Adventure, bravery, and bloodshed--in Gaskell's own words. The rare clarity of George Lee Gaskell's writings provide a glimpse into the life of a Union soldier who fell in love with the South--and stayed. After an adventurous upbringing in which he learned several languages and traveled as far away as Africa, Gaskell enlisted in the Union Army. His letters to his beloved sister, at home in Connecticut, vividly describe not only the brutality of battles like Gettysburg and Antietam but also his experience leading a platoon of black troops in the Deep South. This incredible collection, which also covers his post-war life in Louisiana and is accompanied by Robert Grandchamp's insightful commentary, showcases a unique and personal voice from the Civil War.