It Happened in the Civil War: Remarkable Events That Shaped History

by Michael R. Bradley

Overview

This compelling collection of true anecdotes from America's Civil War offers a lively look at thirty unusual, little-known, and bizarre incidents that impacted the course of the war.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780762758722
Publisher:	Globe Pequot Publishing
Publication date:	06/15/2010
Series:	It Happened In Series
Edition description:	2nd Edition
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.30(d)

About the Author

Professor Michael R. Bradley lives in Tullahoma, Tennessee, on the former picket line of a Civil War fort. In addition to authoring five other books on the Civil War and many articles and papers, he is a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Southern Historical Association, American Association of University Professors, and the Society for Military History.

Read an Excerpt

With the first puff of smoke a shell came screaming over the stockade. The second hit the wall, cutting off the timber and sending jagged splinters of wood flying like spears across the interior of the small enclosure. Every shot hit the wall and the cannon were too far away for the Michiganders' rifles to be effective. In a few minutes it was all over. The stockade was blown to smithereens. Of Baldwin's fifty men, forty-nine were dead or wounded. Regretfully, Frank Baldwin waved a towel as a flag of surrender. Out of the smoke came riding a small, dapper man in a neat gray uniform. Three stars surrounded by a wreath on his collar indicated his a rank as a general. "Lieutenant, this is the biggest piece of foolishness I have ever seen. I have not lost a man and your command has been wiped out. It is mere luck you aren't causality yourself. If you had surrendered, you would have saved a lot of good men from death and suffering." Saluting, Baldwin replied, "General, please read this paper. It is from my commanding officer and it orders me to hold this position until relieved. As yet, I have not been relieved."

Table of Contents

Preface v

The Double Life of Emma Seelye-1861-62 1

A Chinese Confederate at Fort Donelson-1862 6

The Death of the Wooden Navy-1862 11

Experiences at Shiloh Inspire a Great Novel-1862 15

An Unusual Air Force-1862 20

The Story of "Taps"-1862 24

The Stranger-1862 29

From Malta to South Mountain, Maryland-1862 34

The Battle Caused by Three Cigars-1862 39

The Angel of Marye's Heights-1862 44

The Female Moses-Harriet Tubman-1863 49

His Country's Highest Award for Bravery-1863 53

Loyal Servant-Valiant Sergeant-1863 58

Thunder and Lightning at Hoovers Gap-1863 63

The Old Man of Gettysburg-1863 68

Even His Enemy Congratulated Him-1863 72

A Confederate Naval Captain Frees a Slave-1863 76

A Daring Prison Escape-1863 81

Gunpowder from Urine-1863-65 85

The Historic Voyage of the CSS Hunley-1864 89

A Battle off the Coast of France-1864 94

He Died in Place of His Brother-1864 98

Raiding Rebels on the Rampage-1864 103

The Plot to Destroy Chicago-1864 108

A Sad Homecoming-1864 113

He Kept the Boys in Blue Singing-1865 118

Lincoln's Favorite Song-1865 122

He Broke into a Prisoner of War Camp-1865 126

Bom Dia, Y'All-1865 131

The Angel of the Battlefield-Clara Barton-1865-68 135

United in Death-1891 140

A Little Bit of Dixie in Wisconsin-1900 144

The War Taught Him to Love Horses-1909 148

Little Sorrel's Story-1997 152

A Potpourri of Civil War Facts 156

Bibliography 159

Index 162

About the Author 170