Deadwood's portrayal of Civil War veterans

I've just finished watching the first season of HBO's "Deadwood" series (on DVD). The portrayal of Civil War veterans and others, which is set in a western territorial town in 1876, smacks of a gritty realism and individualism I've never seen on the small screen — or the large one. It's "Gunsmoke" for the twenty-first century. The doctor is the main character who is a veteran. He is depicted as a capable, practical man who is haunted by the war and has turned to alcohol for comfort. The preacher, a secondary character, found religion as a result of his war experience. Gen. George Crook, who has a cameo appearance is the last episode of season one, comes across as a thoughful man of common sense, yet is charged with avenging the Indians who defeated the U.S. cavalry at the Battle of the Little Big Horn and killed Gen. Custer.

These characters remind me of the many soldiers I have researched in the course of writing the CWN column and book. The facts I've uncovered lead me to believe that life for those who survived the war was difficult for many, who suffered emotionally and physically from wounds, disease and what would today be diagnosed as post-traumatic syndrome. What I've strived for in non-fiction, Deadwood has addressed in fiction. That is, to tell the stories of a generation of common men who participated in our nation's greatest crisis, "The Brother's War," as Deadwood's preacher referred to it.

Bottom line: It is refreshing to see such an honest and straightforward presentation of a period in our history of great hope and deep sorrow. I highly recommend the program. It is not suitable for children due to the language and adult themes.