Friday, October 12, 2007

Writing the book

So far, I've completed the first drafts of key chapters, dealing with the battle of Gettysburg, the impact of the 137th NY in holding Culp's Hill against heavy odds the night of July 2, 1863.
I've gone back to the beginning - writing chapters covering :
-the early war experience of David Ireland as adjutant of the 79th NY at 1st Bull Run, his experience as Capt. 15th US Infantry training Sherman's new regiments from Ohio and Indiana at Newport Barracks, KY
-the recruiting of the 137th NY in upstate New York (Ithaca, Owego, Binghamton) in the summer of 1862
- training of the regiment by Col. Ireland at Camp Susquehanna in Binghamton, Sept 1862
- with McClellan in Maryland in October 1862
- camped at Bolivar Heights (Harper's Ferry) in Nov 1862
I'm now working on the details of the regiment's march with XII Corps thru Virginia to join Burnside's army at Fredericksburg, Dec 1862.
My sources are letters and diaries of the men themselves, augmented with a plethora of sources that provide broad context of the war situation in which the regiment found itself, from respected historian/authors such as James McPherson, Noah Trudeau, and Ed Bearss, and enriched by family history provided to me by descendants of men of the 137th NY, and from collectors of Civil War memorabilia who shared material with me.
To anyone who has information on men of the 137th NY - I'd be grateful to you for sharing your info with me, to add to the robustness of the History of the 137th NY.

2 comments:

Dave Cleutz said...

October 20, 2009
The draft of Fields of Fame and Glory is complete, except for first-pass editing.
this is the new title for The Fighting 137th NY.
After the revised draft is reviewed by several fellow historians and reenactors, their comments will be incorporated.
Then it's time to connect with a publisher, one with bona-fides in Civil War history publications.
The author welcomes suggestions.

Dave Cleutz said...

It's Done! Fields of Fame & Glory - Col. David Ireland and the 137th NY
is available from the publisher in hardcover or softcover. 427 pages, with 40 images and maps, with index.
Go to https://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.aspx?bookid=73162
or order a personally inscribed copy from the author at www.davidcleutz.com