The price of patriotism

by W. Wayne Smith

When President Abraham Lincoln called for volunteers to defend the Union after the fall of Fort Sumter, thousands of patriotic citizens responded. Indiana County which saw 40 percent of eligible males aged 15-40 serve in the army suffered other hardships during the war years. Using family letters to and from the soldiers, Dr. Smith portrays the sacrifices and difficulties faced by wives, mothers, sisters, brothers and other family members. The community and later the national government helped to soften economic burdens for widows and orphans.