Rally 'Round the Flag!

“Victory depends in large measure on the increased war production we are able to get from our factories and arsenals…This is total war. We are all under fire…soldiers and civilian alike-no one is a spectator. To win we must fight, and to fight, we must produce.”

~President Franklin Delano Roosevelt~

Courtesy: 
Wright Museum of WWII

More than 85,000.

That’s how many manufacturing facilities were involved in war production. From small plants with a couple of dozen employees to mammoth, multi-location corporations, companies across the nation either converted from consumer products to war matériel or expanded their already commercial organizations. The war industry paid well, and after the economic struggles of the Great Depression, employees were thrilled to be making high wages, but just as important to many was the feeling of patriotism from doing their part to support the war effort.

Patriotism was well and good, but in 1942, the U.S. government decided to recognize the good work done by businesses and their employees with the Army-Navy “E” Award. An earlier award, the Navy “E” award was created after President Theodore ordered an “E” to be painted in white on warship gun turrets for those crews that had performed well in the Spanish-American War. The “E” was also authorized for wear by the enlisted gun crews earning the award as a round patch with a white “E” worn on the sleeve above the cuff.

By the end of World War I, the Army “A” Award and the Army-Navy Munitions Board “Star” had

Courtesy
Wright Museum of WWII

been added, and the three separate awards continued until July 1942 when they were merged into a single service-wide award under the War Department.

Circular No. 228 was issued to announce the award which listed the many qualifications for eligibility including specific elements regarding quality and quantity of production:

1. Overcoming production obstacles;
2. Avoidance of stoppages;
3. Maintenance of fair labor standards;
4. Training additional labor forces;
5. Effective Management;
6. Record on accidents, health sanitation, and plant protection; and
7. Utilization of subcontracting facilities.

For the Army, the nomination originated with the field procurement officer in regular contact with the plant, and the Navy followed a similar procedure. The boards for Production awards were comprised of high-level admirals for the Navy and colonels and generals for the Army.

Facilities that maintained an outstanding performance record for six months after receiving an “E” award were granted a Star award, indicated by a white star on the pennant. Additional stars could be earned by continued performance for subsequent six-month periods until the flag carried four stars, at which time the interval was increased to one year.

A total of 4,283 plants received the “E” award, approximately five percent of the companies involved in war production. Of that number, eight won six Star awards, four retained their original Navy “E” awards, and four retained their Army-Navy award. Seven hundred and sixty-three corporations received one star, 723 were granted two stars, 776 were awarded three stars, 820 received four stars, and only 206 were granted five stars. The final awards were distributed in December 1945.

One award not made until after the war because of its association to the Manhattan Project was to the RCA plant in Bloomington, Indiana that produced the top-secret VT proximity fuze, a fuze that detonates an explosive device automatically when it approaches within a certain distance of its (military) target. In fact, the project was so secret, employees making the fuzes were not told what the final products were or how they were used. Reportedly, the employees referred to the project “Madame X.”

_____________________________

The Mechanic & The MD

All’s fair in love and war. Or so they say.

High school and college were a nightmare for Doris Strealer and being an adult isn’t much better. Men won’t date a woman of her height, and they don’t understand her desire to repair car engines rather than work as a nurse or a teacher. When her father’s garage closes, and no one will hire a female mechanic, she joins the Red Cross Motor Corps, finally feeling at home. Until she comes face to face with her past in the form of Ronald McCann, the most popular boy in school.

On the brink of a successful career as a surgeon, Ron's plans crumble when he’s drafted and assigned to an evacuation hospital in England, the last place he expects to run into a former schoolmate. The gangly tomboy who was four years behind him in high school has transformed into a statuesque beauty, but a broken engagement in college leaves him with no desire to risk his heart ever again.

Will the hazards of war make or break a romance between this unlikely couple?

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/3RNpjY

Linda Shenton Matchett writes happily-ever-after historical Christian fiction about second chances and women who overcome life’s challenges to be better versions of themselves. Whether you choose her books set in the Old West or across the globe during WWII, you will be immersed in the past through rich detail. Follow the journeys of relatable characters whose faith is sorely tested, yet in the end, emerge triumphant. Be encouraged in your own faith-walk through stories of history and hope. http://www.LindaShentonMatchett.com

BOOK DAY MAY 2024

 

 

SUMMER’S ALMOST HERE

GRAB SOME READING OPTIONS

 

 

THE QUILTING CIRCLE SERIES Boxed Set

Historical Romance Series

By Mary Davis

THE WIDOW’S PLIGHT (Book1) – Will a secret clouding a single mother’s past cost Lily her loved ones?

THE DAUGHTER’S PREDICAMENT (Book2) *SELAH & WRMA Finalist* – As Isabelle’s romance prospects turn in her favor, a family scandal derails her dreams.

THE DAMSEL’S INTENT (Book3) *SELAH Winner* – Nicole heads down the mountain to fetch herself a husband. Can she learn to be enough of a lady to snag the handsome rancher?

THE DÉBUTANTE’S SECRET (Book4) – Complications arise when a fancy French lady steps off the train and into Deputy Montana’s arms.

 

 

THE DRIFTWOOD COVE COLLECTION ONE

By Nancy J. Farrier

"From the charming town of Driftwood Cove comes three heartwarming novellas that will capture your heart and leave you wanting more. Get ready to experience the beauty of romance with these tales of love, faith, and second chances."

 

 

BRIDE BY BEGUILEMENT

By Debbie Lynne Costello

Kirsten father’s last will and testament stipulates that she must either marry, lead the plantation into a first year profit, or forfeit it to her uncle. Thefts are hurting the profit and marriage is proving no easy option. Every suitor seems more enamored with the land than with her. Silas’s last year at veterinary school ends abruptly when he is called home to care for his young orphaned sisters. Troubles compound when he finds an insurmountable lien on the family home and an unscrupulous banker is calling in the loan. How will the two overcome pride and distrust to find real happiness?

 

 

TITANIC: LEGACY OF BETRAYAL

A Time-Slip Novel

By Kathleen E. Kovach, et al.

A secret. A key. Much was buried on the Titanic, but now it's time for resurrection. Follow two intertwining stories a century apart. 1912 - Matriarch Olive Stanford protects a secret after boarding the Titanic that must go to her grave. 2012 - Portland real estate agent Ember Keaton-Jones receives the key that will unlock the mystery of her past... and her distrusting heart. Review: “I told my wife to move this book to the top of her reading list... This titanic story is more interesting than the one told in the Titanic movie... She will absolutely love it.”

 

 

WHEN HOPE SANK

By Denise Weimer

The Civil War has taken everything from Lily Livingston. Speaking up proved too costly in a part of Arkansas overrun by spies and bushwhackers. Lieutenant Cade Palmer is crowded onto the Sultana with other paroled POWs for the journey north. But a fiery explosion rends the steamer and empties two thousand men into the Mississippi River. Recovering from wounds that might end his career as a surgeon, Cade threatens Lily's defenses. How can she tell him she might've prevented the tragedy if she'd reported a suspected saboteur's claims? When encoded messages pass through the hotel, will Lily follow her convictions?

 

 

HEART OF INTEGRITY

By Edwina Kiernan

Not all fault lines are hidden in the earth... Susan and Ifor have each traveled miles across the world to escape their pasts and build new lives. But when a devastating earthquake throws them into a state of upheaval, long-buried secrets soon shake loose with devastating consequences.

 

 

THE CRYPTOGRAPHER’S DILEMMA

By Johnnie Alexander

A Cryptographer Uncovers a Japanese Spy Ring. FBI cryptographer Eloise Marshall is grieving the death of her brother, who died during the attack on Pearl Harbor, when she is assigned to investigate a seemingly innocent letter about dolls. Agent Phillip Clayton is ready to enlist and head oversees when asked to work one more FBI job. A case of coded defense coordinates related to dolls should be easy, but not so when the Japanese Consulate gets involved, hearts get entangled, and Phillip goes missing. Can Eloise risk loving and losing again?

 

 

THE MECHANIC & THE MD

By Linda Shenton Matchett

When her father’s garage closes, no one will hire a female mechanic, so Doris Strealer joins the Red Cross Motor Corps. Then she comes face to face with her past in the form of Ronald McCann, the most popular boy in high school. Ron's plans crumble when he’s drafted and assigned to an evacuation hospital in England where he runs into the former-tomboy-turned-beauty who was four years behind him in school. A broken engagement in college leaves him with no desire to risk his heart. Will the hazards of war make or break a romance between this unlikely couple?

 

 

POLLY

Apron Strings, Book One

By Naomi Musch

Polly Holloway’s heart shatters when her fiancé returns from the Great War with a French war bride. Her dreams feel wasted until a special cookbook inspires her to turn her Victorian house into a fashionable ladies’ tea room—providing the bothersome tavern owner down the street doesn’t drive away her business. Ross Dalton met God on the battlefield and no longer serves liquor in his establishment, yet his friendly overtures aren’t enough to pierce Polly’s belief that he secretly runs a speakeasy. How can he convince his cute neighbor otherwise, especially when bootleggers try forcing him into their schemes?

Heroines of the Frontier, Part 2 – Women Who Dared / Hannah Hendee

Welcome to the second installment of my series featuring Heroines of the Frontier. America was built upon courage. Courage to come, settle, form government, and fight to keep it. Courage to simply survive. Many brave women—wives and daughters—carried that banner of courage and freedom, often alone. My current novel work-in-progress is based upon just such a woman. But for today, lets look at a few of those courageous women in the context of the Revolutionary War and Hannah Hendee in particular.

Frontier Raids

In the early days of colonization and settlement, men were often called away, whether to hunt for food, garner supplies, or to heed the call for military duty. Such was the case for Mrs. Hannah Hendee whose husband had been called away for military duty during the early days of settlement at Royalton, Vermont, while the young country was caught in the throes of revolution.

Royalton, situated near the Vermont–New Hampshire border, became the target of a raid in 1780, near the latter part of the Revolutionary War. Worried that the American colonists would push on into Canada with their ideas of independence, British forces along with 300 Mohawk and Wabanaki allies came down the White River raiding towns and farms along the way. After ravaging Royalton and burning houses, they continued on to destroy most of the homes in Sharon and Tunbridge.

Mrs. Hannah Hunter Hendee 

The British had offered their native allies a reward—payment for men and boys captured and taken to Canada. Over thirty men and boys were thus carried off in the raids, Mrs. Hannah Hendee’s son Michael among them. (Note: some historians say her name was spelled Handy, not Hendee.)

There is some conflicting history here. It’s noted in some sources that Hannah was working alone in the field when the attack occurred, and returned to find her child(ren) taken. Other, more recent updates of the story say that Hannah had taken her two children to hide in the woods, but that the Indians found them and carried off her son Michael. Whichever the case, Michael was indeed taken by the Indians, and Hannah was deeply grieved.

There was one British officer and six soldiers who led the Indian raid. When the American militia planned to attack and retrieve the hostages, the British warned that, should they attempt it, all of the captives would be killed. Thus, the militia backed down.

Hannah, however, would not be dissuaded. She turned her grief and fury into brave action. Rather than remain behind to mourn Michael’s loss, she gave lone pursuit.

The river near the place the raiders crossed was some one hundred yards wide and fairly deep. It is believed that Hannah waded that river.

The Handy (Hendee) Memorial in South Royalton

Let’s imagine for a moment. . .this momma, forging into the swirling waters, skirts sucking at her legs as she struggled for footing against the current. Her eyes like wildfire, her sobs turned to anger, her determination making her as fearless as a lioness. Her body shivers, but she doesn’t even notice as she pushes onward to face her foes so that she might gather Michael into her arms again.

Can you picture her climbing to the opposite bank, her soggy dress slapping against her shaking legs, her face white and jaw set, yet striding undaunted into the Indian encampment?

Around their campfire, warriors lurch to their feet brandishing weapons, and perhaps some of them even stride forward to seize her.

Then Hannah’s face pales further as she sees the many other children held captive, some bound beside their fathers and older brothers, some without anyone to comfort them, haunted by vivid memories of the slaughter and destruction from which they were carried.

Hannah raises her chin as she is taken to the commanding officer at the camp, one Lt. Richard Houghton—or perhaps he himself hears the ruckus and comes forward. Straightening her shoulders, she demands Michael’s return.

“He cannot survive a march to Canada,” she tells him. And then she sweeps a glance among the others with a cry. “His blood will be on your hands!”

Whatever else she tells him is lost to history, but her continual upbraiding is finally enough to convince the Lieutenant to free her son, and not her son only, but eventually nine children. (Another source says fifteen.)

Hannah grasps Michael and returns with him across the river. However, not content to save him alone, it is reported that she then returns for the other children, going back again and again, until by twos and threes, she has gained their freedom.

One telling says that on her final trip to the camp, a native man was so struck by her bravery that he offered to return her across the water on his back and that she accepted. Whether or not that happened, when she returned, Hannah took the recovered children back to their families.

The Hannah Hunter Hendee Medal

Throughout the course of history, women labored alone in all manner of conditions, and undertook the protection of home and children when attacked. Here's another account:

A man well in his eighties, whose father was in the army the entirety of the Revolutionary War, recounted his own experience as a child at home with his mother during the war. He said they lived far from neighbors, and they were poor. Winters were terrible, the snow lying so long and deep, it was difficult to cut or draw fuel from the woods or to get the corn to the mill when they had any. He recalled that his mother had a coffee mill in which she ground wheat for making course bread, for which they were thankful. At times, they went to bed with only a drink of molasses mixed in water for their supper.

He never heard his mother complain, but she toiled lovingly through the duration to keep them as fed and warm as her resources allowed.

When his father was permitted to return home for brief durations, he had little to leave for them. Yet, his mother would bid him a cheerful farewell and encouragement to not be anxious about them, for she would watch over the children day and night and would take care of the them. She didn’t mention the cold days or short meals, nor her hard work or concerns that the children would be clothed or fed. For she did not want to weaken his heart, reminding the children that a soldier’s life was hardest of all.

Such incidents and way of life as this man experienced occurred regularly during the America's colonial days and in the many contests and courses of history that followed. Some women forged alone with their children across the wilderness. Others strove for freedom on their own terms, which we shall see in a moment. Still others gave sons to served the cause, and shed their tears in private.

Here is a brief listing of some of the other heroines of the American Revolution who dared to stand against the odds:

Anne Bailey, who lived on the Virginia frontier and not only recruited volunteers for the militia, but became, herself, a scout and messenger, using wilderness skills to deliver important messages to outposts.

Margaret Cochran Corbin, Pennsylvanian, whose husband was a gunner – she cooked, washed, and mended for the soldiers. When her husband was killed, she took his place, was wounded, taken prisoner, and eventually released. She later received a pension from the U.S. government for her service.

Deborah Sampson Gannett, from Massachusetts, dressed as a man, enlisted, and served three years in the Colonial army. She performed scouts and raids, was eventually wounded, and thereupon her secret was discovered by a doctor. Deborah was given an honorable discharge.

Emily Geiger, only eighteen years old, was the daughter of a wealthy South Carolina farmer. She once rode fifty miles on horseback to deliver a message of warning to an American general. When she was stopped by the British to be searched, she swallowed the message, yet did succeed in her endeavor and helped save South Carolina from a British attack.

Nancy Morgan Hart, mother of one, was a no-nonsense woman in Georgia who spied on the British, captured a Tory, and when other Tories sought a meal at her home, she killed them. 

Lydia Barrington Darraugh was the cousin of a British officer, but her son fought for the Patriot cause. Lydia saved the American army after overhearing their plans to attack. She slipped away and trudged several miles through the snow to warn the army and save their lives.

Elizabeth (Betty) Zane lived at Fort Henry, Virginia which ran short of gunpowder when the British and Indians attacked. Under siege, and seeing their was little hope of rescue, she volunteered to leave the fort and procure more gunpowder. In her flight, she was shot at repeatedly, but finally escaped and was able to retrieve the gunpowder and save the fort.

Heroism of Miss Elizabeth Zane, Lithograph by Nagel and Weingaertner, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The greatness of brave women such as these became part of the ever-moving drama of our country that cannot be underestimated.

If you missed last month’s Heroines of the Frontier post, you can find it here: Women of the Mayflower / Mary Brewster.  Come back next month on the 29th for part three of Heroines of the Frontier.

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A Tender Siege tells of the bravery of a Scottish man and Native American woman on the frontier during the French and Indian War. The story is part of The Highlanders collection. 

A Tender Siege

Pontiac’s War, August 1763: “I beg Ye to take me.” Wounded in battle in the American wilderness, Lachlan McRea of His Majesty’s 42nd Highlanders pleads with God, yearning to be reunited with his lost wife and child. As death hovers near, he is discovered by Wenonah, a native widow doing all she can to survive alone, while avoiding the attentions of a dangerous Shawnee warrior. In aiding one another, their perils increase. If Lachlan can let go of the woman he once loved, he might find healing for both body and soul.

Unsung Heroines in American History – by Donna Schlachter

With Women’s Month a blip in our rear view mirror, I wanted to share some fascinating stories about women in American History. We often think of Molly Brown, Calamity Jane, and Amelia Earhart when we consider women who made a difference in our history and culture, but there were many more we never hear about.

In researching this post, I found an article from Time magazine, my primary source. Feel free to check it out here: https://time.com/5786065/womens-history-month-women-to-know/ . All photos came from that article. (Please note, there are women featured in this article that I chose not to highlight primarily because of their political leanings and affiliations.)

Emilia Casanova de Villaverde

Emilia Casanova de Villeverde: She lived most of her life in New York City, serving tirelessly as an abolitionist. She formed a women’s club and raised funds to support the elderly, widows, and orphans. Her mansion in the South Bronx hid weapons and ammunition, to aid the liberation army in Cuba, in a series of vaults. Emilia passed in 1897.

If you’re thinking about writing about your own heroine who uses her wealth and position of influence in society, you might want to use Emilia as your model.

Dorothea Dix

Dorothea Dix: Dorothea’s focus was on asylum and prison reform. During her lifetime, 1802-1887, women were silent victims in both of these institutions. A husband or her parents could have a woman committed to an asylum indefinitely without a court hearing or psychological examination, merely because she spoke out against popular topics such as abolition, women’s rights, and many other topics.

Dorothea headed the Union Nurses during the Civil War, inspected prisons, jails, poorhouses, and workhouses. She forced states to allocate land, money, and legislative attention on the creation and improvement of these institutions.

A heroine in a story based on Dorothea might be portrayed as standing up to irate wardens, judges, and husbands to force better conditions for the incarcerated.

Laura Cornelius Kellogg

Laura Cornelius Kellogg: Laura was a Native woman, but also an activist, author, orator, and policy reformer. She helped found the Society of American Indians, which was run for and by American Indians. In doing so, she resisted the government’s policy to send Native American children to boarding schools, a direction that hoped to eradicate Native culture and language.

A Native American heroine based on Laura could share the story of Native children learning their tribal language in secret, for example.

Mary Tape at around 11 years old

Mary Tape: Born in China in 1857, Mary emigrates to the United States with her family, ending up as a servant in a brothel in San Francisco. She ran away, took on a different name, then met Joseph Tape while he was delivering milk. They marry, and together they build a prosperous transportation and immigration brokering business.

Despite their fabulous wealth, they are not immune from anti-Chinese sentiment and racial hostility. In 1884, their daughter is denied admission to public school, sparking the landmark court case Tape v. Hurley, which guarantees Chinese children the right to a public school education.

Perhaps this triggers an idea for a book about a rags-to-riches heroine who overcomes her past.

Maggie Lena Walker

 

Maggie Lena Walker: Maggie was the first black female bank president in the United States, founding the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank in 1903. She was also a member of the Independent Order of St. Luke (IOSL), a secret society for women of color that was founded in the 1850s. In the 1920s, she, her bank, and the IOSL, provided financial services to more than one hundred thousand members in over twenty states, and was the largest employer of professional, white-collar black women in the country.

Regardless of color, any book featuring a heroine who was among the movers and shakers of her time would thrill readers.

Of course, there are plenty more unsung heroines in our history, but this sample of different ethnicities, different backgrounds, and different heart focus is a good example of what can be accomplished when we stand up for what is right.


About Donna:

A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about the writing and publishing process, and is coaching committed career writers. Learn more at https://www.donnaschlachter.com/the-purpose-full-writer-coaching-programs Check out her coaching group on FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/604220861766651



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Tadeusz Kościuszko, Son of Liberty

by Kit Hawthorne

Over the course of the American Revolutionary War, many European noblemen took it upon themselves to sail across the Atlantic and fight for the Patriot cause. One of these brave adventurers was Andrzej Tadeusz Bonaventura Kościuszko, born in 1746 to a family of small country landowners in eastern Poland.

Kościuszko in 1761, aged 15

As a member of the Polish Lithuanian gentry, Kościuszko came into frequent contact with his country’s serfs and was well aware of their miserable plight. In his day, a nobleman could buy, sell, or loan out his serfs. They owed him the bulk of their time and could not travel freely or practice a trade without his permission.

The gentry’s income came directly from their serfs’ labor. Kościuszko’s family owned only a single village, which put them near the lower end of the nobility spectrum. The death of Kościuszko’s father in 1758 made the family’s financial situation even more precarious. As a younger son, Kościuszko had few options for a future livelihood, so his mother used her influence to get him accepted at age nineteen to Warsaw’s new Royal Military Academy. Here he not only learned literature, languages, history, geography, law, mathematics, and military engineering, but also came under the influence of Oxford-trained Englishman John Lind, the school’s superintendent. Lind’s curriculum supported a philosophy that encouraged the students to reshape their country’s government with the goal of eventually elevating their peasants into citizens—a call to action that deeply impressed Kościuszko and his classmates.

Kościuszko ultimately finished his military education in France, where he was exposed to the work of François Quesnay, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Abbé Guillame Thomas Raynal, and other Enlightenment thinkers. Taken together, their writings explored the basis for a sound national prosperity, exposed the moral bankruptcy of slavery, and linked the plight of Polish serfs to that of American slaves.

The developing struggle in North America between England and its colonies mirrored the conflict between Poland and the eastern European powers that were determined to carve it up and annex it. At some point in 1776, Kościuszko made up his mind to cross the Atlantic and offer himself to the Continental Army, which desperately needed competent military engineers. By the middle of October, he’d been commissioned a colonel.

In 1779, Private Agrippa Hull was assigned as Kościuszko’s orderly. Hull was a freeborn Black man from western Massachusestts. His parents were members of their local Congregational church during the ministry of Jonathan Edwards, and Hull grew up in Stockbridge, an ethnically diverse village that included Black, white, and Native American families, whose children played together freely. (For a while, one of Jonathan Edwards’s young sons was more fluent in Mohawk and Mahican than in English.) Hull enlisted in the Continental Army in 1777 at age eighteen. He arrived at Ticonderoga just in time for the Saratoga Campaign, a British offensive meant to gain control of the Hudson Valley. In one of the more surprising upsets of the war, the Patriots gained the upper hand, winning a huge victory that convinced France to enter the war openly on the side of the Patriots.

Kościuszko took a great liking to Hull, whose wit, intelligence, and diligence made him a favorite with Patriot officers. The two became excellent friends and served together for the remainder of the war. According to legend, at the war’s close, Kościuszko begged Hull to return to Poland with him, but Hull refused. Hull mustered out in July of 1783, having become one of the longest-serving Patriot soldiers in the Revolutionary War. He returned to Stockbridge, where he married and lived to the age of eighty-nine as a beloved and valued member of the community.

Like many Continental officers, Kościuszko was awarded land in America as a reward for his service. He was also granted American citizenship, but chose to return to Poland, where he continued his distinguished military career by leading an insurrection against Russia and Prussia in 1794. The Kościuszko Uprising, also called the Polish Uprising of 1794, ultimately failed, but remains a vivid symbol of Poland’s long struggle for national sovereignty.

Portrait by Kazimierz Wojniakowski

Another lifelong friend that Kościuszko made during his time in the United States was Thomas Jefferson. Like Kościuszko, Jefferson had started as a member of his country’s minor gentry, but had risen to a position of leadership as the author of the Declaration of Independence. Both men were aware of, and troubled by, the glaring contradictions between the ideals set forth in that document and the enslavement of Black Americans. They made a pact to someday use Kościuszko’s fortune to purchase the freedom of Black slaves, including Jefferson’s own, and to provide for their education. To this end, Kościuszko made a will that outlined his wishes and named Jefferson as executor. Sadly, the plan was never carried out, due to a variety of factors, including the bequest’s legal complexities and Jefferson’s advanced age at the time of Kościuszko’s death. The case of Kościuszko’s will came up before the Supreme Court three times and continued to be tied up in court until 1856, nearly forty years after Kościuszko’s death in 1817. Ultimately, the money was used to found a school for Black Americans in Newark, New Jersey.

Today, Kościuszko is venerated as a hero by his Polish countrymen and by Polish Americans. Jefferson called him “as pure a son of liberty, as I have ever known.”

Portrait by Karl Gottlieb Schweikart

My upcoming release, Treason Trail, features Kościuszko and Hull as minor characters.

In the final days of the Revolutionary War, army nurse Nessa Shaw finds a wounded man who claims to be a Patriot but can’t remember anything else about himself besides his first name, August. As they grow closer, Nessa uncovers a deadly plot that challenges her trust in August and his loyalties, forcing her to reevaluate everything she thought she knew.





Kit spent years in a Celtic folk band, singing, composing, and playing Irish pennywhistle. She lives on a Texas farm that’s been in her husband’s family for seven generations. She’s an avid reader who enjoys logging her reads (and plotting her life) in her Bullet Journal. She also enjoys drawing, sewing, quilting, knitting, and restoring old furniture to beauty and usefulness. She writes historical romance and contemporary western romance. Find out more at kithawthorne.com.

Woman Spy by Cindy Regnier

 

During the Revolutionary War, everyone who was a rebel sympathizer wanted to help. But what could a woman left at home with nine children do to make a difference? A courageous young mother by the name of Anna Smith Strong found a way Let’s find out what her role was in America’s fight for freedom.

Anna Smith Strong was born on April 14, 1740, and married Selah Strong III in 1760. Selah was a delegate to the first three provincial congresses in colonial New York and was a captain in the New York militia. Selah was imprisoned during the war by the British for suspected espionage. Anna remained on the family farm where she became a part of with General Washington’s Culper Spy Ring.

Anna Smith Strong

Anna Strong’s role was to relay signals to a courier named Caleb Brewster, who would row periodically across Long Island Sound to retrieve the information and take it to Washington’s headquarters. So how did she do this and get laundry done for nine children too? She constructed a clothesline on the edge of the farm where it was easily visible from a boat on the Sound. When she hung a black petticoat that was the signal that a message was ready to be picked up. She also hung white handkerchiefs alongside the petticoat, the number of white handkerchiefs identifying which cove of six locations where the informant would be waiting to deliver the message. The spy ring was such a well-kept secret that even General Washington did not know their identities. The details of the operation weren’t known by most people, even after the war until a trunk with old letters was discovered in 1939.

It is said that the Culper Spy Ring achieved more than any other intelligence network during the war. Among other accomplishments, they uncovered British plans to ambush the French Army in Rhode Island. They also uncovered information involving the secret negotiations between Benedict Arnold and the British to surrender the American fort at West Point. They were never caught, though some members were imprisoned for a time. After the war, Anna was reunited with her husband and they had their tenth child, George Washington Strong.

What would you have done in Anna’s place? Would you be brave enough to risk your home and family to deliver messages with a petticoat? We can all be grateful to Anna for the part she played in our American freedom.

 Scribbling in notebooks has been a habit of Cindy Regnier since she was old enough to hold a pencil. Born and raised in Kansas, she writes stories of historical Kansas, especially the Flint Hills area where she spent much of her childhood. Her experiences with the Flint Hills setting, her natural love for history, farming and animals, along with her interest in genealogical research give her the background and passion to write heart-fluttering historical romance.

“Yes, Sir, General President!”--Part 2

By Jennifer Uhlarik

 

Last month, I shared some brief details about the first five United States Presidents who had achieved the rank of General in our U.S. Armed Forces before winning their presidential elections.  This month, I wanted to share the other five with you. But before I begin, I wanted to announce the winner of last month’s drawing—and to apologize for the delay. Between some pressing family matters and bothersome technology glitches, I was unable to post the winner sooner.

 

Without further ado—last month’s winner of the “Go Away, I’m Reading!” sign is:

 

CONNIE R!

 

Connie, please leave me your email address in a comment below, and I’ll contact you privately.

 

Now, without further delay—here is part two of our list of ten American presidents who reached the rank of General before serving as President of the United States.

 

Ulysses S. Grant

Born Hiram Ulysses Grant, he became known as “Ulysses S.” because of a mistake made in his nomination to West Point, an appointment Grant’s father finagled on his behalf. At first, Grant wasn’t fond of the military life and considered quitting the prestigious military academy. But he stuck it out, graduated 21^st in his 39-member class in June 1843. His plan was to fulfill his required four years of service, then go on to a private life beyond the military. However, the Mexican-American war began during that span, and studying both Major General Zachary Taylor’s and Major General Winifred Scott’s styles during the conflict, he proved himself an innovative and capable leader. It was during this time he rose to the rank of brevet captain and decided that he could make a good life in the military. But once that war ended, he served in the military only a brief few years before resigning due to a developing issue with alcohol. It was after the first shots of the Civil War were fired that he again joined the ranks of the military, this time as a Colonel in charge of the 21^stIllinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Over and over, he proved his military acumen, although not always without controversy. But for his loyalty, shrewdness, and skill, he eventually rose to the rank of Commanding General of the U.S. Army in 1864, and it was he who negotiated the surrender of the Confederate Army to end the Civil War in April 1865. He served as Commanding General of the U.S. Army until 1869, at which point he was elected President and served two terms fraught with problems and scandals.

 

Rutherford B. Hayes

Hayes attended Harvard Law School and became a lawyer of meager-to-moderate success. But when Fort Sumter was fired upon, beginning the Civil War, Hayes resolved any issues he had in his own mind about the coming war and, instead, joined a volunteer company, where he was promoted to rank of major. He distinguished himself in battle during the length of the war, suffering more than one injury and also having a horse shot out from under him. By October 1864, he’d reached the rank of brevet major general, and at the war’s end the following April, he mustered out of the army. Ulysses S. Grant said of Hayes, “his conduct on the field was marked by conspicuous gallantry as well as the display of qualities of a higher order than that of mere personal daring.” Hayes went on to a career in politics, serving as a U.S. Representative for Ohio, governor of the same state, and eventually President after a very disputed election. One of his first acts as President in 1877 was to end the Reconstruction Era.

 

James A. Garfield

After his father’s death, poverty defined James Garfield’s early days. By age 16, he left home to work on a canal boat, but only a short time later, he was forced to return home due to illness. It was during this time that his mother elicited his promise that he would attend one year of school, which he fulfilled—then went on to pursue college, read for the law, and serve a year in Ohio’s senate. Once the Civil War broke out, he remained in the senate long enough to help muster troops and procure weapons, then received a commission in the 42^nd Ohio Infantry at the rank of colonel. He distinguished himself in January 1862 at the Battle of Middle Creek, and for his valor there, was promoted to brigadier general. Illness struck soon after, sending him home to recuperate, and when he returned, it was to the position of chief of staff to Major General William H. Rosencrans. By late 1863, he’d been elected to the United States Congress, a position he was reluctant to take until President Abraham Lincoln convinced him it was the right move. He remained there for some years and eventually ran for a won the presidency in 1881. Unfortunately, his term was cut short when Charles J. Guiteau shot him on July 2, 1881. Though he lingered until September 18 of the same year, he ultimately died of infection.

 

Benjamin Harrison

The second oldest of ten children, Benjamin Harrison was born in Ohio—the grandson of Former President William Henry Harrison. He graduated Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1852, married, and moved to Indiana, where he practiced law until 1862. At that point, he heard a call from President Lincoln for more Union Army recruits, and he answered by agreeing to help recruit a regiment. He was commissioned as a colonel in said regiment after turning down the command, since he had no military background. He earned a reputation as a strong leader and was well respected by his men. Because of his success in Resaca and Peachtree Creek, President Lincoln nominated him for the rank of brevet brigadier general, and Congress confirmed that nomination shortly before the war’s end. After the war’s end, Harrison returned to practicing law, as well as won election to the position of reporter of the Indiana Supreme Court—a position he'd held before the war, as well. He served in the U.S. Senate from 1881 to 1887, and won the presidency in 1888. He served for four years

 

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Known affectionately as “Ike”, Dwight D. Eisenhower is the only U.S. President who was also a general since the Civil War era. Eisenhower was a West Point graduate in 1915, and despite requesting to serve in Europe during World War I, ended up commanding a unit that trained tank crews. After that war, he achieved the rank of brigadier general, and went on to serve in the second World War. During his time in World War II, he oversaw the invasions of North Africa, Sicily, France, and Germany. After the war’s end, he served as military governor of American-occupied Germany, served as Army Chief of Staff for three years, and was the very first Supreme Commander of NATO. He won the 1952 and 1956 elections, both in landslides.

 

Award-winning, best-selling novelist Jennifer Uhlarik has loved the western genre since she read her first Louis L’Amour novel. She penned her first western while earning a writing degree from University of Tampa. Jennifer lives near Tampa with her husband and two furbabies. www.jenniferuhlarik.com

 

 

AVAILABLE NOW

 

Love’s Fortress by Jennifer Uhlarik

 

A Friendship From the Past Brings Closure to Dani’s Fractured Family

 

When Dani Sango’s art forger father passes away, Dani inherits his home. There, she finds a book of Native American drawings, which leads her to seek museum curator Brad Osgood’s help to decipher the ledger art. Why would her father have this book? Is it another forgery?

 

Brad Osgood longs to provide his four-year-old niece, Brynn, the safe home she desperately deserves. The last thing he needs is more drama, especially from a forger’s daughter. But when the two meet “accidentally” at St. Augustine’s 350-year-old Spanish fort, he can’t refuse the intriguing woman.

 

Broken Bow is among seventy-three Plains Indians transported to Florida in 1875 for incarceration at ancient Fort Marion. Sally Jo Harris and Luke Worthing dream of serving on a foreign mission field, but when the Indians reach St. Augustine, God changes their plans. However, when Sally Jo’s friendship with Broken Bow leads to false accusations, it could cost them their lives.

 

Can Dani discover how Broken Bow and Sally Jo’s story ends and how it impacted her father’s life?