Civil War

[[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"771", "attributes":{"class":"media-image alignright wp-image-891 size-full", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"125", "height":"193", "alt":"Widow cover 3 125"}}]]Both Hollywood and history books tell stories of valor from the battle of Gettysburg. But before the word "Gettysburg" was synonymous with battle, it was simply the name of a town where ordinary people lived—until extraordinary circumstances brought out strength and courage they did not know they possessed. These stories of resilience inspired me to write my novel Widow of Gettysburg, book 2 in the Heroines Behind the Lines series. Today I'd love to introduce you to just three real women of Gettysburg. Sallie Myers [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1278", "attributes":{"class":"media-image wp-image-3260 size-medium", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"201", "height":"300", "alt":"Sallie Myers"}}]] Sallie Myers   Gettysburg school teacher Sallie Myers never could stand the sight of blood. But on the morning of July 2, 1863, the second day of battle, she could not ignore the desperate cries of the wounded lying in a church across the street. Kneeling by the first man inside the door of the church, Sallie asked what she could do for him. "Nothing," he replied. "I am going to die." Overcome with emotion, Sallie ran outside and wept. With great effort, she finally calmed herself and returned to the soldier, where she learned he was Sgt. Alexander Stewart of the 149th Pennsylvania Volunteers. With the surgeon's permission, she then had Sgt. Stewart brought to her home where she could better care for him. Though a bullet narrowly missed her where she sat fanning her patient, she refused to leave him for the safety of the cellar. After Sgt. Alexander died on July 6, 1863, Sallie took in eleven more soldiers while continuing to work in the make-shift hospitals of the town for weeks after the battle ended. "The sight of blood never again affected me and I was among the wounded and dying men day and night," Sallie recalled. "While the battle lasted and the town was in possession of the rebels, I went back and forth between my home and the hospitals without fear." The next summer, Sgt. Alexander's widow and his brother Henry came to visit her. From that meeting, Sallie and Henry began a relationship which resulted in their marriage in 1867. Sadie Bushman Nine-year-old Sadie Bushman was running to her grandparents' house for safety when the battle roared into action. I don't have a picture of Sadie, but I do know what nine looks like. My own daughter is currently the same age Sadie was when the following story took place. [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1279", "attributes":{"class":"media-image wp-image-3258", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"400", "height":"270", "alt":"This is my 9-year-old daughter looking on as my 6-year-old is being treated for his broken arm. "}}]] This is my 9-year-old daughter looking on as my 6-year-old is being treated for his broken arm. Little Sadie had a much different experience, as the youngest nurse in the Civil War.   Sadie tells the story in her own words: "There came a screech and a shell brushed my skirt as it went by. I staggered from the concussion of it and almost fell, when I was grasped by the arm and a man said pleasantly, ‘That was a close call. Come with me and hurry,' he added in a tone so commanding that I meekly followed. [That man was Dr. Benjamin F. Lyford, a surgeon in the Union army]. He led me to . . .  an army corps hospital and then he put me to work. Wounded and dying men were then being carried to the place by the score. . . "As I reached the hospital tent a man with a leg shattered almost to a pulp was carried in. ‘Give him a drink of water while I cut off his leg' was the command I got. How I accomplished it I do not know but I stood there and assisted the surgeon all through the operation. I was in that field hospital all during the three days of the battle, climbing over heaps of bodies six and eight deep and always with the doctor helping him in his work. Then my father found me and took me home. Soon, the Christian and Sanitary Commissions set up a hospital on the scene of battle, and Sadie nursed there, too. "I was placed in charge of one of the wards and I was so small I had to climb up on the beds to attend to the sick and wounded men," she said. Having conquered her fear, Sadie served in that hospital nearly five months, though her father whipped her for nursing against his will. Elizabeth Thorn [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1280", "attributes":{"class":"media-image size-full wp-image-3259", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"260", "height":"357", "alt":"Peter and Elizabeth Thorn"}}]] Peter and Elizabeth Thorn   Elizabeth her husband Peter were caretakers of Gettysburg's Evergreen Cemetery, and lived in the cemetery gatehouse with Elizabeth's parents and her three small sons.  With Peter away as a soldier, Elizabeth tended the cemetery in his absence. She was six months pregnant in July 1863. Like most other Gettysburg women, she gave food and water to passing soldiers in both blue and grey before fleeing to safety during the battle. The Thorns returned to find their home severely damaged. But there was work to do. The cemetery president instructed her to bury the soldiers as fast as she could. The stench from the bloated corpses, both human and horse, was nauseating, but she and her father, aged 63, had little choice. The longer the bodies lay sweltering in the sun, the more of a health hazard they became. Elizabeth and her father buried 102 soldiers in Evergreen Cemetery. She was never compensated for her work in the aftermath of the battle, or for the damages to her home. [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1281", "attributes":{"class":"media-image wp-image-3179", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"500", "height":"375", "alt":"Monument to Elizabeth Thorn, the pregnant gravedigger, in Evergreen Cemetery."}}]] Monument to Elizabeth Thorn, the pregnant gravedigger, in Evergreen Cemetery.   These women, and so many others (Sarah Broadhead, Tillie Pierce, Hettie Shriver, etc.), did not ask to be heroines, but when war demanded it of them, they quietly filled the role. Their courage, sacrifice, and ability to love their enemies inspired Widow of Gettysburg, and I hope the book, in turn, inspires you. *Visiting Gettysburg soon? Don't miss these 9 Must-See Sites (Plus 5 Spots for R&R)!

[[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1072", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter wp-image-2308 size-full", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"600", "height":"222", "alt":"FBYankeecover"}}]] Caitlin tucked her feet beneath Rascal’s warm body, the rag rug that had formerly been under the workroom’s table now in a tangle of sewn-together strips on the table in front of her. Twisting them tightly, she dipped them into a bowl of liquid beeswax, rosin, and turpentine. The days were only getting shorter, and there were no candles to be had unless one made them at home.   Ana sat across from Caitlin at the work table, elbows resting on the First Reader for Southern Schools open in front of her. When the wax had cooled enough, Caitlin carefully pressed the warm waxed strips around a glass bottle, from the base to the neck.   “Why don’t you read aloud, Ana.”   The girl sat up a little straighter. “All right. Lesson Twenty-nine. ‘The man’s arm has been cut off. It was shot by a gun. Oh! What a sad thing war is!’ ”   “That’s enough.” Ragged crimson memories from the Battles of First Bull Run and Seven Pines exploded in Caitlin’s mind. Horrific scenes that had been engraved on the parchment of her soul. Certainly it wasn’t good for Ana to dwell on such things with her own father in the army. “Let’s read something else for your lesson. Do you know where Robinson Crusoe is?” The above scene is an excerpt from Yankee in Atlanta, where we find Caitlin McKae, formerly a Union soldier, a governess in Atlanta for the daughter of a Rebel soldier. (If you’re scratching your head about that one, I promise the Prologue and Chapter 1 of the novel will clear it right up.) One of my most fascinating discoveries while researching this novel was that of Southern textbooks. Since Caitlin is teaching her seven-year-old charge at home, I had the opportunity to include some fascinating excerpts, such as the one above, which is verbatim from its original source. [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1073", "attributes":{"class":"media-image alignleft wp-image-2310 size-full", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"266", "height":"400", "alt":"childrenswar"}}]]During the Civil War, scores of primers, readers, and arithmetics emerged from Southern presses, borne out of a widely held perception of northern textbooks’ anti-southern biases. In The Children’s War, historian James Marten says: In fact only a few antebellum publications specifically attacked slavery, and they were all published prior to 1830. A few school histories provided factual information, limited mainly to laws and compromises related to the institution. Although slavery was virtually never mentioned as a sectional issue, schoolbooks increasingly provided examples and excerpts that highlighted the intrinsic value of the Union. Spellers used sentences such as “Stand by the Union!” and “In union there is strength,” while readers offered stories that showed the benefits of union and emphasized the institutions and customs common to all of the United States. The most popular readers, McGuffy’s, studiously avoided controversial issues. Even versions printed in 1862 and 1863 did not promote one side or the other, but did include stories and poems showing the hardships of war. Still, Southern presses in cities from Richmond to Mobile to Galveston produced nearly 100 schoolbooks for both patriotic and economic reasons (think blockade). Some left the war entirely out of the content. Others didn’t. In a Confederate arithmetic by L. Johnson, long lists of story problems feature war situations. In one a merchant sells salt to a soldier’s wife, in another students are asked to imagine rolling cannonballs out of their bedrooms, and in another they are to divide Confederate soldiers into squads and companies. Johnson also included these famous problems: “A Confederate soldier captured 8 Yankees each day for 9 successive days; how many did he capture in all?”; “If one Confederate soldier kills 90 Yankees, how many Yankees can 10 Confederate soldiers kill?”; and “If one Confederate soldier can whip 7 Yankees, how many soldiers can whip 49 Yankees?” Mrs. M. B. Moore’s Dixie Speller had a horrifying lesson, which I just had to use in the novel. This sad war is a bad thing. My pa-pa went, and died in the army. My big brother went too, and got shot. A bomb shell took off his head. My aunt had three sons, and all have died in the army. [I hope] we will have peace by the time I am old enough to go to war. . . When little boys fight, old folks whip them for it; but when men fight, they say ‘how brave!’ If I were a grown-up, I would not have any war if I could help it. [But if forced to go] I would not run away like some do. . . I would sooner die at my post than desert. If my father had run away, and been shot for it, how sad I must have felt all my life! . . .This is a sad world at best. But if we pray to God to help us, and try to do the best we can, it is not so bad at last. I will pray God to help me to do well, that I may grow up to be a good and wise man. Of course, the Civil War touched children in ways far more scathing than textbook lessons. For a more complete picture, I encourage you to check out Marten’s The Children’s War (University of North Carolina Press, 1998). Or, if you’re like me and prefer to learn while being entertained with a novel, Yankee in Atlanta shows the variety of hardships Ana faced while her father fought to defend their home.

[[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"942", "attributes":{"class":"media-image size-medium wp-image-1310", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"300", "height":"225", "alt":"Carrie Fancett Pagels"}}]] Carrie Fancett Pagels   UPDATE! The winners have been drawn! Kim T. gets Widow of Gettysburg, and Darci M. gets Return to Shirley Plantation and the pink goodies! Congrats to the winners and thank you to everyone for entering! Today we are celebrating the release of Carrie Fancett Pagels' new Civil War novella, Return to Shirley Plantation, with an authentic recipe, a give-away of her novella, a give-away of MY new release, Widow of Gettysburg, plus some extra goodies! Carrie's novella is the first in a Civil War anthology called Cry of Freedom. Carrie Fancett Pagels, Ph.D., writes “romantic historical fiction.” Represented by Joyce Hart, “Return to Shirley Plantation: A Civil War Romance” is Carrie’s first fiction release. Carrie contributed to “God’s Provision in Tough Times” releasing May, 2013. Previously a psychologist, Carrie lives in Virginia with her family. Carrie blogs at “Colonial Quills” and “Overcoming With God.” She has served in ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) leadership positions as Zone Director, Area Coordinator, and continues as co-chairman of a local group. Member ACFW, Romance Writers of America, Faith-Hope-Love RWA affiliate group and FaithWriters. Columnist/Board Member of The Book Club Network ezine. Loves God, history, and romance! [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"943", "attributes":{"class":"media-image alignright size-medium wp-image-1311", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"200", "height":"300", "alt":"01ShirleyPlantation_RtSP_cover"}}]]So let's just give you a little taste of Return to Shirley Plantation before we sink our teeth into Carrie's recipe, shall we? I confess I've not had a chance to read it myself (YET!), but I see that authors like Julie Lessman, MaryLu Tyndall, and Laura Frantz have all given the story five stars. Here's a review by Lisa Norato, author of Prize of My Heart and Where Eagles Fly. She says: I was hooked by the first line with the beautiful writing.  The story itself quickly reeled me in with the conflicts of its two, endearing, main characters.  Carrie makes history come alive with her words and brings her southern setting to life so that I felt I was right there on a gorgeous Virginia plantation in the midst of the Civil War. It is 1862 and thespian Matthew Scott is abducted from Ohio and the theater troupe he manages.  He is conscripted against his will into serving with the Confederate army because of his father’s political leanings.  He is not a soldier and feels lost and out of place as he follows the troops to Shirley Plantation in Virginia.  There he meets the lovely Angelina Rose and begins to feel some hope and the stirrings of love.  With her fair skin, Matt does not know Angie is a freed slave of mixed race.  She was given an opportunity to leave the south and start a new life for herself, but she did not take it because she has been working as a seamstress to earn the freedom of her deceased sister’s illegitimate twins.  Matt knows nothing of this.  He only knows that he is falling in love with a mysterious woman, and there is something very suspicious about his father’s claims of having no family. A lot of story is packed into this beautiful, redemptive novella.  It was a pure joy to read and reminded me of why I love reading historical romance novels! When I asked Carrie to share a recipe related to her novella, she chose these all-cornmeal muffins, as the closest thing to Johnny Cake we can probably find. While Union soldiers (Billy Yanks) ate hardtack, Confederate soldiers (Johnny Rebs) ate Johnny Cake. :) Carrie's recipe, below, would be the perfect refreshment for your book club if you read Return to Shirley Plantation or other Civil War stories! [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"855", "attributes":{"class":"media-image alignleft size-full wp-image-1313", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"192", "height":"192", "alt":"Corn_muffin_for_Jocelyn"}}]]Stone Ground All-Cornmeal Muffins Ingredients 2 cups goat’s milk buttermilk (add 2 Tablespoons of lemon juice or vinegar to the goat’s milk. Stir. Let sit about 5 minutes to thicken slightly) 2 medium-sized yard eggs 2 cups stone-ground cornmeal 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon sea salt (1/4 cup bacon drippings) Directions: 1.  Preheat oven to 415°F. 2.  Mix the dry ingredients, whisk the eggs into the goat’s milk mixture, then combine all ingredients. 3.  Mix with large spoon or spatula, do not overmix. 4.  Pour some cooled bacon drippings in and mix gently. Grease your muffin pans with the remaining drippings. Fill muffin cups about 2/3 full. 5. Bake 15-20 minutes till tops are lightly browned. Don’t overcook. 6. Remove, cool slightly, slather with softened salted butter and honey then eat! Yummmmmm......! [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"944", "attributes":{"class":"media-image alignright size-medium wp-image-1312", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"179", "height":"300", "alt":"pink goodies"}}]]Now for the Give-Away! Carrie is graciously offering a PDF copy of her novella, a paperback copy of my Widow of Gettysburg, PLUS a gift basket of pink goodies, including two tall pink glasses, a sunglasses pouch, pink sticky notes and another pink surprise! Why so pinkalicious, you ask? In addition to simply admiring the color, after Carrie's mother died of pancreatic cancer, Carrie's two best friends both battled breast cancer-and BEAT it! To be entered into the drawing for the give-away, simply leave a comment answering this question: What is your favorite snack to have with a good book? (or movie, if you don't care to turn pages with messy fingers) For extra entries, follow Carrie on any or all of her social media outlets (below) and let me know that you've done so! Good luck to all of you--and please note that Return to Shirley Plantation is available now at Amazon for only $2.99. Facebook Author Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carrie-Fancett-Pagels/317053071710640?fref=ts Facebook Personal Page http://www.facebook.com/carriefancettpagels Twitter https://twitter.com/cfpagels Pinterest http://pinterest.com/carriefpagels/ GoodReads http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5548131-carrie-pagels LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=131454255&trk=tab_pro