historical fiction

Tate Farm - Today

I was on my way early Thursday morning to ride “Sunny” at my stable in Hunterstown, looking forward to a cool morning’s horse ride.  I passed the Tate Farm, at the old square in Hunterstown, and saw that there was an encampment and lecture tent set up in the yard.  I had forgotten about this neat program.  Last year The Gettysburg Conspiracy was not published in July, and I missed out on this event.  I decided to try to set up an impromptu book signing, because the Battle of Hunterstown figures prominently in the novel. The folks there from the Hunterstown Historical Society welcomed me, and my riding went by the wayside.

Friday through Sunday is the annual Gettysburg Reenactment of the major battle, and folks here tend to forget that there were engagements outside the town of importance (Ref my blog:  http://willhutchison.com/blog/2010/01/24/custers-unknown-and-ill-fated-charge-in-the-gettysburg-campaign-2-july-1863-part-ii/ ).  It was a beautiful sunny, yet coolish day, and quite enjoyable meeting and talking to folks about the battle.

Beautiful Horse (Root Beer) and a good authentic cavalryman

Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center

During the week and on the second weekend of the Gettysburg Fringe Festival I was busy signing more books and talking to folks about history and Gettysburg.  By far the highlight of this time was several hours spent signing books at the Museum Book Store in the new Gettysburg National Military Park (GNMP) Visitor Center.  It wasn’t easy to arrange. The Park has a very high quality control vetting process for books they place on their shelves, and they do not ordinarily take fiction, even Civil War historical fiction.

I had my work cut out for me to become accepted.  If so, I would be in very high company.  Their fiction shelf contains such stalwarts as Jeff Shaara, Newt Gingrich, Margaret Mitchell, and Stephen Crane – and not many others.  I had to gain the approval of the National Park Service staff, the Museum Book Store, and an outside organization, Event Network, who buy the books for the Museum Book Store – and they are in California. They all had to read and approve the work.  Of course, the book had to be about the town of Gettysburg, the battle, or at least the American Civil War.  Therefore, my two Crimean War books would not qualify.

After many months of paperwork, numerous phone calls and emails, and being bounced about between these entities a bit, I received word that The Gettysburg Conspiracy, my recent novel about a fictional attempt to assassinate Abraham Lincoln during his Gettysburg Address, had made the grade. I must say, it was well worth the time and trouble. Acceptance meant that the book would also be available at the David Wills House on the square in Gettysburg (which figures prominently in the plot of the story), as well as in the Park Museum Book Store.  Between the Park and the Wills House, the annual visitation is over one and a half million.

I spent my time at the Visitor Center Book Store this weekend amazed at the quality and quantity of historical books, staggered by the amount of traffic, and delighted at the intense interest in anything “Civil War.”   The book store staff were kind and helpful, and it is always fun talking to folks and answering questions about my favorite subject.

It was among the elegant pages of Stephen Crane’s Red Badge of Courage where I discovered my profound interest in history and especially the Civil War.  I am looking forward to my next book signing session at the Museum Book Store, and to walking into the store to see my novel on that shelf with my childhood icon, Stephen Crane.

As for the Gettysburg Fringe Festival, which prompted all my activities over the past ten days, I am pleased to say it was a total success from my point of view.  Next year should be even better!

The first weekend of the Gettysburg Fringe Festival, at least from my standpoint, was a great success.  My book signings went well, and I was able to meet many nice folks and chat about the Crimean War, the Civil War, Lincoln’s personal security, and many other topics.  I also saw the Quantico Marine Band, and especially the Dixieland Ensemble.  I knew many of the Marine musicians from when they came to our Marine Corps Historical Company program at Harpers Ferry last October.  We also managed to grab a few beers together at the Garryowen Irish Pub later Friday night.

Dixieland! What a treat.

One of the most interesting book signings was at the David Wills House on the square in Gettysburg.  This is, of course, where Lincoln stayed while he was in town, and figures prominently in my novel, The Gettysburg Conspiracy.  It’s almost mystical being surrounded by the floors, stairs, windows, furnishings, and bedroom where Lincoln resided, and is reported to have worked on the final draft of his famous address.

I’m still trying to get a complete handle on the Twitter, Facebook, Facepage thing, but I’m learning more every day, and my new iPhone is now a permanent part of my anatomy.  I am even contemplating buying the new iPhone 4G – better battery and camera among other things. I tried this past weekend to use social media to let folks know where I was signing books and try to get them to come down and chat.  Believe it or not, it worked.  Several of those I spoke to said they saw my facebook or twitter updates and knew where to come to talk history … so we did!

Five Guys - Five Gettysburg Area Artists Exhibiting

John Paul Strain painting, with gallery owner, Paul Selmer, looking on. An amazing artist

Signing books surrounded by wonderful Civil War art at Paul Selmer's Gettysburg Frame Shop and Gallery

Paul's dog watching the counter while Paul is away

Signing at the American History Bookstore. A store filled with historical books. Don't let the outside fool you - they have a large and complete inventory from Regimentals to an in-depth Lincoln selection.

While I was in England, I was delighted to find out that the two books I published in 2009 were the recipients of awards here in the States. Although good reviews and comments are always welcome and important to me, it is always gratifying to realize that others out there feel your work deserves an award.

The historical photographic chronicle, Crimean Memories: Artefacts of the Crimean War, photographed by me and written with my co-authors (Michael Vice and B.J. Small), received a 2010 Independent Publisher (IPPY) Silver Award for best reference book.

My most recent novel, The Gettysburg Conspiracy, received a 2010 Independent Publisher (IPPY) Bronze Award for best regional fiction.   In addition, The Gettysburg Conspiracy was selected as a finalist in the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award (BOTYA) for historical fiction.

IPPY Awards –         http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1362&urltitle=Announcing%20the%20Results%20of%20the%202010%20Independent%20Publisher%20Book%20Awards

BOYTA Award Finalists –         http://www.bookoftheyearawards.com/finalists/2009/category/fiction-historical/

The Gettysburg Toy Soldier Show Sunday was great fun.  My talk was well attended and no one fell asleep.  I was watching .

Now I’m in full swing preparing for UK Book Tour 1 – 20 May.  Looking forward to a pint and a curry on arrival, which might be a bit dicey at 9:30 AM –  UK time    

Unfortunately my blog may suffer a bit in my travels … but I will be back if I can’t get on the internet over there … I’ll bring back loads of stories and adventures.

My schedule in UK is posted on my web site for my mates in old Blighty. (http://www.willhutchison.com)

OK.  Call it outrageous self-promotion, but I don’t care this time.  What a great day. First I found out that my latest release in the Ian Carlyle Series, The Gettysburg Conspiracy, was accepted for sale in National Park bookstores.  This opens a whole new world of promotional opportunities.

Then late this afternoon I discovered that The Gettysburg Conspiracy was selected as a finalist in the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards for best historical fiction. I was surprised and pleased. It’s always good to know someone recognizes your work.  In fact, it’s good to know someone is actually reading it

The 2010 calendar is rapidly filling up.  I have over the past month or so been gathering dates for various lectures and author events.  The entire list will be posted on my web site soon, but it isn’t complete yet.

The year is filled with exciting events, including book signings, book fairs, talks at various collectors groups and Civil War Round Tables, a photography project at the Gettysburg National Park, a book tour in the United Kingdom (May 1 – 16), and taking part in the Gettysburg Festival (June 18-27).  In addition, Civil War Round Tables have asked that I present my most recent talk, “Relax Men, It’s Only the President! – Lincoln’s Approach to Personal Security,” on several dates in 2011.

Follow Me to Glory - The Crimean War

The Gettysburg Conspiracy - The American Civil War and Abraham Lincoln

Crimean Memories: Artefacts of the Crimean War

I’m looking forward to two full years of book promotion, rich with opportunities to talk to folks about the Crimean War, the American Civil War, Gettysburg, and Abraham Lincoln.  It appears the most difficult part will be finding the time to research and write the third novel in the Ian Carlyle Series, “The Ear Collector,” and work on publishing an extraordinary diary of a Crimean War Scots Fusilier Guards soldier – a project long overdue.

I won’t bore you with the details leading up to the engagement at Hunterstown (referred to often as the Battle of North Cavalry Field) on 2 July 1863, during the Gettysburg campaign.  There are those who have done a much better job of it, such as Eric Wittenberg and J. David Petruzzi, in their recently published, Plenty of Blame to Go Around; Rummel’s Cavalry on the Roads to Gettysburg; and Longacre’s The Cavalry at Gettysburg. It even played a significant role in my most recent novel, The Gettysburg Conspiracy.

Suffice to say, in the vicinity of Gettysburg, two Federal cavalry brigades were in search of the anchor of the Confederate left flank.  Between Hunterstown and Gettysburg, these brigades found their prey.  They engaged the former Cobb’s Legion, led at Gettysburg by Confederate Brigadier General Wade Hampton, supported by other elements of Stuart’s rear guard.

Custer wearing Maj Gen straps, but in approximately the same uniform as at Hunterstown. Note the one star on his collar.

What struck me about all this, and why I find research so fascinating, was that a certain well-known Union general led a tiny part of one of these brigades in a very strange and rather foolhardy charge against the Confederate rear guard.  It was the unknown first stab at glory of Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer – before real fame took a hand.

The first amazing fact is that Custer, a junior staff officer (Lieutenant, then Captain), was promoted all the way to Brigadier General of Volunteers only days before this engagement (29 June 1863), by Major General Alfred Pleasanton, as part of his shake up of the cavalry corps when he took command.  He was given command of  2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Federal Cavalry Corps – The Michigan Brigade. He wore an improvised uniform, and I’m certain had to be somewhat overwhelmed by his sudden rise – his ego notwithstanding.

As his brigade left Hunterstown swinging south toward Gettysburg, they saw a significant Confederate force taking positions about a mile ahead.  It was, indeed, the Confederate rear guard.  Custer was first to arrive.  He dismounted his cavalry troops, deployed them on both sides of the road, then instructed his artillery onto a ridge.

This is about when things went a bit offish.  Custer ordered Captain Henry Thompson, commanding Company A, 6^th Michigan Cavalry, with his approximately 50 cavalrymen to charge down the road into the Confederates.  His stated reason was to give time for his artillery to properly deploy. Thompson and his men were seasoned troopers, they must have seen the artillery already taking position, and the prospect of this mad charge wasn’t greeted with great joy.

The crossroads known as Hunterstown, 1863

Battle of Huntertown, along the Hunterstown - Gettysburg Road

British observers on McClellan's staff. Charles Fletcher is seated on the far right, and Edward Neville is also seated, third in from the right.

Almost everyone you talk to about British military observers in the American Civil War can think of only one – Lieutenant Colonel Arthur James Lyon Freemantle, Coldstream Guards. Freemantle is considered by most as a British military observer who chose to remain with, and ‘observe’ the southern side. Because perhaps of the fame of Freemantle through his book, Three Months in the Southern States, or possibly as a result of how he was portrayed in the recent movie, Gettysburg, even historians are unaware of two important historical facts:

1.  Although Freemantle was an officer of the Coldstream Guards, he was on leave of absence while in the States, likely didn’t have a uniform with him, wore tweeds most of the time, and was – in point of fact – more a “tourist” than anything else.  (David Horn, the then curator of the Guards Museum, London, and a renowned historian, tried to tell the Gettysburg movie folks these facts, but they insisted on putting Freenantle in a scarlet uniform as an official British observer at Gettysburg, regardless – Go figure.)

Lt Col Arthur Freemantle (In later years)

2.  On the other hand, there were a dozen or so authorized British military observers with General McClellan and the Federal Army of the Potomac for several months in 1862.  These officers, mostly from Guards regiments and the Royal Artillery, came south from Canada to join Little Mac’s staff.

You see, a brigade of Guards and other regiments, with accompanying artillery, had been sent to Canada by Her Majesty Queen Victoria in response to the “Trent” affair on the high seas.  During this incident, two Confederate politicians were taken from a British ship, HMS Trent, causing great outrage in Britain.  By the time these elite British troops arrived in Canada, things were smoothed over between President Lincoln and the Queen, and a nasty potential war on our northern border was averted.  This left these officers sitting in Canada with practically nothing to do.  Why not observe this “Yank” war first hand?

It is one of these British observers, Ian Carlyle, in the Scots Fusilier Guards, who is the hero of my recently released novel, The Gettysburg Conspiracy.  I modeled my character, Ian, after two of the actual observers on McClellan’s staff, Charles Edward Fletcher and Edward Neville.  They can be seen in the photographic image at the beginning of this blog.  These were both fine officers.

By the way, I survived the dentist.  My cunning plan worked like a charm.

Photographic image of British and other foreign observers with the Federal Army