Trauma and the Civil War | Dr. Peter Carmichael, Gettysburg

On February 15, 2024, the late Dr. Peter Carmichael of Gettysburg College gave a fascinating presentation at ACHS entitled "Trauma and the Civil War." The talk was recorded for later release, and we are now pleased to share it with you. Dr. Carmichael passed away unexpectedly in July, leaving behind an incredible legacy of scholarship, teaching, and love for our community. His memory will continue to inspire us through exceptional programs like this one.
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Program Description:

Is PTSD a barrier to understanding Civil War trauma?

Civil War soldiers were not born without fear or immune to the psychological blows of combat. Survivors often left the battlefield dazed and confused, physically battered, and emotionally gutted. Civil War Americans seemingly had little empathy for soldiers who staggered to the rear, broken down by the violence. They believed that men of courage always persevered, always neutralized negative memories of the battlefield, always did their duty. Why did so many Americans condemn soldiers overwhelmed by the horrors of war as having a flawed character, as being cowardly at heart, as unworthy of being called a man? Historian Peter Carmichael pursued this question through a range of letters and reports from soldiers and physicians that shed light on the distinctive ways through which Civil War Americans understood battlefield trauma.