Robert M. Sandow, "Deserter Country: Civil War Opposition in the Pennsylvania Appalachians" (New York: Fordham University Press, 2009).

I recently obtained a copy of Robert Sandow's "Deserter Country." This is a wonderful addition to my growing library on Pennsylvania "copperheadism" during the Civil War. Sandow concentrates on homefront opposition in the lumbering region of north and north-central Pennsylvania. Fantastic bibliography and a great "Introduction" outlining the state of scholarly research on this topic from the Civil War era to date. Excellent chapters on the history of the lumber industry in Pennsylvania in the 19th century, and I like the way Sandow relates war resistance in the lumbering regions to the pre-war changes in the industry in Pennsylvania and the "patterans of protest" evident in the 1850s in the "Raftsmen's Rebellion" of 1857. A lot of great material on Federal occupation of Clearfield County and the "expedition" against draft resistors and deserters in Fishing Creek Township in Columbia County. Apendix contains graphs and material demonstrating the resistance to volunteering for military service in the lumbering counties. Particularly interesting map of Pennsylvania showing geographical origins of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. Also information on the "Democratic Castle" movement in Clearfield County is worth perusing. This book is being added to the reading list!