Smithsonian Civil War : inside the national collection

Summary: This book takes readers inside the public displays as well as private cabinets, storerooms, and vaults to learn the stories of its most fascinating and significant pieces. Curators from thirteen Smithsonian museums and archives crafted this immersive exploration to illuminate the full scope of the political, military, social, and cultural climate of the era. In 150 entries to honor the 150th anniversary of the war, each curator tells a truly unique story focused on one-of-a-kind, famous, and previously unseen relics handpicked from the Smithsonian Institution collections. The objects featured range from military uniforms and weaponry to recruiting posters, portraits, jewelry, letters home, and currency, and span the prewar era, the war, and its aftermath--From back cover.