As July 7; 1861; dawned; war was in the air in Lexington; Indiana. The county seat of Scott County was abuzz with the latest news of the Southern rebellion. The Madison Daily and Evening Courier told of skirmishes between Federal troops and secesh forces at Harpers Ferry and Falling Waters; Virginia. Closer to home; word had come that William A. Sanderson had organized a new outfit; the Twenty-Third Indiana; and was recruiting throughout the Second Congressional District for men to join the regiment. Although Scott County had been rife with sympathy and support for the South; answering the call to serve the Union cause from the county were Jacob T. Kimberlin; a twenty-one-year-old farmhand; his older brother; John J.; and his cousins; William H.H. Kimberlin; Benjamin F. Kimberlin; and James Stark. These five young men could not have known at the time that none of them would ever again see their homes. They only knew that the Kimberlins were going to war. This is the story of the Kimberlin Family that sent thirty-three fathers and sons; brothers and cousins; to fight for the Union during the Civil War. Ten family members were killed; wounded; or died of battlefield disease; a 30 percent casualty rate that is unmatched in recorded Scott County history. Of the 134 known deaths of Scott County soldiers; ten were members of the Kimberlin clan. Their feelings about the war come from forty letters to and from the battlefield that have survived. The book examines such questions as: Were they fighting to save the Union or to free the slaves? How did they express grief over the loss of a brother? Did they keep up with their business and the women at home? And what did they think about secesh neighbors in southern Indiana who tried to undermine the Union? Finalist(War and Military); Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award
#645817 in Books Oregon State University Press 2009-10-01 2009-10-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .80 x 5.90l; .74 #File Name: 0870715704208 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. This book brought my tears up couple of times and ...By Q. HuangThis book brought my tears up couple of times and I am completely moved by Mr. Nokes' courage and righteousness.Mr. Nokes is a champion of social justice and I simply admire his compassion for disadvantaged ethnic groups. I guess he spent at least 6 years to perform a complete research on this. This book and the author himself deserves much more recognition than what they have now.I hope more and more people be inspired by what Mr. Nokes had done.This book for the first time; collected all the versions about the massacre of 34 Chinese workers. For the first time; it reveals the secret keeps even a picture of the woman who hide away the legal documents of the trial.We can never thank Greg Nokes enough for bring all this to light !0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Cold Case Murder Mystery to SaviorBy George C.Gregory Nokes; a newspaper reporter all his life; did the most incredible investigative journalism imaginable. I can't say enough about his effort to find every possible bit of information of this massacre. But he was very clear to separate the fact for speculation. There were indeed several intertwined accounts of the massacre and no one could have done more to try to honestly weave them together. Frankly the book is more about the process of chasing this story down over several years of research and repeated visits to the sites and places involved. But for me this was not a boring read; but rather more like a detective solving a long cold case murder. His writing skills are top notch. His personal insights refreshing and honest. There are so many that would enjoy this book; even if not interested in the main titled event; as a murder mystery supreme.Interestingly the title of this book rather contradicts what Gregory Nokes seems to conclude after his amazingly detailed research. The killings were unnecessary to steal their gold. It was most likely a race thing. He even brings in other Chinese killings; including letters between the Chinese Ambassador and the San Francisco Consul office and US officials. Did I say thorough research! Loved the book.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A good read!By K. ReedA part of history that I had never heard before. Good read.
