An Early Christmas Present & Book Signing Tomorrow

Well, the Christmas season was ushered in with a bang yesterday when I received an e-mail from the Library of Virginia stating that The Battle of New Market Heights: Freedom Will Be Theirs by the Sword has been nominated for the best nonfiction work for that esteemed institution’s 2012 book awards. Needless to say, I was quite taken aback when I received this notification, but also truly grateful to all of you who have read the book and let me know how much you enjoyed it. What an honor!

And speaking of book signings, I will be at the John J.Wright Museum starting at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow morning signing books. If you’re in the area, stop on by and say hey (and buy a copy or two while you’re at it)!

Civil War Talk Radio Appearance

UPDATE, 12/3/11 - The interview went well, and here's the link if you'd like to listen to it!

For those of you who listen to Gerry Prokopowicz’s Civil WarTalk Radio, be sure to tune in tomorrow as the scheduled guest will be yours truly! The show kicks off at 3:00 p.m. and if you miss it, don’t worry – all shows are archived here.

Also, if you happen to be in our Nation’s capital on Saturday afternoon, I’ll be giving a lecture followed by a book signing at the African American Civil War Museum. The lecture begins at 2:00 p.m. Hope to see you there!

Profile In Courage: Milton M. Holland, Part I

One of the things that I’m sure nags many Civil War authors is the regret that they feel over not being able to include every detail and account that they unearth during their research for their books. For me, one of the great heroes of New Market Heights who I wish I could've spent more time on was 1st Sergeant Milton M. Holland of the 5th USCI. Holland was one of the 14 black Medal of Honor recipients from that historic clash of arms, and his life story is one that I found to be particularly fascinating.

Milton Holland was born in Texas, fathered by Bird Holland, a white slave owner who would later fight for the Confederacy. Milton's mother was a slave on the plantation owned by Bird's brother. Milton was one of three brothers that were born from this relationship. When he and his brothers were young, his father purchased their freedom from his brother, their uncle and slave master, and sent the three boys to a school in Ohio. Holland was still residing in Ohio when Civil War broke out in 1861.

In what will be the first installment of two posts on Holland’s remarkable life, I will now let the good sergeant give you his story in his own words. The following comes from a letter that Holland wrote to Lt. Col. Joseph P. Mitchell, who was then compiling information on Civil War Medal of Honor recipients. It is interesting to note that Holland chose to write the letter in the third person.

 Milton M. Holland was born in the state of Texas in 1844. He was attending school in Athens County, Ohio, in 1861 when the first call was made for volunteer soldiers, and responded to the call of his country. He enlisted in the Union Army in April, 1861, but was rejected on account of his youth. But so determined was he to serve his country that he immediately sought employment in the Quartermaster Department and served under Colonel Nelson H. Van Hores of the 3rd, 18th, and 92nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

He served in this capacity until he was regularly mustered into the Union Army in June 1863 and assigned to the 5th United States Colored Troops, a regiment raised in Ohio and accredited to that state. Within his regiment he engaged in the campaigns in Virginia and North Carolina under the command of General B.F. Butler. In the winter of 1863 he was with his regiment in the raid through the Dismal Swamp into North Carolina, capturing forage and emancipating slaves under the then recent Emancipation Proclamation.

In the early winter and spring of 1864, he was with his regiment in the two raids from Yorktown, Virginia to Bottom’s Bridge just outside Richmond: the first raid being made for the purpose of liberating the Union prisoners confined at Libby Prison; and the second for the purpose of assisting General Kilpatrick who, in his attempt to relieve the Libby Prison men, had been surrounded by the Confederate forces.

He was with the James River fleet in its advance on Richmond and, as the fleet approached City Point, Company C, of which Holland was then the 1st Sergeant, was ordered to make the attack. The order was promptly obeyed and, without landing the vessel, the men jumped from the guard rail of the boat, wading water waist deep to reach the point of attack. They captured the Rebel flag, the signal; station and signal officers of the confederacy, thus stricking [sic] the first signal blow at the Rebel stronghold at Petersburg.

This regiment was part of the famous Black Brigade which General Smith at first refused to use in his charge on Petersburg on June 15, 1864. General Butler, commanding the corps, promptly ordered General Smith to march on Petersburg and storm her breastworks. General Smith led the black phalanx in the charge, and for the courage, the heroism, the daring and skill displayed by the colored troops in that bloody fight, General Smith remarked that he would lead men like those into any fight and rely upon their pluck.

His regiment was at the ‘Mine Explosion’ [The Battle of the Crater] on July 30, and was prepared to make the charge. They received instructions at a given signal to discharge their guns onto the enemy’s line, jump the parapet and the ditch, and make a charge to cover the ‘Crater’. But just before the signal was substituted in their place. This circumstance, young Holland has ever maintained, lost a key to the Union forces that otherwise would have been gained. It was at this battle that Holland had planned and decided to cover himself in glory. He was sorely disappointed but never relinquished the desire and intention to avail him of the first opportunity.

That opportunity would come at a place called New Market Heights… 

 

1st Sgt. Milton M. Holland, wearing his Medal of Honor. Courtesy Rob Lyon.



For Those of You Who Worry That the Current Generation Doesn’t Understand or Care For Our Nation’s Past…

…I humbly submit to you this wonderful video about the 54th Massachusetts.

The lyrics are profound, the production is wonderful, and the seamless intertwining of sound clips from the motion picture Glory make this the best original song about the Civil War that I have ever heard in my entire life.

If these talented young artists ever choose to release an entire album of similar songs, well…to quote Thomas from Glory – “Then I am your first volunteer!”

Quick Hits

Be sure to check out my new interview with Harry Smeltzer over at Bull Runnings. Many thanks to Harry for letting me take up some of his blog space!

My friend and fellow member of the re-formed 23rd USCT Steward Henderson has written a two-part blog post that gives a great overall history of the United States Colored Troops during the Civil War. Steward’s posts can be found over at the Emerging Civil War blog.

Hat tip to Craig Swain for letting me know about the dedication of a new monument for the 8th United States Colored Heavy Artillery this Saturday at the Paducah-McCracken County Convention and Expo Center in Paducah, Kentucky. The 8th USCHA’s most famous day came at the Battle of Olustee and it is fitting that they receive a monument in their home state.

Also happening this Saturday is a book signing featuring your truly at the Civil War Life Museum Store on Caroline Street in Downtown Fredericksburg. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, be sure to swing by and say hey!

Finally, you may notice a new badge on the front page of The Sable Arm. I was informed yesterday that VeteransBenefitsGIBill.com voted The Sable Arm one of the Top 50 Military History Blogs for 2011! Many thanks to them and to all of you who continue to read and support this blog!

Upcoming Signings & Talks

Saturday, October 15th – Richmond Folk Festival: All-day signing at the American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar

Saturday October 22nd – Signing at the Civil War Life Museum Store on Caroline Street in Fredericksburg, VA

Saturday November 12th – Signing at Barnes & Noble, Chesterfield Towne Center. Signing begins at 1:00 p.m.

Saturday December 3rd – Talk & book signing at the African American Civil War Museum & Memorial in Washington, DC. Talk begins at 1: 00 p.m.

Saturday December 10th – Talk & book signing at the John J. Wright Museum in Spotsylvania, VA. Event begins at 10:00 a.m.

As always, if you’d like to set up a time for a lecture and/or book signing, feel free to contact me at jprice1@live.com.

More Updates

1. ) Many thanks to Kristopher White and the ever-increasing group of talented authors over at the Emerging Civil War blog for allowing me to write a guest post about my book! If you haven’t been following this blog over the past couple of weeks, you’ve really been missing out. Don’t deprive yourself any longer!

2.) If you happen to be going to the ASALH convention in Richmond next week, be sure to stop by the book signing that will be taking place Thursday October 6th at 6:00 p.m. I'll be there signing books and I hope to see you there!

3.) Finally, today is the 147th anniversary of the Battle of New Market Heights. If you’re the reflecting type, take a moment tonight and think about the significance of September 29, 1864.

A Busy Weekend Awaits



Go ahead Johnny Reb. Make my day.

If you happen to be in the Richmond area over the weekend, please be sure to check out one of the free events that I’ll be signing books at!

Tomorrow I will be speaking at the “Henrico County: Gateway to Richmond” Symposium along with Frank O’Reilly, John Coski, and Robert E.L. Krick. The symposium runs from 10 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and there will be a book signing by all authors after the last lecture.

After that, I’m off to one of my favorite sites in the whole world – Fort Harrison, which in my opinion is the crown jewel of all the sites operated by Richmond National Battlefield Park. I’ll be there on Saturday and Sunday signing books and portraying Lt. Nathan Edgerton, who was one of the Medal of Honor recipients from New Market Heights.

All in all, it should be a great time and I hope to see you there!

Book Stuff & Civil War Trust Interview

Well, in case you hadn’t heard, my New Market Heights book is out and about, so be sure to head over to your local bookstore and demand that they carry it! Assuming, of course, you have any bookstores left in your town. If not, you can order it here and here, among many other places.

In the world of book signings, I will be speaking at what looks to be a first rate symposium entitled “Henrico County: Gateway to Richmond” this Friday and doing a signing after the event. I will also be at Fort Harrison this weekend signing books, so stop on by and say hello if you get a chance. I’ll be updating this site with new book signings as requests come in, so keep checking back to see if I’ll be coming to a theater near you.

Finally, I wanted to point you over to the Civil War Trust’s website where you can read a brand new interview with yours truly about the book. Many thanks to Jim Lighthizer, Rob Shenk, and the great crew over at the CWT for making this happen!

As always, if you’d like to set up an interview or book signing, just shoot me an e-mail and let me know!

I apologize for the lack of substantive posts as of late, but after the book craze slows down look for a return to posts that don’t have to do with my book.

New Blog About To Appomattox Miniseries

Greg Caggiano and Steven Hancock have started a new blog that will have all of the latest updates and information about the upcoming miniseries To Appomattox. I recently had the chance to review and rewrite portions of the script that had to do with USCTs and I can tell you that this is going to be an excellent series once it debuts in 2013. For those who can’t endure the wait, this new blog will give you your weekly fix and a fascinating insider’s view of the series as production move forward.