Countdown to Book Launch on February 1!
In which I do a ten-day countdown to the book launch of A State Divided: The Civil War Letters of James Calaway Hale and Benjamin Petree of Andrew County, Missouri, 1862-65, and share photos and book excerpts along the way.
A Letter from Rebel Cousin Rachel
In which I share another excerpt from Missouri Daughter that includes a letter to Bailis from his cousin, “Rachel at Rebel Rendezvous,” reflect a bit on how the war tore families apart, and discuss the importance of the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and explain the Platte River Bridge disaster, when Confederate guerrillas burned part of the track and caused a train to derail outside of St. Joseph, killing approximately 20 people and injuring 100.
GGG Grandfather James Calaway Hale's first letters from Benton Barracks General Hospital
In which I share some of the first letters James Calaway Hale wrote from the General Hospital at Benton Barracks in St. Louis in June and July, 1863.
Missouri Civil War Museum at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis
In which I relate some history of Benton Barracks and Jefferson Barracks, both in St. Louis, Missouri; share my initial thoughts and sights upon arriving at the museum; and explain how this turned into a TWO book project - a historical fiction book titled Missouri Daughter and a nonfiction text titled A State Divided: The Civil War Letters of James Calaway Hale and Benjamin Petree of Andrew County, Missouri.
Centralia, Missouri - Home of the Traughbers and Site of the Centralia Massacre
In which I describe my visits with both Mike and my parents to Centralia, where my great grandfather, William Francis Traughber, grew up and attended high school, and where 22 Union soldiers and one civilian were killed by William “Bloody Bill” Anderson and his guerrillas on September 27, 1864, in what became known as the Centralia Massacre (and to which, it turns out, I have several family connections - on BOTH sides of the war)
Kirksville, Missouri: A Visit to the Cemetery & Some Petree Family History
In which I describe my visit with my parents to two cemeteries in Kirksville where various family members are born and provide some history of the Petrees
How This Journey Began - The Hales & Petrees of Andrew County, Missouri
In which I discuss how I acquired 50 Civil War letters written by my 3rd Great Grandfather, James Calaway Hale, and 2nd Grand Uncle, Benjamin Petree, as well as other family letters and heirlooms, and started writing a historical fiction novel titled Missouri Daughter