Unionists in the Heart of Dixie

Unionists in the Heart of Dixie, Volume II, includes the surnames of soldiers beginning with H through M. It includes information on the 1st Alabama Cavalry, USV; excerpts from the diary written by Dr. William Spencer, Seven Months in Libby Prison; information about the soldiers who died during the Battle of Days Gap, a map showing where the battle was fought and the location of the cemetery; information on the Civil War hospitals in Nashville, Tennessee, where they were and what buildings were used for the hospitals. This series of books includes the most extensive collection of records and information ever published on the 1st Alabama Cavalry, USV and its soldiers. The author has transcribed all of the military records, including muster rolls, on each of the soldiers, and in some cases, a transcription of pension records. Southern Claims are included on some of the soldiers. The questions most often asked of the author have been: "Who were these men? Why did they fight for the Union? What happened to them during and after the war?" The author has attempted to answer these questions; however, it is not known when some of the soldiers later died. Many descendants of these soldiers generously submitted narratives on their 1st Alabama Cavalry Union ancestors (and their families) and most of them are extensive. There is also an account of how Captain Jerome J. Hinds and Bugler John Rufus Jefferson tried to write the history of the 1st Alabama Cavalry, USV, but died before their dream of writing it was fulfilled. This wealth of material, along with the transcription of all of the military records, will be presented in a series of volumes. Volume II includes surnames of soldiers beginning with H-M, and contains even more information than the previous volume. Ms. Ethel Waldrop Terrell, granddaughter of Corporal Thomas P. Kirkman of the 1st Alabama Cavalry, tells of her life growing up with her grandfather and great grandfather, Corporal William Fields Kirkman, their wagon and train trip West, and many of their other experiences. Many pictures of these soldiers are also included, as well as several Civil War sketches drawn by artist, Joe Harper, descendant of Joseph Harper.