Their All For Freedom: The Civil War Letters of the Mulkin Brothers, 105th Pennsylvania Volunteers

During the American Civil War most participants were literate. This gives us the opportunity today to see the war through their eyes in the uncensored letters they sent home. In the early 1970s, the letters of the Mulkin brothers from Pennsylvania were purchased for $35 at a local antique show. After careful transcription and research, their incredible story emerged. James and William Mulkin enlisted to fight for Union and freedom in the 105th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry soon after the start of the war and began writing about their experiences to family back home. Over the course of their service, they wrote more than eighteen letters that described their life in camp, as prisoners of war, and in the battles in Virginia leading up to their ultimate sacrifices and tragic dispositions.
For Freedom & Union includes reproductions of the actual letters with transcriptions along with additional records uncovered to tell their story. Their letters provide fresh insight into the common soldier’s experience. They have also been successfully used as an educational springboard by teachers of students of all ages making history come alive. In addition, they also introduce the adventure of historical research. And their story brings to light the price that has already been paid in blood and treasure by the nation to settle the issue of secession and purge the nation of the sin of slavery. Those generations are now long gone and few today value or even recall their sacrifice when the accounting for compensation for past sins still remains in the national conversation. After their rescue from the mists of history, you can help to ensure that the stories of James and William Mulkin endure.