From Conciliation to Conquest

“On May 12, 1862, the men of Col. John B. Turchin’s brigade occupied the town of Athens, Alabama. According to legend, Turchin, whose men had been fired at by civilians a few days before, told his men he would shut his eyes for an hour. His military experience dictated that his men would then loot and sack the town as a lesson to the enemy. In this definitive study of the incident Bradley and Dahlen demolish some long-standing myths and examine the details of what actually happened and why. This is an excellent book that deserves a wide audience… the authors have done their research well and handled the controversy with complete understanding of both details and the wider picture.”
—Blue Gray Magazine
 

 “Provocative, conceptually sound and well written, From Conciliation to Conquest is a fine piece of historical work that touches on many subjects, from wartime civilian and military relationships and the quality of the volunteers that Turchin led. This book does an outstanding job of examining a small incident and showing how it offers large lessons on the nature of the Civil War and the evolution of military policy in that conflict.”
—Journal of American History

 

 “The authors’ identification of Turchin’s crime as a turning point in wartime policy is quite instructive. Bradley and Dahlen able examine the legalistic challenges involved in pacifying a conquered people. From Conciliation to Conquest is a well-written, thoroughly researched study of an exciting event. The authors’ coverage of the court-martial provides excellent insight into military jurisprudence, and their findings enhance the debate on the subject of total war.”
—Military History of the West

“As the authors of this readable military/legal study show, after Athens [Alabama], such behavior by Union troops became the new norm, in the belief that it would speed the terrible war to conclusion.”
—Mobile Bay magazine