History Snippets and Deleted Scenes
From the Chattahoochee to the Ohio
The Chattahoochee River figured prominently in Sherman’s campaign to seize control of Georgia; therefore, it is of interest in each book of my Rescued Hearts of the Civil War.
The river begins in the far northeast corner of the state and proceeds on a south-westerly route until it meets Alabama and forms the boundary between Georgia and Alabama. As it approaches the Florida line, it empties into the Apalachicola River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico.
Brown’s Mill Battlefield, Coweta County, Georgia
In my research for Book #5 in the series, I learned about the Battle of Brown’s Mill in Coweta County, Georgia. As you may have gleaned from the other books, part of General Sherman’s objective in Georgia was to cut off Confederate supply routes, including access to the Chattahoochee River.
July 30, 1864, Union General McCook’s division left Lovejoy’s Station and encountered Confederate cavalry led by Joseph Wheeler at Brown’s Mill, three miles south of Newnan. The Confederate victory there influenced Sherman’s decision to change his strategy and focus on Atlanta.
Today, hiking and mountain biking trails cut through the 185-acre site of this battle. The trails are open year-round and wind through the beautiful, wooded countryside of Coweta County. The pictures below give just a glimpse of the bike trails.
Deleted Scenes
From Rescuing Rose
Situation: November 1864. Rose and Celeste are visiting Noah’s family in Indiana (Mary is his stepmother; Katie is his sister, Zach is one younger brother, and Luke is his cousin who now lives in Louisville)
Noah couldn’t stop smiling as he introduced his guests to the congregation at Ebenezer Community Church. Their party had arrived right as the service began, but now that it was over, the locals flocked around them. His parents herded the boys outside, but Katie stayed close.
Finally, the crowd around them receded, leaving an open path to the churchyard. People lingered there as well, braving the cool breeze to enjoy the afternoon sunshine.
Katie drew their attention to a young woman beside Mary several yards away. “Noah, who is that woman? She looks familiar, but I can’t come up with a name. My guess is she’s close to your age. I think the boy with Zach is her son.”
Noah started to propel Rose closer to get a better look, but Zach scooted ahead on the path and tugged the youngster toward them. “See?” Zach said to his companion. “This is my big brother, Noah. He’s a major in the cavalry.”
“And what’s your name?” Katie asked the newcomer.
Noah had started to ask the question, but his brain froze in shock at a close look at the boy. Rose likewise had stiffened beside him.
“Nathaniel Hawthorne O’Brien, ma’am.” He flashed a brilliant smile and directed a sharp salute Noah’s way. “Good to meet you, sir.”
Noah introduced the others. “And what is your mother’s name? I see she’s busy chatting with our mother over there.”
“Her name’s Florence O’Brien. She used to live here before I was born. We moved back to take care of my Granny Walker.” He nearly shouted the last as Zach dragged him over to a group of boys near the wagons.
Rose put one trembling hand to Noah’s face to make him look at her. The thin gloves she wore failed to warm her cold fingers, but he focused on her questioning gaze.
“That boy. If he had curls and a dress, he’d be the exact image of Victoria.”
Celeste ventured into his pause. “But you and Rose both seemed surprised at his appearance. Who is it he looks so much like?”
While Noah debated the situation, Rose answered. “He could pass for Victoria’s twin.”
Celeste’s hand covered her mouth to block any sound. Katie was still confused. “Who’s Victoria?”
“Luke’s daughter. You may not remember Luke—”
“Oh, yes, I do,” Katie said. “He’s the Georgie Porgy cousin who always got into trouble.”
“Georgie Porgy?” Noah asked.
“I was still reciting nursery rhymes when he lived here. Whenever I heard about Georgie Porgy, I pictured him as Luke.”
Noah looked from Katie to Rose in confusion.
Rose mustered a small smile. “He kissed the girls and made them cry.”
“That’s in a nursery rhyme?”
Katie stomped her foot. “Forget the poem. You said Victoria is Luke’s daughter? And the new boy, Nathaniel, looks like Victoria. So, you think…oh my goodness, do you think Luke…?”
She left the thought suspended as Mary finished her conversation and motioned them all to the wagon.
Zach and Nathaniel shouted their goodbyes while the churchyard emptied.
Noah urged them all toward the vehicle. “Let’s keep this between us for now. There’s likely a good explanation for the resemblance, maybe a distant relative we don’t know about. We can ask Mary when the boys aren’t close enough to overhear.”
Rose nodded. “I’ve read about a theory that everyone has someone who looks much like them somewhere in the world.”
“I’ve heard that as well,” Noah said.
But how many of them turned up right in your old neighborhood with a woman your cousin once pursued?
From Loving Lydia
Sunday, July 10, 1864
Gainesville, Georgia
Two men separated from the others at the picket post and planted their feet in a wide stance, their rifles cradled in crossed arms. The absence of weapons made him and Robby suspect, so Seth warned Robby to have his furlough papers in hand. Seth stepped forward and snapped the obligatory salute to the higher-ranking officer.
“Good morning, sir.” Seth produced his pass for inspection. Robby did the same.
The lieutenant looked from the papers he held to each of the newcomers. “Sergeant Morgan and Private Roland, both of the Georgia Eighteenth Infantry.” He raised his brows. “Destination?”
“Our homes in Cobb County, sir.”
The corporal beside him guffawed. “Good luck gettin’ there in one piece. Sherman’s troops are swarmin’ all over that area.”
The lieutenant returned their papers and propped his hands on his hips. “Where’s y’all’s weapons, Sergeant?”
Seth shuffled his feet as the blood rushed to his face. “They were stolen, sir. Last night.”
The lieutenant dipped his chin and raised his eyebrows. Seth guessed he waited for more details.
“A family back down the road invited us to have supper and spend the night. Our weapons were in the house with us, but somebody slipped them away during the night.”
Robby hastened to add to the story. “We searched every inch of the property, sir, but whoever took ’em must’ve carried ’em off somewhere.”
Narrowing his eyes, the lieutenant probed again. “What was the name of this family who managed to steal your firearms from under your noses?”
Seth shot Robby a glance warning him to keep his mouth shut. “I’d rather not say, sir. I got the idea they felt they needed them for protection. Maybe somebody or something had threatened ’em. We did have to shoot a rabid dog near their place.”
The lieutenant passed a hand over his face. “How long you been in this army, Sergeant?”
“Seventeen months, sir.”
“And you, Private Roland? Long enough to earn a furlough, it seems.”
“Nearly a year now, sir.”
The lieutenant snorted and waved them away. “I’ll let your company officers deal with you when you get back to Virginia. Maybe y’all won’t get yourself killed or captured before then.”
Soft chuckles followed as they walked away. Several minutes later, they entered the town proper. When Seth made no move to visit any of the stores, Robby dared to question him. “Are we gonna try to find something to eat before we leave?”
Seth grunted. “I wasn’t planning on it.”
“Oh.”
Robby sounded so disappointed that Seth relented. They’d devoured those biscuits from Miz Dotty long ago, and meal preparations from various buildings sent pungent aromas of onion, bitter greens, and root vegetables their way.
“We’ll go in that one.” He pointed to a small storefront with a stack of tins displayed in the window. “We’ll take ten minutes to get what we need and take it with us. Got it?”
Robby’s eager nod pulled at his heart. Though Robby fought like a man, Seth couldn’t see him as an adult. And Seth never could stand to turn down women or young’uns. Fixing the roof of the old woman who threatened them with a pitchfork. Helping the family in Homer County contain their fire. Refusing to name the Spaldings for theft. Yeah, he was a soft touch.
His weakness must come from being raised with two sisters. He gave himself a sharp mental kick. So far, his time in the army had done little to change that debility. He was lucky nobody besides Robby had noticed. He’d have to watch himself from here on, which meant avoiding everybody but soldiers.
House in Decatur, Georgia
Look up Mary Gay on Google, and you’ll find a representative to the U.S. Congress from Pennsylvania (Mary Gay Scanlon). Or you may find information about the house in Decatur, Georgia, where a woman named Mary Gay lived during the Civil War. Honestly, I’m not sure how I learned about her—probably Ms. Petite mentioned her in her book, The Women Will Howl. Whatever the case, I’m glad I did. She was a remarkable character, and one I had to include in my novel. She recorded her war experiences in Life in Dixie During the War 1861-1862-1863-1864-1865.
Two things impressed me about this interesting woman. First, she truly cared for those in her care. Her book gives the details of Toby, the young man who accompanied her on her missions. He became ill and died during the Union occupation of Mary’s house. Second, despite her precarious position and natural fear, she held fast to her beliefs. She expressed her feelings about the invasion of the Union Army to the officers who commandeered her house in eloquent terms. Even those who didn’t agree with her politics hailed her as a woman to be admired.
Minty’s Saber Charge
One episode that caught my attention during my research was General Robert Minty’s saber charge. Like other officers in both armies, Minty was quite a colorful character outside the war. I found his rather long report on the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry website. Here’s how I included it in Rescuing Rose:
Saturday, August 20, 1864
Walnut Creek between Jonesboro and McDonough, Georgia
After several skirmishes against the Confederates around Jonesboro and Lovejoy Station, the Seventh Pennsylvania and Fourth Michigan had found themselves hemmed in on all sides, surrounded by the enemy. In a daring move, General Minty had announced a saber charge through the adversary’s camp, setting himself in the lead. The men responded by spurring their mounts, cheering, and brandishing their sabers like madmen. Noah wondered whether the men’s reactions resulted from fear and visions of the horrors of prison or from an attempt to intimidate the Rebels, who often attacked with their famous Rebel Yell.
By some miracle, the Union forces prevailed. After the attack, they’d pressed on to Walnut Creek to get a better vantage point. Now they waited behind the hastily raised breastworks, their horses strung along the Jonesboro Road to their rear.
No sooner had Noah whispered his prayer than he spotted the enemy in full array. Artillery burst from both camps. Men and trees alike felt the sting of bullets. Pine needles rained down and lay strewn across the trenches. Red dust kicked up in their faces, blurring their vision. And sometimes the red haze took on a more sinister aspect as the deadly missiles found their mark in human flesh. The accompanying cries barely registered amid the wail and staccato barrage of assault.
How long the exchange went on Noah couldn’t say. His focus had narrowed to the area directly in front of him. At last the enemy fell back, but they could surge again at any moment.
Captain Dixon slid into place beside him, and Noah set his weapon aside to take a long draft from his canteen. “You delivered the prisoners to the Third already? Seems like you just left.”
The other man picked up a pinecone and started pulling it apart. “Funny thing about battle, ain’t it? Time just disappears. It could be seconds or hours.”
Noah stretched his limbs as far as he could and rotated his neck. “And now that it’s over, for the time being, I’m suddenly feeling the effects of not sleeping for two days.” Yet he knew sleep wouldn’t be possible until they put more space between the two armies.
