Leaving Gettysburg

Gettysburg is over, the Confederates must reach the Potomac River if they are to fight another day. A disgraced Union colonel sees a chance to cut off the beaten Confederates fleeing Gettysburg before they reach the Potomac River and safety. Pickett's charge has just ended, the battle of Gettysburg is over. The Confederate army is defeated and must retreat to the Potomac River forty miles away with thousands of wagons full of wounded soldiers, provisions and tens of thousands of animals. Asa Helms, a private in the Twenty-Sixth North Carolina Infantry, joined the army to oppose the Yankee's invasion of his "country." He is torn between serving his country with honour and going home to take care of his wife who is in great need. He faces a long, seemingly impossible march with little food, little hope and the Yankees on his heels. Captain Louis Young, aide-to-camp to Confederate General James Pettigrew, is fighting to preserve a culture and a lifestyle and possible domination by the despicable Yankees. The defeat at Gettysburg, the horrendous condition of the army and the endless resources of the enemy are causing him to doubt the ability of the Confederacy to gain another major victory and thus independence. His objective is to get the rebel army across the Potomac River to preserve it to fight another day. Colonel George Gray, an Irishman, is colonel of the Sixth Michigan Cavalry. He is hell-bent on putting down the rebellion before it divides the country that has been so good to him. He is neither a soldier, nor an accomplished equestrian, and has gotten on the wrong side of his superior, General George Custer, with whom he is in constant conflict. He sees a chance to cut off the Confederate army and end the war before it reaches the Potomac River. The journey ends at the Potomac River where each soldier must face the bitter realities of this unnatural war. Asa must choose between escaping across the river or remaining with his wounded friend and facing certain captivity. AUTHOR: Curtis Crockett grew up near Detroit, Michigan, where he devoured the books of fellow Michigander Bruce Catton, as a child. His parents nourished his fascination with the Civil War by taking the family to Gettysburg when he was ten. When his grandmother presented him with her grandfather's discharge papers from the Union Army, his lifelong interest in the Civil War was launched. A graduate of Wayne State University, he majored in German and History. He is retired and has lived with his wife in Indian Trail, North Carolina for many years. He has two grown daughters. Curtis has published several historical articles in Civil War magazines. Leaving Gettysburg is his first work of fiction.

About the Author :
Curtis Crockett grew up near Detroit, Michigan, where he devoured the books of fellow Michigander Bruce Catton, as a child. His parents nourished his fascination with the Civil War by taking the family to Gettysburg when he was ten. When his grandmother presented him with her grandfather’s discharge papers from the Union Army, his lifelong interest in the Civil War was launched. A graduate of Wayne State University, he majored in German and History. He is retired and has lived with his wife in Indian Trail, North Carolina for many years. He has two grown daughters. Curtis has published several historical articles in Civil War magazines. Leaving Gettysburg is his first work of fiction.

Review :
"...paints a vivid image of an ACW army in retreat and a victorious army slowly reorganizing to pursue."-- "Historical Miniatures Gaming Society" "Curtis Crockett brings the retreat to life in fiction...a must-read for everyone interested in the Gettysburg campaign.-- "Maine at War" "...a solid piece of Civil War fiction that introduces readers to seldom discussed aspect of the Gettysburg Campaign."-- "ARGunners.com" "Casemate has a long history of publishing high quality military history non-fiction. Lately, they have expanded their range of work to include well written novels using wartime settings."-- "WWII History Magazine"