Gettysburg: The Field of Glory

From July 1-3, 1863, soldiers from the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia battled in what would be one of the most significant struggles of the American Civil War at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The Southern army under the command of General Robert E. Lee invaded Pennsylvania with the hopes of crushing the Federal army under Major-General George Meade. General Lee hoped with the invasion of Pennsylvania and a victory that the peace movement, known as the Copperheads would be able to pressure the Lincoln government for peaceful negotiations with the Southern Confederacy and permit separation from the Union. The invasion would have another benefit. It would allow Virginia farmers the opportunity to maintain their crops without risk of destruction by the Federal army for the use of the hungry Southern army.

The Southern army from officers to the private soldier under General Lee had enjoyed a number of victories over their adversary. Confidence was high among the Confederate army. Major-General William Dorsey Pender of North Carolina, commanding a division in Lieutenant-General A. P. Hill’s Third Corps wrote: “I feel that we are taking a very important step, but see no reason why we should not be successful. We have a large army that is in splendid condition and spirit.” Private French Harding, Company F, 31st Virginia Infantry wrote “I think the surest plan is to depend upon our own resources. I am confident they are sufficient to meet our wants.” During those fateful three days, over 50,000 men from the blue and gray would become casualties of war fighting for their convictions at Gettysburg: The Field of Glory.  >>Read More 

Escape Across the Potomac

In the early morning hours of February 16, 1862, after learning the garrison of Confederate troops under General Simon Buckner at Fort Donelson, near Dover, Tennessee was about to surrender, Lieutenant-Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest led his Confederate cavalrymen and artillerymen from Donelson to safety, thus escaping the humiliation of sharing in the surrender to Federal forces under Brigadier-General Ulysses S. Grant.

On the evening of September 14, 1862, 14,000 Federal soldiers at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, under the command of Colonel Dixon S. Miles, a 43 year veteran of the United States Army were surrounded on three-sides by 23,000 Confederate soldiers from the Army of Northern Virginia under the command of Lieutenant-General Thomas (Stonewall) Jackson. Among the besieged Harpers Ferry garrison were 1,594 Federal cavalrymen hoping to receive orders to duplicate Forrest’s performance. >>Read More

Northern Fire

The Civil War was the most devastating conflict to rage its winds of fury across the North America Continent, costing the sacrifice of over 600,000 American lives that fought for either the blue or gray. In the war’s aftermath, the 11 Southern states that seceded from the Union were left in political, economical, and social turmoil with many questions of their destiny to be decided.

While families struggled to find the money to rebuild homes, farms, and businesses lost by the conflict, Northern politicians struggled over the issues of how the rebellious states and the conditions they would have to meet would be re-admitted to the Union.

Another challenging issue for the Nation would be the integration of the former slaves into a free society with all the rights and privileges that a free republic guarantees under its Constitution. >>Read More

The Bloody Harvest

In the novel, The Bloody Harvest, Jacob Martin is a Federal army spy living in Richmond, Virginia in 1862. He has infiltrated and cultivated friendships in the highest places of the Confederate government. Since the Confederate Secret Service and spy ring were more advanced and sophisticated then that of the United States, Jacob is eager to learn their methods and techniques. In The Bloody Harvest, Jacob is challenged by many risk and daring challenges while carrying out his duty to his country. On more than one occasion, Jacob deceives his Confederate female accomplices, who become romantically involved with him.

Follow the characters as they reveal and relive the days of the Civil War in portraying agents for the Union and Confederate spy ring. It is a story that for many years has been forgotten and mostly untold by Civil War historians and authors. Now, the truth is revealed in the story, The Bloody Harvest.

 I do quite a bit of reading and I just finished this book. Kudos' to the author! This was an excellent book to learn the history of the United States bloodiest and horrific war! I do not read non-fiction books, and I found that with the author writing a story centered on the Civil War,
a reader can learn the history.

This is a great way that young adults can learn history also. The writing of this book is meant for ALL eyes to see. I do hope that the author has a sequel coming out because I have some questions unanswered about some of the characters! Again, thank you for a great book.
Emily B. Martin (Acushnet, Massachusetts)