Civil War Love Letters Subject of Mystic Author's Book, Presentation

A very personal correspondence, indeed, love letters, between a Civil War Union private and his wife are the subject of Mystic author Lisa Saunders book Ever True: A Union Private and His Wife.

Saunders will be reading from and talking about her book, and what the letters reveal about the war and its affects on her great-great grandparents Charles and Nancy McDowell in the early to mid-1860s, with the Waterford’s Women’s Club Jan. 23 at the Waterford Library. The event is free and the public is invited to attend.

Here’s the press release from the Waterford Women’s Club: 

The Waterford Women's Club is hosting Lisa Saunders of Mystic, author of Ever True: A Union Private and His Wife, on Thursday, Jan. 23 at 11 a.m. in the Waterford Library’s lower level.

The presentation features the love letters between Lisa’s great-great grandparents, Charles and Nancy McDowell.  Charles married Nancy when she was 15 years old. Enlisting as a private in the New York 9th Heavy Artillery two years later, he asked Nancy to save his letters. Despite his grueling battles and marches, he was able to save hers as well. Together, their letters tell of bullets, hangings, prostitutes, venereal disease, typhoid fever, lying injured on the battlefield for days, “clever women,” and the court marshaling of a cow. Ever True is also a one-act play. (Charles fought in several battles with the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery in the Sixth Corps.)

About the Presenter: Lisa Saunders of Mystic is an award-winning writer, TV host, part-time history interpreter at Mystic Seaport and member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. A graduate of Cornell University, she is the author of several books, including the humorous and historical travel memoir, Mystic Seafarer's Trail. Visit Lisa at: www.authorlisasaunders.com

For more information about the event, contact Gay Clarkson, Co-President, Waterford Woman’s Club, at gaywil@cox.net, or Waterford Public Library at 49 Rope Ferry Road Waterford, Connecticut 06385, Tel. 860-444-5805.