You can order your copy directly through me.

New Book is Out!

Okay folks, the time has come.  My newest book has just arrived! You can purchase it here: Deeds Publishing    Amazon has the Kindle version.  Get'em while they last! ;)

Good news!  The draft of Broomsticks to Battlefields 2nd edition has been submitted to my publisher, Deeds Publishing. www.deedspublishing.com/.

This edition includes additional research on Delaware Military Academy and Henry C. Robinett.  It also includes a class mate of Robinett's, David Vickers.  Vickers was captured at the battle of the Wilderness and imprisoned at Camp Oglethorpe in Macon, GA, then moved as Sherman's march began.  His story after the war is quite intriguing.  More to follow.

Henry C. Robinett

David Vickers

Delaware Military Academy

Well, you are all due an update, sorry for the delay.  I have been working on the firs draft of the second edition of Broomsticks for some time now and I am pleased to report I am about 3/4 of the way through it.  I have added additional information about Delaware Military Academy and some new research related to Robinett and his suicide.  I am hoping to have the firs draft ready for outside review by August.  It has been a grind as I can only work on this around my "real" job work schedule but things are finally moving along.

North & South Magazine

The current issue of North & South magazine, Vol 12, # 6, March 2011 has an article I wrote about Henry C. Robinett, "When All But Life and Honor's Lost."  Be sure to pick up a copy.

Now it is on to a solid outline and then the first draft. Things are moving on at a good pace since I took the week off work to do this! Here is a short time line of David Vicker's life:
Timeline of David Vicker's Life
1840 DV born-Camden NJ
1858 DV enters DMA
1861
     DV graduates DMA
     1LT Co. B, 3rd NJV Infantry May 25, 1862
     Promoted Capt Co A June 6, 1861
1862
    July/Aug Typhoid Fever
    November - resigns for 3 NJV- recommended for dishonorable discharge - denied
1863 Various campaigns in Virginia including the "Mud March" & Fredericksburg
    April - recruitment duty & draft command
    Misses Chancellorsville & Gettysburg
    September - Promoted Major and assigned 4th NJV Regimental Adjutant
1864
    May 6 taken prisoner at the battle of the Wilderness
    Libby Prison in Richmond
    Camp Oglethorpe, Macon, GA
    Charleston Jail, SC
    Camp Sorghum, Columbia, SC
    Camp Asylum, Columbia, SC
1865
    February, Goldsboro, NC
    March paroled
       Promoted to Col of 4 NJV
       Dept of War overrules due to being paroled not exchanged.
       Finally exchanged in 26 March-no room for a COL in 4 NJV
       "shows him suffering from General Disability following chronic diarrhea."
     May discharged from Army
     June Promoted to Brigadier General for "meritorious service."
    December, leaves Philly w/ Gen. Kilpatrick for Chile
1866
    November marries Amelia (niece of future president of Chile)
    Late November returns to Philly
1869
    David II born
1870
    Helen E. Tyson born
1871
    DV engaged in various enterprises causing him to be away from family
1873 Hamilton Vickers born
1874 Affiliated with Freemasons in Camden
1875 Appointed Commissioner to an International Expedition of Chile--family moves to Chile
1876
    March daughter Maria Amelia born in Santiago
    September DV leaves Chile for US
1877-80 Editorial writer of West Jersey Press & possible NY Tribun
1878 Expelled from Freemasons for nonpayment of dues
1880 Letter to Dr Frelinghuysen (Sec of State) for nonpayment of support
1881 Appointed US Consul in Matanzas
1884 DV sends last letter to wife Amelia
1885 Suspended on the "grounds of bad moral character" from position.
    Returns to Camden lives with Aunt
1888 Marries Helen E. Tyson - seventeen
    Immediately leaves Philly for the west
1898
    Appointed Inspector General w/ rank of Major of Idaho Natl. Guard for Sp Am war
    July becomes ill at camp Chickamauga, GA
    Nov honorably discharged
1899
    January arrives in Boise - ill
    February diagnosed with heart disease
1900-1907 Extremely ill, mostly bedridden
1908 June 27 David Vickers dies