The True Soldier: Jack Lark 6
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For the Battle of Bull Run itself, I chose to concentrate on my fictitious 1st Boston, whilst leaving all notions of an overview of the battle to other writers. The 1st Boston follow a likely path through McDowell’s ambitious flanking attack, which ultimately failed in the face of stubborn, and brave, Southern resistance. The swift delivery of reinforcements from the Shenandoah Valley through the Confederate generals’ use of the railroad is a great example of their using modern technology to their advantage.
Anyone wishing to read more of the events covered in this novel will discover a great wealth of resources. As ever, the fantastic Osprey books are my first port of call. I heartily recommend First Bull Run 1861 – The South’s first victory, from the campaign series, as a great overview to the battle. For those looking for something a little more in-depth, I would suggest Battle Cry of Freedom by James M. McPherson. I found this book fascinating reading and I shall certainly be revisiting its pages as I write Jack’s next adventure.
The Boston in which Jack arrives will be largely familiar to visitors to the city today. Anyone wishing to see what it looked like in 1861 should peruse Old Boston in Early Photographs 1850–1918, from the collection of the Bostonian Society. For tales a little more earthy, Venus in Boston was a great resource and one that really captured the somewhat seedy delights of the former Ann Street (renamed North Street by the time of Jack’s visit in an attempt by the authorities to clean up that part of the city).
I have already mentioned The History of the Ninth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry by Daniel George Macnamara. Every regiment has its own account, but this is the first I read, and I think it stands as a great example of this type of work.
Finally, I must mention the Voices of the Civil War series by Time-Life Books. Books like this always help me enormously, and I find first-hand accounts the most compelling. I try hard to reflect these accounts in Jack’s experiences and so give some impression of what it was like at the sharp end. I recommend this series of books wholeheartedly.
For those who are interested, you can hear the rebel yell online. A simple Internet search will reveal fantastic footage of a meeting in the 1930s with veterans of the war in which they demonstrate the unearthly cry that so unsettled the men they faced on the battlefield.
Jack has now survived another battle. For once, he has emerged from the horror and bloodshed with something other than just memories that will haunt him for years to come. For now, he has Rose. Yet the pair are surrounded by the entire Confederate army and any notion of safety must surely be a long way away. Only time will tell if they succeed in slipping away, or if a very different fate awaits them.
No novel, is the creation of the writer alone, and so I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have helped me. As ever, my editor, Frankie Edwards at Headline, has offered me endless encouragement, and her insight has made this story so much better than it would otherwise have been. I am fortunate that the wonderful Jane Selley agreed to copyedit another of my books, and I am forever grateful for her patience in correcting the many and varied errors in my manuscript.
My agent, the peerless David Headley, is a man with boundless energy and enthusiasm, who never fails to support me. I can never thank him enough for putting me on this journey.
I would also like to take a moment to thank a few people I met through the wonders of social media. The military historian Ricky Phillips has been extremely helpful, and I am fortunate indeed to be able to call on his knowledge and understanding of the topics and campaigns that I am covering. I must also say a huge thank you to Robin Carter and Kate Atherton, book reviewers and bloggers par excellence, who I am also proud to call friends. Their assistance has been humbling.
Finally, a word of thanks to my family. They put up with a lot. Thanks, guys.