The heart of this volume is the verbatim diary of a union soldier stationed in the deep south immediately after the Civil War.

A Union Soldier in the Land of the Vanquished is a vivid and authentic diary that transports readers to the tense and uncertain months following the Civil War. Edited by historian F. N. Boney, this work presents the unvarnished words of Sergeant Mathew Woodruff, a seasoned veteran of the 21st Missouri Infantry. After fighting in the major campaigns of the western theater, Woodruff returned to duty in June 1865 for occupation service along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and Alabama—a region still reeling from defeat.

Spanning June through December of 1865, Woodruff’s daily entries capture the raw texture of life as a Union soldier in a conquered land. His observations range from the mundane to the profound: enforcing discipline among restless troops, navigating the challenges of Reconstruction, and finding moments of respite in hunting, fishing, and social gatherings. Through his candid reflections—complete with misspellings and colloquial phrasing—readers gain insight into the frustrations, hopes, and humanity of men tasked with rebuilding a fractured nation.