Beloved Companion: The Inspiring Civil War Letters of a Soldier, His Wife and Their Faith in God, a series of 80 Civil War letters between two Pennsylvanians during the final ten months of the Civil War in Virginia, is now available in hardback, paperback and Kindle formats on Amazon.
This was another joint project for Harriet and me, and it is based on the correspondence between her great-great grandparents between September 1864 and the autumn of 1865. The letters were in the possession of Harriet’s parents and came to her after their deaths. In addition to the letters, we also received a typescript of the diary her great-great grandfather kept during his year in the service. This, too, is included in the 253-page book
Harriet’s ancestors were James and Frances Catherine Wood of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Their eldest daughter was named Harriet “Hattie” Rebecca Wood, who became my wife’s great grandmother and the original source of my Harriet’s given name after the original Harriet married Rolandus Kocher (pronounced Coker) in 1874. The name Harriet has continued in the family from the Civil War to the present.
When we started compiling the work, we realized the documents were not just a story of the Civil War but also a couple’s faith in God to get them through the conflict and the winter of 1864-65. It was refreshing to read the writings of a couple so secure in their faith.
Here are some excerpts:
We have had a cold storm, but I wore your shoes. Do you not think it a good woman that can step in her husband’s shoes?—Frances Wood, letter, October 30, 1864
Was detailed for camp guard, and while on guard mount the word came that the regiment must attend the execution of a deserter …. I shall never want to see another such sight while I live.—James Wood, diary, December 26, 1864
It is between hope and fear that I sit down to pen a line to you. We are all well, thank the Giver of all good, and hope that this will find you on the land and among the living for I have just heard of the Battle of Petersburg. There was a great many killed and I tremble for fear [that] my beloved was one of them. Frances Wood, letter, February 11, 1865
Saw the dead still on the field. Saw thirty-two cannon that were captured in the morning, and then the news came that General Lee had surrendered to General Grant. Great cheering!—James Wood, Appomattox road notes, April 9, 1865
In honor of the publication, I had ChatGPT create images of us in period costume which I have included, though with some reservations as I am shown in a Yankee uniform. Here are the Amazon links to Beloved Companion:
Paperback Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Beloved-Companion-Inspiring-Letters-Soldier/dp/1964830249/
Hardcover Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Beloved-Companion-Inspiring-Letters-Soldier/dp/1964830257/
Kindle Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Beloved-Companion-Inspiring-Letters-Soldier-ebook/dp/B0H4NKXM35/
