Themes In Hattie’s War
The Impact of War The profound effects of the Civil War on individuals and families are central to the story. It explores how the war alters lives, shaping the future of those who fought and …
Hannibal Howell Letters
These letters come from two sources: one, my cousin Lois Phelps Brown, who got them from her father shortly before his death. Two letters (the last two) from the Clara Bower Howell Redline (adopted daughter …
Tappan Howell Letters
Tappan Howell, Hattie’s uncle, was 19 years old when he was mortally wounded at The Battle of South Mountain in September 1862. He died two weeks later in a hospital in Washington, DC. South Mountain …
Research – it’s more than Google and Wikipedia.
I love Google and Wikipedia as much as the next guy, but if you are going to write historical fiction, you better be prepared to understand the facts and details from the era in which …
Research – Books
Books A treasure trove of written materials exists on the Civil War era ranging from memoirs to historical fiction to academic writings dating from the time of the conflict up until today. Below, you’ll find examples …
Mental Health – Depression in the story
A major plot point is Hattie’s battle with melancholy. Nowadays, we call it depression. Hattie faces a number of challenges in the story, but this may be the most difficult one of all. Depression is …
The Census
The US Census has been conducted every ten years since 1790. Census data is subject to the “72-year rule.” Detailed census data can not be released until 72 years have passed since the year collected. …
New York 76th At Gettysburg
A number of New York State regiments fought during the war. Here is a list of them. For our purposes, we are focusing on the NY 76th Regiment. Below find excerpts from two books, “Final …
The New York 76th Volunteer Regiment
The New York 76th Volunteer Regiment Hannibal’s regiment, the NY 76th, is well-documented. There is a website devoted to the NY 76th and a history of the regiment written shortly after the war by AP Smith. who …
Never Stop Digging!
One thing I’ve learned in writing Hattie’s War is never stop digging. Time and again, often when I least expected it, a new tidbit of information, a new resource, or person, would emerge to fill …