The American Civil War from Farm to Farm

"For Home, Friends, Fireside, Country and Cause." This compact color book is a study of the Civil War remembrances of Pvt. George Lewis Falls (1844-1886) (CSA) (Soldier/Musician) as set forth in his history, diaries, letters, and confederate muster records covering the period of time from October 25, 1861 to his return home to Fallston, NC., 14 days after the surrender of General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia in April 1865. George's History (event by event) is compared to the Regimental Histories of the Units he served in during the war, as written by the staff officers of the Regiments he served in during his two enlistments. Current road maps for his travels are included, generally at the beginning of each Chapter. The actual route of George's travel is within the corridor of the current maps, but was by improved/or unpaved roads/trails, or by railroad. Nearly all of the sites of his travels during the War are currently available by Interstate or State primary highways. In many instances when the actual troop movement routes are known, additional maps are included at the appropriate location in the text. George's ancestors came to North Carolina from Pennsylvania. Marriage, and the desire for land, brought them to Rowan County where they settled into farming. In all probability the migration was by way of "The Great Philadelphia Wagon Road," which was a thoroughfare for migration to the south in the mid-1700's, and early 1800's. The boys that went into this War, like George, had similar farming backgrounds, with ancestors in common by marriage, similar educations, training, and religious and moral upbringing. The War was an all volunteer, local participation effort to begin with, but changed within a year to a conscription (a draft of sorts) effort. (Elliott, 1) The reason they so eagerly and voluntarily went to war is summed up in the "home, friends, fireside, country, and cause" statement. The home had become where they lived (the County), not a Country; friends were those they grew up with, not strangers; the fireside burned long and brightly on their future. The country of their ancestors no longer represented them, but the new confederacy did ......and the "cause.."... was to keep the other four at all cost, even their lives, if required to do so. This book brings together some of the military and political strategies involved in placing people, time, and events in a situation of the choosing of the strategists' (Generals and Political leaders) along with the implementers (leaders and troops including my GGF and many other boys and men) of those strategies. Part I of this study introduces us to George Falls, a 16 year old confederate soldier/musician in the 34th North Carolina Regiment, and to his Civil War experiences. The period of time covered is a little over one year beginning in Sept. 1861 through Nov. 1862. Part II continues the story after his discharge for being underage, and a brief 4 month stay at home (additional schooling, he said he needed). It covers his duties in his new Unit, the 55th North Carolina Regiment, and follows his service at Gettysburg, among other major battle sites, and ends with the surrender of Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia. This Part concludes with his travels home after being paroled following the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. I have attempted to retain the original spelling of the referenced document(s), but some needed corrections are noted in parentheses after the misspelled word. This holds true for dates, places, times, and events. The author appreciates and will attempt to answer any comments, corrections, arguments, discussions, and/or documentation which dispute, clarify, validate, advance or disprove the facts of this study as set forth herein. Email to: bmarkmain@gmail.com