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.

The women in my series start out living near the Chattahoochee and end up on the banks of the Ohio. The Ohio begins in western Pennsylvania and flows south-westerly through or along the border of six states. It forms the boundary between Ohio and West Virginia, then between Kentucky and Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.

Stories from Research

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.

Mary Gay was in her late 20’s when the war started, the only child from her mother’s first marriage. Her mother’s second marriage produced a son, who was destined for the pulpit, but his loyalties sent him to the war. He still preached, but his congregation consisted of men in the trenches of the Western Theater. Mary Gay never married but was the caretaker of her mother and a few slaves. Southern through and through, she gathered, distributed, and sometimes hid blankets and clothing for “her boys” in the fight.

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.