Each of the stories in this book originated from eye witnesses of the U. S. War Between the States and have been passed down through two, three, and sometimes four generation of family members. Every effort was made to insure historical accuracy, but specific facts regarding the incidents portrayed in these family gems were often sketchy and incomplete. The stories, however, are unique in their own right and worthy of preservation in print.

Most of my sources lived in the Carolinas and the primary theme their families remembered was the terrible way Union General Sherman's men decimated homes, farms, and businesses throughout Georgia and especially the Carolinas. However there are many stories presented from northern families as well. Humans have long family memories.

These treasured vignettes, often the only link between twenty-first century families and their ancestors who participated in the war, should be enjoyed by people who wish to catch a first-hand glimpse of that historic era. Through these stories, we can all witness the events that veterans and eye witnesses chose to recall and share with their loved ones. In a small way, we can feel what it must have been like to be there, experiencing some of the human challenges of Americans in the nineteenth century.