Wednesday, October 29 2025, 4:30 - 6pm Demosthenian Hall Join us for a book talk by Lesley J. Gordon, Dread Danger: Cowardice and Combat in the American Civil War (2024 Cambridge University Press). Dr. Gordon is the Charles Boal Ewing Chair in Military History at West Point and the Charles G. Summersell Chair of Southern History at the University of Alabama. Dr. Gordon received her Ph.D. from the University of Georgia and specializes in civil war history. Free and open to the public. This is an FYO event. About the book: When confronted with the abject fear of going into battle, Civil War soldiers were expected to overcome the dread of the oncoming danger with feats of courage and victory on the battlefield. The Fire Zouaves and the 2nd Texas Infantry went to war with high expectations that they would perform bravely; they had famed commanders and enthusiastic community support. How could they possibly fail? Yet falter they did, facing humiliating charges of cowardice thereafter that cast a lingering shadow on the two regiments, despite their best efforts at redemption. Dr. Gordon leads us through these cases to understand how Civil War cowardice and valor were crafted in newspapers, letters, diaries, and political discourse. UGA Bookstore will have signed copies for sale. Sponsored by the Department of History Carl and Sally Gable Distinguished Chair in Southern Colonial American History and the Amanda and Greg Gregory Chair in the Civil War Era. flyer for Dr. Gordon's book talk Oct 29 on her new book Dread Danger. (313.78 KB) Dr. Lesley J. Gordon History Department University of Alabama U Alabama
