Civil War Curiosities Author:Webb Garrison Civil War Curiosities uncovers those unusual persons, attitudes, and events that take the reader beyond a textbook understanding of the Civil War. A collection of fascinating anecdotes and colorful stories, this book covers a wide variety of subjects, including "newfangled" weapons that changed the nature of war, the press'... more »;s outrageous inaccuracy in covering the conflict, the phenomenon of "silent battles," and various disguises, atrocities, and mix-ups.
For instance, Garrison tells the story of Wilmer McLean, who, in 1861, distressed that a cannon ball had crashed through his home during the battle of Bull Run, moved to a farm where "the sound of battle would never again reach him and his family." Almost four years later, McLean's Appomattox Court House home was used for Lee's surrender to Grant. There wasn't damage from cannon balls, but souvenir-hunting Union officers left McLean's parlor bare of furniture.
Author Webb Garrison says that although "enough firsthand material was written and published to fill several large rooms, . . . Civil War Curiosities focuses on relatively unknown aspects of the war." Garrison has a unique ability to discover the unusual and fascinating stories of the war. "My criteria for determining what to include," he says, "focused on three points: interest, novelty, and brevity. I hope your imagination will be challenged. Certainly the war was filled with unusual events, and I have sought to record some of the most interesting ones for your reading enjoyment."« less