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| Forum newbie | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12th, 2009 11:49 pm |
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1st Post |
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buckeyeinfl Member
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What a pleasant find this forum is for me! A relatively new letters, diaries and journals enthusiast, it's nice to "hook up" with others sharing the same interest. Years ago, a nearly three year collection of original letters and diaries written by my wife's great-great-grandfather, American Civil War soldier George W. Belles, was passed on to Kathi. The writings occurred during George's military service with the 139th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, from Sept. 1862 to July 1865. It wasn't until four or so years ago, when the writings were rediscovered in a bedroom closet, that I began to realize just how significat, interesting and enjoyable historical personal writings are. Initially, I was most taken by George's battle narratives. It was, and still is, almost incomprehensable to hold in your hand and read letters written during or following such historical events as the Battle of Fredericksburg or Gettysburg. (I'm sure you all realized that long before I did.) A forthright man who left little to one's imagination, I grew to know the soldier of years long passed through his written words. In short time, I found just about everything in Corporal Belles' writings intriguing. Eventually arranging the letters in chronological order and rereading them from first to last, I felt as though I was with George during his Civil War journey. If only I'd realized earlier how rewarding personal, historical in nature, writings are. But as they say, "Better late than never." I would greatly appreciate references to Civil War writings similar to Corporal Belles'. If you are interested in Georges' letters and diaries, they've been put in book form, Preserve It Reader in Remembrance of Me: The Writings and Saga of American Civil War Soldier George W. Belles. Further information is available at http://www.authorronbardnell.com. Best regards.
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| Posted: Tue Oct 13th, 2009 11:53 am |
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2nd Post |
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fedreb Member 
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Welcome buckeyeinfl. Great story, what a labour of love. I have checked out the book and its favourable reviews and have added it to my "wanted" list that hangs where all the family can see it come Christmastime! Other books I have that are composed in a similar manner are:- All For the Union-----Elisha Hunt Rhodes (2nd Rhode Island) From the Cannons Mouth-----The Letters of Gen Alpheus S Williams Soldiering-----The Civil War Diary of Sgt Rice C Bull (123rd New York) Charlies Civil War-----The Civil War Letters of Charles Brandegee (5th New York/146th New York)
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| Posted: Thu Oct 15th, 2009 09:23 pm |
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3rd Post |
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buckeyeinfl Member
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Hi fedreb, Thanks for the welcome and pointing me to the reading material! buckeyeinfl
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| Posted: Fri Oct 16th, 2009 08:38 am |
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4th Post |
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fedreb Member
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Forgot this little gem Field of Battle,The Civil War letters of Major Thomas J Halsey (11th New Jersey) Last edited on Fri Oct 16th, 2009 08:38 am by fedreb |
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| Posted: Wed Jan 6th, 2010 05:43 am |
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5th Post |
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Hellcat Person 
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Don't know how similar they may be but you might like these two: Blue-eyed Child of Fortune: The Civil War Letters of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw edited by Russel Duncan. It's a collection of Shaw's letters to his family beginning April 5, 1861 and ending July 18, 1863 (in fact it looks like the last two letters were literally written just before the 54th spearheaded the assualt on Fort Wagner) The Civil War Norebook of Daniel Chisholm: A Chronicle of Daily Life in the Union Army 1864-1865 edited by W. Springer Menge and J. August Shimrak. Mr. Menge is the grear-great-grandson of Daniel Chisholm, he and J. August Shimrak put out Chisholm's personal notebook. This is a collection of Chisholm's letter's home along with those of his brother Alex and the diary of Samuel Clear, which compromise the main part of the notebook. All three men served in Company K of the 116th Pennsylvania. In addition to the main part of the notebook there is an appendix which includes listings of the men of Co K., a couple of poems, the obit's of a couple of the men from the company (one being John R. Weltner, the company's captain), portion's of 1st Lt. James Cope's diary (which was loaned to Chisholm by his brother John), and the obit for Chisholm himself (I presume it was added by the editors.
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| Posted: Wed Jan 6th, 2010 11:51 pm |
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6th Post |
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buckeyeinfl Member
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Both books sound like interesting reads. I'm particularly interested in the letters and diaries of enlisted men and women. Using Cpl. Belles' writings, the nucleus of Preserve It Reader in Remembrance of Me:The Writings and Saga of American Civil War Soldier George W. Belles, to exemplify: The Civil War letters and diary entries of my wife’s great-great-grandfather, Cpl. George Belles, 139th Pa. Vols., represent the voice of the forgotten soldier--and there many. At wars end, the physically able survivors--the foot soldiers, cavalrymen, artillerymen and other enlisted men and women--returned home and resumed civilian life. The store clerk once positioned in the assault line at Marye’s Heights, the gristmill worker who took part in the daring predawn attack at Cedar Creek, the farmer who bravely manned a precarious defensive position on Little Round Top, all slipped into American Civil War anonymity. Their lives changed forever, each had a story to tell. Seldom was it heard beyond the ears of family and close friends, if heard at all. I think the second book may best fill that bill and contains other similarities to mine. I'll check it out first. Thanks, Hellcat
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| Posted: Thu Jan 7th, 2010 07:07 pm |
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7th Post |
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maxt Member
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I have just published a book HIRAM'S HONOR: RELIVING PRIVATE TERMAN'S CIVIL WAR that I would like feedback on if you are interested in fact based stories about what it was like to be in the Civil War. Please visit http://hiramshonor.blogspot.com/ to learn more if interested. Thanks.
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