A day to thank our veterans

Nov. 11 is Veteran's Day, a U.S. holiday that stretches back to the end of World War I and commemorates the nation's thousands of combat veterans who fought in the service of their country.

History
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as "the Great War."

The day was commemorated as Armistice Day the following year, and was designated a national day of thanksgiving and prayer in 1926, becoming a national holiday in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars.

Interesting Facts
There are 9.2 million veterans 65 and older in 2008. At the other end of the age spectrum, 1.9 million were younger than 35.

The number of Vietnam-era veterans as of 2008 is 7.9 million. Thirty-three percent of all living veterans served during this time (1964-1975). In addition, 5.2 million served during the Gulf War (representing service from Aug. 2, 1990, to present); 2.6 million in World War II (1941-1945); 2.8 million in the Korean War (1950-1953); and 6 million in peacetime.

As of 2008, there are 50,000 living veterans who served during both the Vietnam and Gulf War eras. Other living veterans in 2008 who served during two or more wars:
– 92,000 served during three periods: World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Living veterans in 2008 who served during two wars:
– 740,000 served during both Gulf War eras.
– 245,000 served during both the Korean War and the Vietnam Era.
– 182,000 served during both World War II and the Korean War.

Where They Live
There are five states with 1 million or more veterans in 2008. These states are California (2.1 million), Florida (1.7 million), Texas (1.7 million), New York (1 million) and Pennsylvania (1 million).

Review: Shock Troops of the Confederacy

Everyone who studies the Civil War has different interests, and I am no exception. My favorite topics are civilians, spies/espionage, cavalry units, and independent commands - all facets I touch on in my historical fiction novel Shades of Gray.

I promised myself I would buy no more books until I make some headway on my TBR pile, but I wanted to share with readers a review that I saw on the Va. Civil War Message Board about sharpshooters - another area of interest.

The name of the book is Shock Troops of the Confederacy by Fred Ray. The reviewer, Miles Krisman, graciously granted me permission to re-print his review in case any of my readers share the same interest in this unique topic. This one sounds like a keeper!

Shock Troops of the Confederacy by Fred Ray

Book Review by Miles Krisman

I recently had the pleasure of reading Fred L. Ray's new book, "Shock Troops of the Confederacy - The Sharpshooter Battalions of the Army of Northern Virginia." It offered a great deal of new information whereby the author outlines the changes that took place within the Confederate army that led to a new style of warfare, a warfare in which the intelligence, skill, and courage of the individual soldier became paramount. In a book that takes the reader on a journey of discovery, out between the battle lines, Fred successfully illustrates the factors that brought about these developments.

Largely forgotten in the annals of time, the story of the Sharpshooters of the Confederacy begins with two Virginians, Robert Rodes and Eugene Blackford. Both men were from Lynchburg, Virginia, but through a quirk of fate, both entered Confederate service as members of the 5th Alabama Infantry Regiment. During the winter of 1862, Rodes and Blackford formulated a new military unit to serve the Confederacy that would change the course of the war and in doing so, change warfare itself. Invaluable lessons were learned by both men at the Battle of Boonsboro, also known as the Battle of South Mountain, where Rodes' Brigade successfully fought a delaying action against an entire Division of the Union army, thereby allowing General Lee to consolidate his army and fight the Battle Of Sharpsburg, or Antietam, three days later. These Confederate troops on South Mountain, primarily dispersed as a line of skirmishers, held off the advance of the Army of the Potomac by fighting from behind the rocky outcrops and the heavily wooded slopes as they slowly fell back.

This single Brigade accomplished their objective and arguably saved the Army of Northern Virginia, however, they were mauled badly by the superior skirmish tactics of the Union forces. This became the impetus for change. Over the next few months, with the support of Robert E. Lee, General Rodes successfully organized and trained a Sharpshooter Battalion within his Brigade that would serve as a model for other units in the Confederacy.

Fred Ray documents the accomplishments of the sharpshooting units of the Confederacy from their baptism under fire at the Battle of Chancellorsville, to the final days in the trenches of Petersburg and eventual surrender. The successes of the Sharpshooter Battalion during the "Overland Campaign "in early 1864, convinced General Lee to mandate that all Infantry Brigades would be required to form Sharpshooter units of their own. These men received special training that included long ranged target practice and soon were recognized as the elite troops of each Brigade.

As the war dragged on, it was the Sharpshooter Battalions that became the primary fighting force of the Confederacy, especially in the Shenandoah Valley and around Petersburg. In fact, they were the ones that led the last attack of the war for the Army of Northern Virginia at Fort Steadman, on March 25, 1865.

This is not just a cursory description of the various field actions, but rather an in depth study that takes the reader onto the battlefield where we hear the banter between the lines, rush forward in a hotly contested skirmish, and learn what it meant to serve on the front lines during the last years of the war. This understudied aspect of the war is deftly handled by the author and the reader comes away with a comprehension of how an undermanned, half starved, ragged band of men adapted to their new reality, modifying tactics, innovating and ultimately developing methods that would serve as a model for warfare into the following century.

Insightful, detailed, and exciting are words that best describe "Shock Troops of the Confederacy". For those that are looking for a better understanding of the transition from Napoleonic tactics to the smaller, task orientated, combat units of the 20th century, this is a "must read". Well researched and referenced, this scholarly work is quite readable and should be added to the library of all Civil War enthusiasts.

Shock Troops of the Confederacy
By Fred Ray

Shades of Gray part of Op. Desert Swap

I keep wondering if my package has arrived yet in Iraq as part of Operation Desert Swap.

In case you haven't heard of it, authors all across the country have donated a copy of their book and "adopted" one of the 83 soldiers in Company C 3/25 Aviation Regiment, a medivac unit also known as "dust off."

My historical fiction novel Shades of Gray was shipped on Oct. 23 - and I also included some Halloween treats in the box to my soldier. (No one should have to miss Candy Corn season).

As part of the ODS project each soldier is asked to swap their book with another soldier when they have finished reading it, and then that soldier swaps it off with another and so on.

I am so honored to be a part of this project and wish all of the soldiers of Company C a safe deployment and quick return home!

Historical fiction book review: The General

The General and Monaville, Texas
By Joe G. Bax
168 pages
Emerald Book Company

Touching on a piece of history that I think is too often overlooked, author Joe G. Bax successfully paints a vivid picture of a small Texas town during the tumultuous period that followed the Civil War.

With a wide cast of characters, ranging from the prosperous land owner to the poor share cropper, from former slaves to Kluxers, The General explores the turbulent and violent era commonly known as Reconstruction.

General Leander Wilhite, for whom the book is named, is a quiet, reclusive character, while John Ross, his grandson, takes the lead in the story. A former Confederate commander, General Wilhite returns to his plantation Catulpa to put the war behind him and try to come to terms with the momentous change the that has been wrought on society. Through his grandson John Ross, the reader gets a glimpse of the emotions, the discord, the violence, and the fear that gripped the nation, and especially the South, after the war.

My only criticism would be that, for those like me, who enjoy long, meaty novels with well-developed characters, this one falls short at only 168 pages. For those who enjoy quick reads, this is good historical fiction, a well-crafted story of race relations, revenge and retaliation by an author with a unique voice and authentic writing style.

Reviewed by Jessica James

Civil War etiquette in the Ballroom

When doing research for my historical fiction novel Shades of Gray, I was always intrigued by the rules of etiquette that were observed during the Civil War and Victorian era, and amazed at how far away from "polite society" we've moved. Here are a few examples of how gentlemen should behave at balls.

In the ballroom, ladies and gentlemen were on their best behavior. Manners were more formal, clothing was finer, and bows were deeper. Men were expected to be extremely active to make up for the total passivity required of ladies; who could not ask gentlemen to dance, and who could not even be seen to cross the dance floor unescorted. Ladies would be conveyed to their station by a gentleman, and there they would wait until another gentleman came to speak to them, ask them to dance or convey them to the punchbowl.

A man who knows how to dance, and refuses to do so, should absent himself from a ball.

Noisy talking and boisterous laughter in the ballroom are contrary to the rules of etiquette.

Always wear white gloves in a ballroom. Very light shades are admissible.

Usually a married couple does not dance together in society, but it is a sign of unusual attention for a husband to dance with his wife, and he may do so if he wishes.

Ladies and gentleman could not dance unless they had been introduced, so the hosts and escort spent much of the evening rushing about making introductions.

19th century etiquette tip of the day

In meeting a lady, it is optional with her whether she shall pause to speak. If the gentleman has anything to say to her, he should not stop her, but turn around and walk in her company until he has said what he has to say, when he may leave her with a bow and a lift of the hat.

A Southern Spy in Northern Virginia

Book Review: A Southern Spy in Northern Virginia
The Civil War Album of Laura Ratcliffe
By Charles V. Mauro

It's not often that an historical fiction author runs across a book that provides the perfect combination of war, romance, history, espionage, and famous historical figures, but that is what I found in A Southern Spy by Charles Mauro.

Of course, anyone who has read my Civil War novel Shades of Gray knows I am intrigued by all of the above. To discover these features in a non-fiction book is a real treasure, and to have it relate to Colonel John Mosby and many of the other historical characters I've come across in my research is icing on the cake.

To give you a little background, the book centers around a secret album presented to Fairfax County resident Laura Ratcliffe by Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart "as a token of his high appreciation of her patriotism, admiration of her virtues, and pledge of his lasting esteem."

The album contains four poems, two written by Stuart to Laura and two he copied. It also contains 40 signatures - 26 Confederate soldiers and 14 civilians. Mauro has tracked down the personal history of each one and gives possible dates as to when each may have signed the album.

He spends a good bit space on John Mosby - the Confederate officer who is the inspiration for the main character in my Civil War novel Shades of Gray, and relates the story of how Laura trudged through deep mud to warn him of an impending ambush. Mosby wrote of the incident in his reminiscences:

"We then proceded on toward Frying Pan, where I found that a cavalry picket was stationed and waiting for me to come after them. I did not want them to be disappointed in their desire to visit Richmond. When I got within a mile of it and had stopped for a few minutes to make my disposition for attack, I observed two ladies walking rapidly toward me. One was Miss Laura Ratcliffe, a young lady to whom Stuart had introduced me a few weeks before - with her sister... They had got information of a plan to capture me, and were just going to the house of a citizen to get him to put me on guard, when fortune brought them cross my path. But for meeting them, my life as a partisan would have closed that day."

There are also great tidbits of others who signed the album, including Fitzhugh Lee, scout William Farley, William Henry Chapman, Walter Frankland, Willie Mosby (John Mosby's younger brother), John Edmonds and many other Mosby Rangers.

For those who are romantic at heart, Mauro has printed the poems and letters that J.E.B. Stuart wrote to Laura. For a hint at their relationship, here is what Edward Longacre wrote in his book Lee's Cavalrymen:

"Captivated by Laura's beauty, pleasant nature, and helpfulness (he had observed her nursing some of his wounded), the cavalry leader not only waltzed with the young woman, but accompanied her on horseback rides as well. When snow fell after the first of the year, the couple went sleighing. It would appear that Stuart was smitten. Even as he wrote letters home expressing his devotion to (his wife) Flora, he composed moonstruck poetry to Laura Ratcliffe.

Anyone who enjoys reading real-life accounts of the Civil War will enjoy this book. It also provides a great history of Fairfax, Va., and gives readers a glimpse into the lives of some of the most revered and feared Confederate cavalrymen in the War Between the States.