Submitted by Steve Schoner on

I do not know if this is the right place to post this.

Nevertheless, I have posted before with this group almost a year prior.

As I stated more than a year ago, over a period of 16 years I wrote a novel entitled "Scarlet Fields."

After literary and historical advice, I have edited it considerably. Those that have read it say that it is astonishing in its depth.

Currently it is in publication at lulu, but I have not obtained an ISBN for it as I intend to find an agent rather than self publish.

Scarlet Fields is a romance novel centered in Maine, and details the 2nd ME and 20th ME volunteer regiments. I have taken great pains to be accurate with the service of these regiments, and the overall details of the Civil War.

What more can I say?

If you wish to preview it, or even buy it for critical review, go to Google and type in ‘John Alexander Miles’ or ‘Scarlet Fields’

Or simply type in on the web search line:

http://books.lulu.com/content/75135

All have told me that it is much better than _Cold_Mountain_ and certainly worthy of publication by a major publisher. On this I shall see. (P.S. The movie "Cold Mountain" stinks. The opening part, on Burnside's Blast at Bermuda Hundred was fantastic... But the rest of the movie... UCK !)

Steve Schoner (John Alexander Miles)

P.S. I would like to send a copy to a 2nd ME re-enactor group for critical review. Are there any 2nd ME's up there in Maine? I was a re-enactor here in Arizona with the 2nd U.S Artillery, Battery B. But due to health problems and age, I no longer re-enact. (Thinking about joining a GAR re-enactor group if there is such a thing)

Forums: 

Wow...

Mr. Schoner I was just at the web sight and read a little of the story. i like it I think I would like to purchase it.
About a 2nd maine group I don't think we have one up here. There is however a 20th maine group.
Just keep an eye on the militia board, and I'm sure you will get a hold of one.

Pvt.J.Thurlow

J.Thurlow

20th Maine

Here's the 20th ME website.

http://endued.tripod.com/20thmecob/

Andy Danish
Armorer
US Naval Landing Party
"Rescuing the Army......Again"

Andy Danish Master at Arms US Naval Landing Party THE SAILOR'S PRAYER : Oh Lord above Send down a dove With beak as sharp as razors To cut the thoats of them there blokes What sells bad beer to sailors.

AAR

I read Mr. Schoner's post advertising his book last year. I was intrigued and decided to take a chance and buy a copy. Unfortunately that copy is now about 9000 miles away, so my comments are from memory. I have good and bad in my review, and I am posting them as my opinion only, I am not a literary critic, just a humble Civil War reenactor and amateur historian. I realize that this was a labor of love by the author and any criticism is tempered by the fact that I doubt I could do as well.

The story line is interesting and original. The "story behind the story". I will not go into details here, as I don't want to ruin it for anyone else who wants to read it. I thought the beginning drawn out and a little too mushy for my tastes. It took awhile to get down to brass tacks. I really didn't want to read a love story as much as I wanted a historical novel. A couple of the things in the story line were a little hard to believe, but allowing for literary license, I could live with them. For example, A family of Southern Society members marrying into one of Maine Yankees? Not impossible, but made me go hmmmmm.

The accuracy in historical detail I found to be superficial. I believe (if memory serves) there may have been some incorrect commands given during the scenes where officers were giving orders to troops. Did the author obtain the commands from a standard work such as Casey's, Gilham's or Hardee? Or did he ask a reenactor who told him the commands, and whose memory and mastery of The School of the Company may have been not up to par that day? I may be mistaken on this and I can't get out "Scarlet Fields" and my copy of Casey's to compare.

The editing needed some work, and there were some grammatical and style errors that should have been ironed out.

It was a better book than I could have put out, and I thought it was a fair job for an unpublished author. I would be hesitant to recommend it though.

Also, the Battle of the Crater did not occur at Bermuda Hundred, but during the Siege of Petersurg and was planned executed by the IX Corps. IX Corps (Burnside) was never assigned to the Army of the James (Butler), who had been at Bermuda Hundred before the Petersburg Campaign. I agree Cold Mountain sucked, but I thought the Battle of the Crater scene was hokey.

In summary, I am a tough critic and I hope the author does well with the book, but I am a stickler for accuracy and detail.

Bob Firth
Late of the 25th Mass

Bob Firth Late of the 25th Mass

Bob,

Bob,

Thanks for your critical review. I always wondered about who it was that bought that draft copy a year ago. As you mentioned, it did need review and editing. Having gotten stylistic advice from a Master of Literature, I am at near 20 major edits since then. I have shortened the text by 40 pages and enlarged the print.

As you mentioned, I will look into the manual of arms again, and maybe make some changes or purposeful omissions there. I have Hardee's and will follow up on the commands, to see how they fit in. I always thought to check with "Eastern" re-enactors for advice, and I am glad I did. (The group I was with was rather "sloppy" when it came to the manual) And for whatever reason I thought that the "Crater" was at Bermuda Hundred. I will certainly correct that today in version #25.

Thank you!

There was one major error made on my part which I found and recently corrected, and that was mention of the death of Willie Lincoln. I put it a year too early, when in fact it occurred on Feb. 20th, 1862, not in 1861. And for anyone that knows, that is a "fatal" error. I am surprised that none of my previous reviewers noticed that.

(Makes me very nervous about other things as well.)

The first part was indeed "drawn out" and I shortened it considerably over the many edits that I did over this last year.

For whatever it is worth. It is a romance story. I make no apologies for that, as I think that is needed for the average reader. (But I confess, I am a romantic, too.)

You are right, this was a "labor of love" and I will not seriously approach an agent till I get the historic details right. I will change things (those pesky historic details) as that is easy to do at this stage of the game.

(Thank God for Lulu, as they can produce a professional looking book that can be very easily corrected.)

And I am glad to have made contact with Eastern sticklers such as you for historical detail. Such is needed in this. When I was in the Park Service, my Chief Ranger was an Eastern re-enactor and read passages of my work. He liked it, but recomended that I approach Easterners for advice.

And that brings me here.

(God, I hope I see the end of this endeavor)

Thanks to all of you.

Steve Schoner.

P. S. Additional: For those that might be inclined to buy this book, I could instead send to some select and interested members a complete print ready PDF file of about 3.8 megabytes. This is with the permission to read, but not distribute, and expressly for those that wish to review it. It can also be printed out. If your computer system is able to take it, e-mail me.

It will save you some money, and perhaps provide me with much needed advice.

North South Marriage

Just a quick comment Brig. Gen. Andrew Jackson 111 CSA the grand son of General Andrew Jackson married Amy Rock from Maine her family grave is within sight of my sewing room windows. Andrew Jackson Jr a fine confederate married Sarah York from a fine Yankee family Jrs. birth brother fought for the North. Now in the same family Capt. Samuel Jackson CSA (younger brother of Andrew 111) when he passed away was engaged to the daughter of the Gov. of GA. Now that does not even get into the North South marriages in my own family. Now on another note I am sorry I have not posted in awhile. CopperHeadAnnie over night went international on it's own so I have been covered up with orders from the United Kingdom can you believe we have brother Confederates over the ocean. Ya'll take care I will see you nest week end. Hawks and Eagles Fly Like Doves CopperHeadAnnie

I don't have the details in front of me but

I believe I have read of several stories of Bath, Maine ship catians amrring into southern families. Some time in the 1850's, the City of Bath was the largest ship owning town by registered tonnage in the United States. Many of those ship's captains frequented southern ports in routine trade.

I don't have a specific number or anything precentage wise. But I know that I can find a handful of cases. I'll look through my books later and see if I can provide references.

In any case, Yankee men marrying southern women did happen.

--
Michael Johnson

-- Michael Johnson

Battle of the Crater as in "Cold Mountain" movie.

Bob Firth wrote:

"Also, the Battle of the Crater did not occur at Bermuda Hundred, but during the Siege of Petersurg and was planned executed by the IX Corps. IX Corps (Burnside) was never assigned to the Army of the James (Butler), who had been at Bermuda Hundred before the Petersburg Campaign. I agree Cold Mountain sucked, but I thought the Battle of the Crater scene was hokey."

Bob, I simply cannot understand where I ever got the idea that it happened at Bermuda Hundred. I looked through my notes done nearly 16 years ago and it is as you stated. Anyway back to the hokey representation of it in the movie "Cold Mountain" I don't think that the soldiers were laying down in anticipation when it happened. But the scene of it erupting the ground is in fact true as far a I can tell. (Though the length of time that it took is wrong) The explosion of blasting powder is not really an explosion when set in a tunnel as it was at the crater. The powder acts as a propellant. (That is why it is important to ram the bullets down hard in muskets so as to rid the chamber of air.) The "explosion" as such was really a "poof" it raised the soil then erupted out into the air.

I saw this done recently when blasting powder of sorts was used to blast rock in front of my house. The charges were set, the detonators in place, it was covered with six feet of dirt then the charges were set off and I watched the pile of dirt rise up into the air. But it did not explode into the air. In my case the dirt settled back.

The Crater event was a blast in a mine under the Reb lines, the "explosion" lifted the ground and then erupted into the air. The only problem was that this was overdrawn in the movie. It happened in less that 2 or so seconds after the powder was exploded. The ground rose up, ripped open, buried many troops and the blast exploded into the air.

However it was presented in the movie "Cold Mountain"-- for me that was the best part of that movie. The rest was D-O-W-N H-I-L-L.

What a let down. A sickly romance; a twisted story of murder by a band of vigilantes calling themselves the "Home Guard"-- And the porn scenes... B-A-D !

Anyway, one reader told me that my book is much better than the book "Cold Mountain"-- even with all of the flaws (most of which I have over the last year corrected). And I think it is certainly better than the movie.

But "Scarlet Fields" is my baby.

I am making the corrections that you pointed out regarding the commands in battle scenes. However, I must be careful not to be too specific and detailed in this as such might hinder the reader. The story must not be cluttered with minute details as my work is intended for those outside of re-enacting.

Steve Schoner.

P.S. I'll post a photo of myself in artillery uniform as it was 15 years ago, 2nd U.S Second Artillery, Battery B.

Scarlet Fields and Craters and Such

Steve, you are certainly a good sport, taking my amateur literary criticism as seriously as you did. When I bought that copy I had no idea it was a draft copy. It came all bound and with a nice cover and all. I would have waited another year for the finished product if I had known.

No big deal about the crater; my significant other has frequently denounced me as being a "history nazi", since I always jump in and correct her when she says anything on the subject. I know I am probably very tiresome company in this respect, but I am going to group meetings now and they all say I am improving.

As for marriages between wealthy Yankees and wealthy Southern families in the tense years before the war, how prevalent were they I wonder? I imagine that middle and working class folks got hitched fairly commonly, but with some very entrenched views of "mudsills and mechanics" on the one hand, and of the "slaveocracy" on the other, I would think that the mostly anti-slavery members of Northern Society and the slave owning members of the Southern Society would be quite hostile toward each other, thereby limiting the opportunities for romance.

Good luck on the final product of Scarlet Fields, I certainly admire your persistence and dedication!

Bob Firth
Late of the 25th Mass

Bob Firth Late of the 25th Mass

One Last Suggestion

As for using Hardee's as the reference for Union drill, you may want to consider another reference. After the CW broke out, the author was a serving officer in the Confederate Army. Obviously, the Federals did not want to use a drill manual whose author was a traitor in their eyes.

The most commonly used drill and tactics manual in the Eastern theater was Casey's Infantry Tactics, by Gen Silas Casey. The 1862 edition is the standard reference used by the vast majority of Federal reeneactors today. I do believe that Hardee's is more popular with the Confederate reenactors, but you would have to check with them on that.

OK, I'll shut up now (thunderous applause)

Bob Firth
I have a wealth of useless knowledge.

Bob Firth Late of the 25th Mass

should be one down after bobs.....but........

I was going to post after Bob but the scroll wouldnt go any farther for some reason.
The common belief is that all rich northerners or the most part of them thought Slavery was an abomination, but even back then we were a mobile society re to Josh Chamberlins Wife Fanny, she taught school in millidgeville Ga. for a time and in letters to Joshua pretty much stated she didnt have much proplem with it... the average Foot soldier was not necessarrilly opposed to slavery in as much as the seperation of the union mattered more... the chance of marriges occuring between richer Families would be just a common as in any class of society.. and not every rich southern Family made money directly from owning slaves.....
Seamus

"it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifing......nothing"
MacBeth

PRIMA NOCTA

Hardee's vs Casey's

Bob Firth wrote:

"As for using Hardee's as the reference for Union drill, you may want to consider another reference. After the CW broke out, the author was a serving officer in the Confederate Army. Obviously, the Federals did not want to use a drill manual whose author was a traitor in their eyes.

The most commonly used drill and tactics manual in the Eastern theater was Casey's Infantry Tactics, by Gen Silas Casey. The 1862 edition is the standard reference used by the vast majority of Federal reeneactors today. I do believe that Hardee's is more popular with the Confederate reenactors, but you would have to check with them on that."

Right,

However in 1861, I think that the manual that the 2nd ME used was Hardee's. My copy which is an exact replica of the original that was issued to US troops was published in New York, by J. 0. Kane, Publisher, 126 Nassau Street, 1862. But no doubt that Hardee fell out of favor because with the 20th ME their drill manual was Casey's.

I went over the second part of my novel and made some significant changes in orders and some movements. I have to be careful though... If I did it exactly as written eyes of the uninitiated would glaze over. I think though that an idea of it is sufficient to make the point. (All those "wheels" and such would make the reader's head spin)

After all my work is intended for a wide audience.

As you mentioned previously, Lulu does produce a fine looking book. And that impression can create some added expectations. (It certainly did with me) 19 revisions later and some very significant changes in grammar, typos, and such I am at it again. Their "publishing" company does a fine job, but really if one wants to get ahead in such an endeavor, an agent is the best way. That is why I did not get an ISBN, though my original typewritten draft was submitted in 1992 and is on file with the Library of Congress, copyrighted in that year.

Steve Schoner

Hardee's

That must be the difference between 1862 and 61. Hardees was available off the shelf in 61, and it does stand to reason it would have been used by the Feds because there was not much else at that time. Good point Steve.

Bob Firth
Late of the 25th Mass

Bob Firth Late of the 25th Mass

Bob and all.

Bob and all,

Boy, I am glad I found this site!

Bob's advice and critique have led me in the right direction. I spent the entire weekend looking at the battles and have revised the battlefield commands and the execution of such to reflect the the manuals that were used at the time.

I know my literary style is right (after I weeded out typos and errors), and to those that do not know the specific details of Civil War military practice, it flys.

But it does not fly with me...

It has to be right.

Thank you all.

Steve Schoner.

P.S. If anyone here wishes to see my entire manuscript or even a chapter or two from it e-mail me and I will send you a PDF file.

Also, I will be posting a picture of me, my wife and daughter 15 years ago when we were members of 2nd U.S Artillery Bat. B. (We did not study infantry tactics, and firearm handing, as our cannon was our weapon. Hey, a question, did artillerymen have to know the manual of arms and infantry practice?)

Explaining Drill

Steve,

Now that I think of it, how do you explain drill and proper commands for an audience that doesn't do this as a hobby? It must sound like Greek to the layman. It takes me at least six times reading through some of the commands in any drill manual to understand what the author was talking about, and even then you really don't get it till you actually do it. Good luck on that one!

As for artillerymen having to know infantry drill, I would expect that they would have to be proficient in the schools of the soldier through possibly the company, or at least be familiar with it. In some instances, they definitely did learn everything up to brigade level evolutions. This is the case with the heavy artillery regiments which originally garrisoned the forts around Washington. In 1864, the decision was made to reassign them to the Army of the Potomac primarily, and use them as infantry. They still retained their title as heavy artillery, but were in fact used as regular infantry. You will see them in the order of battle at Cold Harbor, where they suffered appalling losses.

I'd check with an artillery expert and see what they did and didn't normally concern themselves with in respect to infantry drill.

Bob Firth
Late of the 25th Mass

Bob Firth Late of the 25th Mass

Tell me if this is right?

Bob and all:

Instruct me, tell me if this is right:

"The 2nd Maine’s line came to a standstill. Closer to enemy lines, chances of their fire finding targets increased. Yet they aimed too high and the bullets passed harmlessly over the Union troop’s heads.
Behind his battle line, Jameson shouted, “Commence firing! Fire by rank.

Hardee's

Since my copy of Hardee's is about 8000 miles away I can't refer to it to give you an opinion as to firing by rank. I'll do a web search and see if I can find the reference. However I will venture to say that which rank fires first is up to the commander. Tactically I doubt it matters much unless you are executing a tactical withdrawal by rank, so then it would make sense for the rear rank to fire first. I am only hypothesizing and I think I need to refer to the manual at this point.

I think at this time the order to load would already have been given some time previously. Usually, just before action but not yet in range of the enemy, the command would be something like:
"Attention, company!"
"Load at will, load!"

For your purposes, I would agree that getting bogged down in the mechanics would be too tedious for the average reader, and you have to carefully judge what to leave in and what to leave out.

Bob Firth
Late of the 25th Mass

Bob Firth Late of the 25th Mass

Fire by Rank

Here it is according to Hoyle:

"To fire by rank.
283. The fire by rank will be executed by each entire rank, alternately
284. Re instructor will command:
1. Fire by rank, 2. Squad. 3. READY. 4. Rear rank, 5. AIM
6. FIRE. 7. LOAD.
285. At the third command, the two ranks will take the position of ready, as prescribed in the direct fire.
286. At the seventh command, the rear rank will execute that which has been prescribed in the direct fire, and afterwards take the position of ready.
287. As soon as the instructor sees several men of the rear rank in the position of ready, he will command:
1. Front Rank. 2. AIM. 3. FIRE. 4. LOAD.
288. At these commands, the men in the front rank will execute what has been prescribed for the rear rank, but they will not Step off with right foot.
289. The instructor will recommence the firing by the rear rank, and will thus continue to alternate from rank to rank, until he shall wish the firing to cease, when he will command, cease firing, which will be executed as heretofore prescribed."

Hardee clearly states that the rear rank should fire first. I have been racking my brain for the reason, and the only thing I can think of is that it makes transition to retrograde movements easier. I think that Hardee may also have been purposely keeping the commands to a minimum, so he arbitrarily makes it understood the rear rank will fire first as part of the drill, rather than adding another command specifying which rank will fire first.

Also, at the command "ready", BOTH ranks take the "ready" position, with the rear rank only performing the next commands of "aim, fire, and load". It is interesting that Hardee waits for the rear rank to be just about complete in reloading before he orders the front rank to fire. This is probably to ensure that the company has at least half of it's weapons loaded in the event of an unexpected charge from the enemy.

I could talk about this stuff all day, no wonder my gal says I'm a wealth of useless information.

Bob Firth
Late of the 25th Mass

Bob Firth Late of the 25th Mass

Aw... c'mon Bob.

... whadda YOU know?
What you over actually fighting a WAR or something???

By the way bro.... keep your head down!

2nd Lt Eric R. Reeder
United States Army
Corps of Topographic Engineers
"Hawks and Eagles fly like Doves"

2nd Lt Eric R. Reeder United States Army Corps of Topographic Engineers "Hawks and Eagles fly like Doves"

Bob, Eric and

Bob, Eric and Michael...

THANKS A LOT !

What a resource you guys are.

You should have a writers forum here. Surely some of you aspire to write. For me, 18 years ago, my desire to write drove me to re-enact for 3 years, just to get an imperfect "sense" of what it was like.

The story I have written has been in my mind since 1961 when I first visited Gettysburg.

The story I have written is not perfect-- yet. Others that have read it are awed, yet they do not have much historical knowledge of the Civil War. They however are drawn into the "romance story" and have provided me with much advice as to the typo errors and grammar. But all of my reviewers say that they soon get so drawn into the story that they overlook such minor details. Nonetheless, over the last year I have made 19 revisions since my last published draft at Lulu.com. Most of the typo and grammar errors have been eliminated.

Now, it is important for me to get certain details such as we are discussing correct.

As for the overall history, I know that I have that right. The time-line of battles and the conduct of such I gleaned in my research and from letters of that time.

The biggest disappointment to me was the 2nd ME Volunteers. Despite all of the praise Chamberlain gave them, their service record was less than 50 pages! It blew me away, considering what they did from 1861 to 1863.

How could anyone write a "history" of that regiment with so little to go by?

In 1988 it was a real quandary for me. I was a National Park Ranger then, and I could do a synopsis, but it just did not appeal to me. I wanted a wider audience to see the contribution that this little known regiment made in the conduct of the war and to our nation.

Why?

Here is a story to consider.

In 1961 in the month of October of that year, I was 10 years old and on the way to California with my parents and younger brother we went to Gettysburg. It was a cloudy day, in the morning. And we were not too far from Little Round Top. I felt drawn to it. I had to go to that hill, and asked my step-dad if I could climb it. He was adverse to that. He thought that we should go, as we did not have much time. I pleaded with him, as I thought that I may never have the chance again. Reluctantly he allowed to go alone. "Make it fast" he said. And from that paved road, I think it was near Devils Den, I ran toward the Hill. It was a strange day, not a breeze, and their were cold mists hugging the top of the hill.

I climbed the hill to the statue of Gen. Warren and on the way back, I approached the Monument dedicated to the 20th ME, situated on a boulder. No one was there. The hill was devoid of visitors. As I looked at it just a pace away, I heard a voice, a whisper behind me, as if someone was there, whispering in my right ear. "A story must be told..."

I turned, the sensation of hair standing up from my head down my back--

No one was there!

I ran back, quite upset.

When I got back my step-dad said, "Have you had enough?"

And I said, "That hill-- it's haunted It is a strange hill." And I told him what I heard and he, my mother and brother laughed. And as we drove away, I looked back at the hill through the rear window, seeing the mists covering its top, and wondered.

Whenever I remembered that incident, it bothered me.

Then one day in 1988 I started to read on my off time as a Park Ranger a book "Killer Angels" that a ranger friend gave me. When I got to the part with the "Second Maine" I heard that voice again "A story must be told..." Right behind me. And it jolted me.

"That is is it!" I said aloud.

That is what needs to be told. So I approached a researcher that worked at the Nat. Archives to get the official records of the 2nd ME.

All compiled-- less than 50 pages. And I was very downcast. How can I write anything with that?

"A story must be told" drove me on. I wrote a romance novel, a love story between two fictional persons, yet still framed in historical events. Those mutineers of the 2nd ME have a story, a story that has been touched on but not emphasized enough.

And maybe, just maybe my work will inspire others to look into this regiment further.

For they do have a compelling story, a story of service not only to their regiment, but to the 20th ME and our nation as well.

So... That is what has driven me to write this book, now going on 18 years. It is a romance novel, a love story, all set in the history of the first two years of the Civil War.

Now my health is not so good, and it may be the only thing I ever write.

Steve Schoner.

(P. S. The 2nd ME really should have more than one re-encator. I would love to go to Maine and look through that historical box of the 2nd ME at the Maine Government archives. I am sure that there are treasures there, yet to be revealed.)

2nd ME

Steve,

When you refer to the "official" history of the 2nd MVI, I assume you are referring to a regimental history.

In the years following the war, a "regimental history" was written about just about every regiment, north and south, usually by a former member or commissioned by the veterans themselves. What this means is that authors of varying talent wrote these histories. Some are great and fanrastic reading, loaded with anecdotes and information. Some are absolutely horrible, taking events and regiments that are the most fascinating of the war and making it about as interesting as watching paint dry.

The good news is that the deluge of memoirs and diaries written by the Soldiers is often much better than the official histories. My favorite is "The Rebel Yell and Yankee Hurrah", by John West Haley, Co. I, 17th Maine Vol. Inf. I'm partial to this memoir because he served in the same company as my G-G Grand uncle, but most importantly because he is so brutally honest and funny.

I would bet dollars to donuts that there is some great primary source material floating around about the 2nd Maine in the form of diaries and memoirs. Those would be worth truckloads of official histories and provide tons of insight on events, personalities and daily life.

There are also some great works of a generic nature which shed so much light on daily life in the Army during the war. If you haven't done so already, these are "must reads":
"Hardtack and Coffee" by John Billings.
"Corporal Si Klegg and His Pard", by Wilbur Hinman.
"Company Aytch" (for a Confederate perspective), by Sam Watkins.

If you want a great book on CW tactics and operational doctrine, written in language you can understand, I recommend "The Bloody Crucible", by Brent Nosworthy. I like his views and analyses of why commander's and units did what they did.

Pvt. Bob Firth
Co. F. 13th Massachusetts Vol. Inf.

Bob Firth Late of the 25th Mass

2nd ME

Bob,

As I remember I think I have read "Hardtack and Coffee" But I will look up the others that you suggest. But I want to keep my novel original, and not a paraphrase of other works.

As for the 2nd ME unit history. I got this from the official records at the National Archives, and also from another Maine author that wrote about 19th century Maine. I can't at this time recall the title, but it is in my files.

The actual unit history is very sparse. Mostly battlefield recollections of the unit's officers, submitted shortly after the action.

All told-- less than 50 pages.

However, Colonel Chamberlain said,(paraphrasing) "There are no better soldiers on earth(2nd ME) that I would have the honor to serve with."

Two 2nd ME troops that served in the 20th:

Andrew Tozier, standard bearer at Little Round Top (Congressional Medal of Honor)

Captain Walter Morrill, Company 'B' detached to the left of the 20th at the stone wall (Congressional Medal of Honor for later action at Battle of Rappahannock Station [but should have won it at Little Round Top, too.])

and there are the others that served...

I relied on the John Pullen's book _The_Twentieth_Maine_ for much of the background on that regiment.

The problem I have is that there simply is not enough info on the 2nd that is readily available to me. The Maine Government has some drawers of letters that might be of some use, and also some pictures. They might even have a complete roster. When I started this work now 18 years ago, there was nothing on line. And even now, there is virtually nothing. For the 20th, there are reams of info...

But scant few bits for the 2nd.

And considering what this unit did... That is a shame.

All I can do is with what I have. And what I have written is for the general audience, many that like romance novels to carry them through this difficult time in our history.

(Despite the typos in my first drafts as presented at Lulu-- I have gotten very good response from those that read historical romance novels)

But I must get the minor details right, and now at v. 25 with the majority of typos and grammar errors out, this last round of field orders has honed it in even closer to where it should be.

Steve Schoner

(P.S. My last and hopefully final revision is up on line now. (said that before) It is certainly much more refined than the last, done a year ago.)

Northern Men and Southern Women in marriage

Okay, I mentioned a week or so ago that i would find and add to the discussion of marriage. The following is at least one reference.

Many Bath ship-owning houses had branches in the Crescent City. Many Bath men had found homes there, and not a few shipmasters had married into southern families. Leading men of the city numbered among their valued friends citizens of New Orleans, Mobile, Charleston, and other parts of the deep south. As the war broke, Bath ships lay in many of the Southern ports.

From Chapter XXVI (page 214) of The Edward Clarence Plummer Hostory of Bath Maine, by henery Wilson Owens, A.B. Published originally in 1936 by the Times Company of Bath, Maine.

It's interesting to note that Bath was so closely tied to shipping to and from the south that in the months of turmoil prior to April of 1861 the sentiement in Bath seems to have been very much against any conflict. They wanted status-quo if it would protect the investments and trade they had with slave states.

But everything changed with the firing on Fort Sumter. Bath's contributions stand up against those of any cities. And when you consider that the cities wealth went overseas with the registry of many ships to foreign ports or ships lost to Confederate Raiders that the city's power was never fully restored.

Anyway, that's a little tid-bit on the marriage issue. And my two-cents on bath history.

--
Michael Johnson

-- Michael Johnson

2nd ME

Those books I mentioned are just for background and are what I use in developing my Federal impression. "Si Klegg" is very entertaining, as well as informative.

Sounds like a definitive history of the 2nd ME needs writing also. Most of the primary sources are probably in the state archives and local town libraries.

Bob Firth
Late of the 25th Mass

Bob Firth Late of the 25th Mass

Take note of my photo as it

Take note of my photo as it was taken nearly 15 years ago.

Thanks to all for their advice regarding the "Manual of Arms" and field commands.

I made all the alterations to the text along with substantial changes with regards to grammar and typeos.

This is a romance story and would appeal to those interested in such, but it is as I mentioned a story of the 2nd ME.

In that respect, does anyone know who I can get in touch with a group representing the 2nd ME? As far as I can tell there is only one member and I have tried to contact him, but to no avail.

And, if anyone has access to the ME Government Archives, or a person there that I can get in touch with, I would really like to get a complete inventory of items, letters, photos and a roster of enlistments for that regiment.

Steve Schoner

After much revision since

After much revision since Lulu's version #1, and nearly an extra year of work, and now at version #34-- and after nearly a thousand corrections as suggested by my proofreaders---

I think (I hope) am finished with this novel.

It is on to other things now. I might take on the task of writing about my recent near death experience in Jan. 2003 caused by a very rare brain affliction known as Acute disseminating encephalomyelitis. It is a literal miracle that I survived this affliction. Though I have residual disabilities, I am in much better shape than other survivors my age who are in vegetative states.See:

http://www.geocities.com/steve_schoner/slides.htm

That aside, I have posted at Lulu a preview of my ENTIRE book titled _Scarlet_Fields_. From page #1 to #676. If interested take a look at:

http://www.lulu.com/content/75135

It can also be downloaded as digital content, rather than a printed book $1.87 vs $19.95. (you might have to log into Lulu to order if interested) And it also can be ordered as a book if you wish.

I have rated it as suitable for “Teen” readers, though I think that it might be for 17 and older. It is, as my proofreaders recommended a "romance novel” or a "historical romance." And I make no apologies regarding this. (BTW, Many, kudos came from women proofreaders)

But if one clicks through to page #191 one will see the start of the Civil War as I presented it. (with romance in between or course)

As one, and many of you recommended, I went over troop movements and drill and incorporated that into this work. (But not to the extent that it would confuse or bore readers)

Also I have corrected some rather severe errors in my presentation of certain historical events. Most would pass over these, but those of you here at this forum would not overlook such.

I don't know if my work of love will go far, or if it will...

Rather not think of that.

16 years and two more are many years to waste.

Very soon I will get an ISBN, perhaps after one final proof read by a literary expert.

Then it will go into the realm of Amazon.com

Thanks to all in this forum that gave critical review of my work. I am very interested in the Civil War and the history of our nation leading to it. And my CW interest has been with me since 1961 when I first visited Gettysburg at 11 years of age.

From time to time, I will peek in, and perhaps ask some questions or make comments.

Best Regards to everyone here,

Steve Schoner