Strange and Obscure Stories of the Civil War

By Tim Rowland and J.W. Howard

A quirky journey through little-known trivia and true stories from the history of the American Civil War.
 
The Civil War tore the United States apart—but with the drama and chaos of war as front-page news, some stories of the time were forgotten. They’re the sort of bizarre, outrageous, funny, or entertaining tidbits that would have gone viral on social media—if they’d had such a thing back then.
 
Here, a newspaper columnist and a retired superintendent of the Antietam National Battlefield have collected a wide variety of tales from the time, including mistakes, misadventures and epic screw-ups you won’t find in history books, including:
 
* the monument to Union General Dan Sickles that was missing a statue because the funds for it had been stolen…by Dan Sickles
* the brutal equine cost of war: while over 600,000 men died, there was an even higher toll on horses
* the legend of Brigadier General Philip Kearny who, after losing an arm, rode into battle with a sword in one hand and his horse’s reins in his teeth
 
From amazing stories of survival to incredible coincidences that ended up changing the course of history, Strange and Obscure Stories of the Civil War is a must-read for Civil War buffs, history fans, or anyone that enjoys odd historical trivia.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Sep 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9781628731002

Tim Rowland

Tim Rowland has authored a number of books, including histories of the Adirondacks and Western Maryland mountains, and the Strange and Obscure series, collections of historical essays focusing on lesser-known aspects of American history. An avid outdoorsman, Rowland has climbed in the Himalayas, hiked the Inca Trail, trekked throughout Europe, and ridden a bicycle across the United States. He has climbed all 46 Adirondack High Peaks over 4,000 feet. He and his wife Beth live in Jay, New York.