Battle Files

Field Manual

My Days and Nights on the Battle-Field

In "My Days and Nights on the Battle-Field," Charles Carleton Coffin offers a vivid and poignant memoir that captures the harrowing experiences of the American Civil War through the eyes of a dedicated journalist and soldier. Using a firsthand narrative style, Coffin weaves together detailed accounts of battles, personal encounters, and the profound emotional toll of conflict. The book is not only a significant historical document but also serves as a literary testament to the resilience of the human spirit amidst the chaos of war, reflecting the zeitgeist of the American North during the 1860s. Coffin, a prominent journalist and war correspondent for the Boston Journal, was deeply inspired by his experiences covering the war. His background in journalism endowed him with a keen observational skill and an ability to articulate the complex realities faced by soldiers and civilians alike. His commitment to documenting the war's impact was fueled by his patriotism and a desire to inform the public, making him a crucial figure in shaping the historical narrative of the Civil War. For readers interested in American history, military literature, or memoirs that reveal the human experiences behind historical events, Coffin's "My Days and Nights on the Battle-Field" is an essential read. It offers not only a compelling narrative but also profound insights into the heart of a nation divided, making it a vital contribution to the understanding of this pivotal period in American history.

The Vietnam War Files

"The new evidence uncovers a number of behind-the-scenes plays - such as Nixon's secret nuclear alert of October 1969 - and sheds more light on Nixon's goals in Vietnam and his and Kissinger's strategies of Vietnamization, the "China card," and "triangular diplomacy." The excerpted documents also reveal significant new information about the purposes of the linebacker bombings, Nixon's manipulation of the pow issue, and the conduct of the secret negotiations in Paris - as well as other key topics, events, and issues. All of these are effectively framed by Kimball, whose introductions to each document provide historical context."