Join author John Banks on a captivating journey through America's rich history as he explores famous battlefields, historic homes, and forts across the country. Over more than a year, John Banks crisscrossed the country, exploring battlefields, historic houses, forts, and more. He rode on the back of an ATV with his “psychotic connection” in Mississippi, went under the spell of an amateur hypnotist at a U.S. Army fort in Tennessee, admired a sunset from the grounds of the notorious Andersonville prison camp in Georgia, prayed during a tense boat ride in Charleston Harbor in South Carolina, and briefly interviewed Louie the wild boar in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. Join him on a road trip like no other. Table of Contents Foreword: The road less traveled Acknowledgments CHAPTER 1: A ‘lobster claw’ and three little demons CHAPTER 2: Meet Mrs. B, Civil War Mission Control CHAPTER 3: Charleston, South Carolina: Storming a Rebel fort with an Englishman CHAPTER 4: Columbia, Tennessee: ‘Murder’ and marriage in the Mule Capital of the World CHAPTER 5: Sharpsburg, Maryland: Tales from my Civil War poppa CHAPTER 6: Memphis, Tennessee and Marion: Arkansas: Lives lost and a passion found on the mighty Mississippi CHAPTER 7: Hinds County, Mississippi: Exploring Champion Hill with my ‘psychotic connection’ CHAPTER 8: Vicksburg, Mississippi: ‘Whoa, he’s a Black guy’ CHAPTER 9: Resaca, Georgia: Characters, coonskin caps, and cognac ‘cee-gars’ CHAPTER 10: Perryville, Kentucky: ‘What a pisser’ CHAPTER 11: Thompson’s Station, Tennessee: Alice’s 15 seconds of fame CHAPTER 12: Ashwood, Tennessee: The ‘lost’ mansion site of ‘The Fighting Bishop’ CHAPTER 13: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: My very own ‘Philly Special’ CHAPTER 14: Shepherdstown, West Virginia: In the footsteps of a Civil War badass CHAPTER 15: Franklin, Tennessee: ‘Hypno-history’ at a U.S. Army fort CHAPTER 16: Middle Tennessee: Spies, gaps, and graves CHAPTER 17: Roberts Switch, Tennessee: Exploring graveyards with a moonshiner’s son CHAPTER 18: Andersonville, Georgia: Voices from America’s saddest place CHAPTER 19: Deatonville, Virginia: ‘The House With Nobody In It’ CHAPTER 20: Farmville, Virginia: A vow to be buried on his battlefield CHAPTER 21: Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley: The Mother Road CHAPTER 22: Sharpsburg to Frederick, Maryland: Abraham Lincoln and The Oreo Cookie Lady CHAPTER 23: Middletown, Virginia: Rambling with ‘The Chief’ at Cedar Creek CHAPTER 24: Nashville, Tennessee: On the trail of a Medal of Honor recipient with an ex-roadie in an all-girl band CHAPTER 25: Murfreesboro, Tennessee: Carnage in a construction zone CHAPTER 26: Middletown, Maryland: A love story in a house with a presidential suite CHAPTER 27: Henrico, Virginia: Guardian of a Medal of Honor recipient’s legacy CHAPTER 28: Richmond, Virginia: Talking Turkey Hill at Cold Harbor CHAPTER 29: Sharpsburg, Maryland: Mayhem and monarchs in the 40-Acre Cornfield CHAPTER 30: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania: My first ghost walk and investigation CHAPTER 31: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania: A collection that got out of hand CHAPTER 32: Trevilians, Virginia: Where Custer lost his underwear and love letters CHAPTER 33: Henrico, Virginia: ‘It’s always an honor to be on that ground’ CHAPTER 34: Marshall, North Carolina: Four hours in ‘Bloody Madison’ CHAPTER 35: Sharpsburg, Maryland: ‘The Shadow King’ CHAPTER 36: Lessons learned Acknowledgements Bibliography Index “What John Banks so brilliantly captures is the truth that history is organic, not static. The people who maintain such close ties to the war, and their reasons for doing so, are themselves part of a story now.” Tim Rowland, author of Strange and Obscure Stories of the Civil War and other books “From struggling through brambles with a guide he just met to coaxing his way into a house that served as a hospital, John Banks brings humor and soulful meaning to his journey to learn about forgotten battles and people. This fascinating exploration of the nooks and crannies of the Civil War will fire your passion to get out and ramble.” Dana Shoaf, editor Civil War Times magazine "Nearly 50 years later, my first "cognizant" visit to a Civil War battlefield remains emblazoned in my mind: Gettysburg, 1974. Even at the age of 12, the awe I felt standing before the monuments on that hallowed land was all-consuming, and it is an awe I have never lost. I bring this up because John Banks, with whom I've had a privilege to work for several years now, is another who shares that complete sense of awe for this sacred ground, as you will see upon reading this incredible book. I am thankful – and a little bit of envious — that John allows us to follow so intimately in his footsteps in exploring these sometimes-remote corners of the Civil War, and I am confident you will share that gratitude. John’s extended “road trip” is a fitting tribute to the men and woman who sanctified this landscape. You will not be able to able to put this book down!" Christopher K. Ho