Children at the Battle of Gettysburg - Their Unforgettable Summer


Book Description

The children of the 19th century were no different than today's kids. They looked forward to summer and enjoying the pleasant weather. However, it wasn't all fun; most still had their daily chores to do, just as they did during the rest of the year - many farms and orchards were in Gettysburg. In 1863, America's Civil War between the Northern and Southern states was in its third year. Most of the fighting was taking place in the south, so Gettysburg and its 2400 residents were spared the devastation which came along with the battles. They were truly aware of the ongoing war; many fathers, sons, and brothers answered the call when President Abraham Lincoln asked the Northern states, as it did of Pennsylvania, to support the Union cause. For the children of Gettysburg, it would not be their normal summer. There were always rumors about the Confederates coming, but now it all came true and it would indeed be their "unforgettable summer".




The Civil War Canteen - Second Edition


Book Description

Many of the canteens in this book were excavated from battlefields and campsites. There are also canteens which were early battlefield pick ups, from private collections, and from early Civil War museums. This book has over two hundred photographs and it will give the reader a rare opportunity to take a glimpse into the past to see what the soldier used and some of the battlefields he fought on. There are 80 pages with over 275 photographs.




Battle of Gettysburg - The Relics, Artifacts & Souvenirs


Book Description

The Battle of Gettysburg ended, but what was left behind, was unimaginable, 51,000 casualties (23,000 Union and 28,000 Confederate). Private residences took in and cared for these suffering soldiers. Without these caring townspeople, the death rate would have increased tremendously. The soldiers realized that they were part of history in the making. As in any momentous event, the participants sought some kind of remembrance from the battle, something they could gaze at in their twilight years and reminisce about being part of such an historical event. Be it a button, a bullet, canteen, photograph, letter, or even a handful of the sacred soil.....just something. Collecting of these relics continued with the veterans, right up until today. The author has spent the last 20 years acquiring and documenting these artifacts and has now included many of them in this book which was released in 2008 (revised 2009). Also included are the rare souvenirs, which now have become collectible in themselves.




The Civil War Canteen - Third Edition


Book Description

With the outbreak of hostilities in April of 1861, thousands of men would be called upon to leave the safety of their homes and go off to war. This was a new experience; for many of these Òcitizen soldiersÓ, not only would it be the first time they were away from home, for many it was the first time they left their hometown. These new recruits would not only have to fight their fellow Americans, in many cases they would be facing their own relatives on the battlefield. Some men would carry muskets, others would carry revolvers. Some would fire cannons, while others waved swords, but there was one thing they all had in common, both enlisted man and officer, they all carried canteens. This book will give the reader a rare opportunity to take a glimpse into the past to see many rare and original canteens, accompanied by period photographs (many colorized). This book is published in full-color so you can really appreciate these unique artifacts from the Civil War. A full index is ideal for research.




Lincoln at Gettysburg


Book Description

The power of words has rarely been given a more compelling demonstration than in the Gettysburg Address. Lincoln was asked to memorialize the gruesome battle. Instead, he gave the whole nation "a new birth of freedom" in the space of a mere 272 words. His entire life and previous training, and his deep political experience went into this, his revolutionary masterpiece. By examining both the address and Lincoln in their historical moment and cultural frame, Wills breathes new life into words we thought we knew, and reveals much about a president so mythologized but often misunderstood. Wills shows how Lincoln came to change the world and to effect an intellectual revolution, how his words had to and did complete the work of the guns, and how Lincoln wove a spell that has not yet been broken.




Civil War Artillery - A Pictorial Introduction


Book Description

"In 1861, it was a blast of artillery aimed at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor which started four years of the most horrendous period in American history. At 4:30 a.m. on the morning of April 12th, forty three Confederate cannons opened up on the fortress. Miraculously, no one on either side had been killed or seriously wounded - a battle conclusion with these results would rarely happen again. The Confederacy had to struggle to place artillery and ammunition in the field. The Union had on hand 4,167 pieces of artillery, of which only 163 were field guns. When the rebels took over Federal arsenals in the south, they acquired a considerable amount of heavy guns, but only 35 much needed field pieces. Most of the country's powder mills were located in the North, and little ammunition had been made in the South for some fifty years. Starting almost from scratch, the South built some remarkably efficient mills and arsenals to meet the demands. Those four short years reshaped the military in many ways - the tactics of the artillery and how it was utilized is still being studied today. The artillery seldom received the grandeur of the cavalry and infantry, but it was those lethal iron projectiles which softened up the enemy to allow the charges and attacks. Take a trip through time beginning with the infancy of artillery during the American Revolution until the final shots were fired at Appomattox. Most of the major battles are visited, along with some lesser engagements, and the role that the artillery played regarding their outcome. With over 500 photographs, (many previously unpublished), the reader will get a real feel what it was like to serve with the artillery during the Civil War."--Back cover.




The Civil War Soldier - His Personal Items


Book Description

"The personal objects left behind by the Civil War soldier are small windows which allow us to get a brief glimpse into the most momentous part of his life ... In today's 'world of disposable goods', who would take the time to meticulously inscribe their name or initials in such an inanimate object as a razor or soap dish. We may think it was done to prove ownership, maybe it could identify him if killed or wounded, or maybe it was just out of boredom ... The soldier knew the war would be scrupulously studied by future generations. Not being General Grant or Lee, he would have to settle for a less significant role to say 'I was there -- I was a part of this'. Many of these veterans carefully packed away their menial possessions as a personal time capsule, hoping that someone in the future would find them and if only for a brief moment, remember their small part in American history"--Back cover




Widow of Gettysburg


Book Description

For all who have suffered great loss of heart, home, health or family; true home and genuine lasting love can be found. When a horrific battle rips through Gettysburg, the farm of Union widow Liberty Holloway is disfigured into a Confederate field hospital, bringing her face to face with unspeakable suffering—and a Confederate scout who awakens her long-dormant heart. But when the scout doesn’t die, she discovers he isn’t who he claims to be. While Liberty’s future crumbles as her home is destroyed, the past comes rushing back to Bella, a former slave and Liberty’s hired help, when she finds herself surrounded by Southern soldiers, one of whom knows the secret that would place Liberty in danger if revealed. In the wake of shattered homes and bodies, Liberty and Bella struggle to pick up the pieces the battle has left behind. Will Liberty be defined by the tragedy in her life, or will she find a way to triumph over it? Inspired by first-person accounts, Widow of Gettysburg is second book in the Heroines Behind the Lines series. These books do not need to be read in succession. For more information about the series, visit www.heroinesbehindthelines.com.







Chickamauga


Book Description

»Chickamauga« is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, originally published in 1889. AMBROSE BIERCE [1842-1914] was an American author, journalist, and war veteran. He was one of the most influential journalists in the United States in the late 19th century and alongside his success as a horror writer he was hailed as a pioneer of realism. Among his most famous works are The Devil's Dictionary and the short story »An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.«