War—landmines.” —Jonathan A. Noyalas, director, Shenandoah University’s McCormick Civil War Institute

Despite all that has been published on the American Civil War, one aspect that has never received the in-depth attention it deserves is the widespread use of landmines across the Confederacy. These “infernal devices” dealt death and injury in nearly every Confederate state and influenced the course of the war. Kenneth R. Rutherford rectifies this oversight with America’s Buried History: Landmines in the Civil War, the first book devoted to a comprehensive analysis and history of the fascinating and important topic.

Modern landmines were used for the first time in history on a widespread basis during the Civil War when the Confederacy, in desperate need of an innovative technology to overcome significant deficits in material and manpower, employed them. The first American to die from a victim-activated landmine was on the Virginia Peninsula in early 1862 during the siege of Yorktown. Their use set off explosive debates inside the Confederate government and within the ranks of the army over the ethics of using “weapons that wait.” As Confederate fortunes dimmed, leveraging low-cost weapons like landmines became acceptable and even desirable.

Dr. Rutherford, who is known worldwide for his work in the landmine discipline, and who himself lost his legs to a mine in Africa, has written an important contribution to the literature on one of the most fundamental, contentious, and significant modern conventional weapons.

“A MUST for military history buffs! A thrilling and chilling read.” —His Royal Highness Prince Mired Raad Al-Hussein, UN Special Envoy for Landmine Prohibition Treaty
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America's Buried History: Landmines in the Civil War

America's Buried History: Landmines in the Civil War

by Kenneth R. Rutherford
America's Buried History: Landmines in the Civil War

America's Buried History: Landmines in the Civil War

by Kenneth R. Rutherford

eBook

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Overview

“Masterfully researched . . . destined to become a classic study of one of the most horrific weapons ever utilized during the Civil War—landmines.” —Jonathan A. Noyalas, director, Shenandoah University’s McCormick Civil War Institute

Despite all that has been published on the American Civil War, one aspect that has never received the in-depth attention it deserves is the widespread use of landmines across the Confederacy. These “infernal devices” dealt death and injury in nearly every Confederate state and influenced the course of the war. Kenneth R. Rutherford rectifies this oversight with America’s Buried History: Landmines in the Civil War, the first book devoted to a comprehensive analysis and history of the fascinating and important topic.

Modern landmines were used for the first time in history on a widespread basis during the Civil War when the Confederacy, in desperate need of an innovative technology to overcome significant deficits in material and manpower, employed them. The first American to die from a victim-activated landmine was on the Virginia Peninsula in early 1862 during the siege of Yorktown. Their use set off explosive debates inside the Confederate government and within the ranks of the army over the ethics of using “weapons that wait.” As Confederate fortunes dimmed, leveraging low-cost weapons like landmines became acceptable and even desirable.

Dr. Rutherford, who is known worldwide for his work in the landmine discipline, and who himself lost his legs to a mine in Africa, has written an important contribution to the literature on one of the most fundamental, contentious, and significant modern conventional weapons.

“A MUST for military history buffs! A thrilling and chilling read.” —His Royal Highness Prince Mired Raad Al-Hussein, UN Special Envoy for Landmine Prohibition Treaty

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781611214543
Publisher: Savas Beatie
Publication date: 07/01/2021
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 216
File size: 39 MB
Note: This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Kenneth R. Rutherford is known for his decades of work in the landmine discipline. He is cofounder of the Landmine Survivors Network and a prominent leader in the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, which won the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize. A professor of political science at James Madison University, he directed the university’s Center for International Stabilization and Recovery for ten years, which for more than 21 years has been recognized as a global leader in international efforts to combat the effects of landmines and explosive remnants of war. He holds a Ph.D. in Government from Georgetown University, and B.A. and MBA degrees from the University of Colorado, where he lettered in football as a walk-on noseguard and inducted into its Hall for Distinguished alumni.

Table of Contents

Preface vi

Acknowledgments x

Introduction xiii

Chapter 1 1861: A Man with a Plan 1

Chapter 2 1862: Legitimate or "Cowardly"? 16

Chapter 3 1863: The Landmine Comes of Age 45

Chapter 4 1864: Contagion 85

Chapter 5 1864-65: Desperation 115

Chapter 6 Mine Warfare: A Lasting Legacy 150

Glossary 167

Bibliography 171

Index 181

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