“Remember me in your prayers and I will remember you. I will not try to describe the senses of war for they are past (beyond) description.” – George W. Belles, to his sister.

The foundation of this enthralling, insightful saga is a three year collection of letters, diaries and memoirs written by American Civil War soldier George W. Belles. The foresighted soldier,  cognizant the course of U.S. history was being radically altered before his eyes and realizing the historical significance of the events he partook in, recorded all phases of his Civil War service  with great passion and colorful detail.

Upon reading Corporal  Belles’ writings, Ron Bardnell,  an infantryman in Vietnam, intuitively formed an emotional brothers in arms bond with the foot soldier of years long passed. Honoring the Civil War soldier’s fervent plea that his writings be preserved, a fateful, unique collaboration  occurred, and Preserve It Reader in Remembrance of Me came to be.

Arranged in chronological order and grouped into chapters by a prevailing theme, Corporal Belles’ writings take the reader along with this exceptional man on his extraordinary thirty-three month American Civil War soldier's journey, from Antietam to Appomattox. 

 

Table of Contents

Dedication                                                                                                                         Acknowledgments                                                                                                                                       Roster - Co. E, 139th Pennsylvania Volunteers                                                                               Prologue                                                                                                                                                       Part I : 1862                                                                                                                                                              One: Transition                                                                                                                                                Two: Fredericksburg – The Union’s Rush to Defeat                                                                                    Part II: 1863                                                                                                                                                   Three: Time-out at the River – Human Nature Prevails                                                                              Four: Early Spring 1863 – The Lull Before the Storm                                                                                 Five: Into the Frying Pan at Marye’s Heights and Salem Church                                                                Six: Gettysburg – Victory Was the Only Option                                                                                        Seven: Sparring Sessions in Northern Virginia                                                                                         Eight: What Keeps a Soldier Going                                                                                                              Part III: 1864                                                                                                                                                    Nine: Coats Without Owners                                                                                                                          Ten: Change of Pace at Harpers Ferry                                                                                                    Eleven: You Had a Brother Who Was a Soldier                                                                                     Twelve: Petersburg and the Unappreciative Washingtonians                                                            Thirteen: Autumn in the Shenandoah Valley                                                                                                 Part IV: 1865                                                                                                                                           Fourteen: Tall “Squeezens”                                                                                                                       Fifteen: The Journey Home                                 Glossary                                                                                            Bibliography                                                                                                                                                      The Author

To CONTACT THE AUTHOR and / or PURCHASE A SIGNED / INSCRIBED BOOK , email Ron at bardnell_r@bellsouth.net.