Casemate has a long history of publishing high quality military
history non-fiction. Lately, they have expanded their range of work to
include well written novels using wartime settings. - WWII History
MagazineA disgraced Union colonel sees a chance to cut off the beaten
Confederates fleeing Gettysburg before they reach the Potomac River and
safety.
Pickett's charge has just ended, the battle of Gettysburg is over. The
Confederate army is defeated and must retreat to the Potomac River forty
miles away with thousands of wagons full of wounded soldiers, provisions
and tens of thousands of animals.
Asa Helms, a private in the Twenty-Sixth North Carolina Infantry, joined
the army to oppose the Yankee's invasion of his "country." He is torn
between serving his country with honor and going home to take care of
his wife who is in great need. He faces a long, seemingly impossible
march with little food, little hope and the Yankees on his heels.
Captain Louis Young, aide-to-camp to Confederate General James
Pettigrew, is fighting to preserve a culture and a lifestyle and
possible domination by the despicable Yankees. The defeat at Gettysburg,
the horrendous condition of the army and the endless resources of the
enemy are causing him to doubt the ability of the Confederacy to gain
another major victory and thus independence. His objective is to get the
rebel army across the Potomac River to preserve it to fight another
day.
Colonel George Gray, an Irishman, is colonel of the Sixth Michigan
Cavalry. He is hell-bent on putting down the rebellion before it divides
the country that has been so good to him. He is neither a soldier, nor
an accomplished equestrian, and has gotten on the wrong side of his
superior, General George Custer, with whom he is in constant conflict.
He sees a chance to cut off the Confederate army and end the war before
it reaches the Potomac River.
The journey ends at the Potomac River where each soldier must face the
bitter realities of this unnatural war. Asa must choose between escaping
across the river or remaining with his wounded friend and facing certain
captivity.