Michael Kenneth Smith's Blog, page 4
April 8, 2017
April 8, 2017: #SaturdayScene
On Sunday, April 6, 1862, the Confederates stormed out of the woods and attacked the Federal camps around Shiloh Church, surprising Grant and his nearly 40,000 men. The men soon rallied, though, and bitter fighting consumed “Shiloh Hill.” Throughout the morning, the Confederate slowly gained ground, forcing Grant’s troops to give way.
Despite having the momentary upper-hand, Johnston’s troops soon became as disorganized as the Federals. Then, at mid-afternoon, as he supervised an assault, Joh...
April 6, 2017
Home Again: The Battle of Shiloh Rages On
Excerpted from HOME AGAIN: A Civil War Novel.
The Battle of Shiloh rages on, as considered from Zach’s point of view:
The gunfire off to Zach’s northeast was so intense the Confederates called it the “hornets nest” because the flurry of Minie balls reminded them of swarming stinging bees. Directly under his tree, the movement of Confederates slowed to a halt as the enemy soldiers went around the campsite instead of through it. Zach was in an ideal spot and he began to form a rough plan. Firs...
Home Again: The Battle of Shiloh Begins
Excerpted from HOME AGAIN: A Civil War Novel.
The Battle of Shiloh, from Luke’s point of view:
Luke wasn’t sure of the date, but he thought it was April 6th. The one thing he was sure of was it was very early in the morning and he had not slept a wink all night. Already, sporadic gunfire could be heard well to their front, which added an eerie uncertainty to what the day would offer. Luke’s job that morning would be to follow his regiment in a wagon pulled by a team of horses to supply ammun...
April 5, 2017
Home Again: The Road to the Battle of Shiloh.
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Excerpted from HOME AGAIN: A Civil War Novel.
In the days leading up to the Battle of Shiloh (April 6/7 , 1862). . .
Back at the 28th’s bivouac area, the men were all gathered, nervously awaiting some word from command on what was going to happen. Rumors were rampant. Many predicted that the anticipated arrival of Grant’s Army of the Tennessee, thought to be one hundred thousand strong, would mean Johnston would be forced to retreat further to the south. Johnston had been retr...
March 31, 2017
April 1, 2017: #SaturdayScene
Libby Prison (Source: Collectors Weekly)
The following #SaturdayScene is excerpted from SCARRED: A Civil War Novel of Redemption.
Richmond, Virginia, 1864: After having been captured, shot, noosed, and nearly hung, Zach arrives at the notorious Libby Prison.
The sign over the entrance read: “THOMAS LIBBY & SON— SHIP CHANDLERS AND GROCERS.”
This was the notorious Libby Prison.
Zach and sixteen other prisoners entered the prison office, where several clerks recorded names, ranks, and regiments...
March 25, 2017
March 25, 2017: #SaturdayScene
Andersonville Prison
The following scene is excerpted from SCARRED: A Civil War Novel of Redemption.
Day 35: Andersonville Prison: While repairing the rifle of the prison’s Captain Wirz, Zach formulates—and executes—his plan of escape.
Zach heard the guards shouting orders to the prisoners, and knew it was time. He gave the guard one last glimpse of him, then scurried through the back flap, and ran hard toward the train. He stayed off the trail that led from the depot to the camp, dodging th...
March 23, 2017
Shifting Gears: Writing from a Woman’s Point of View
I’m a guy. I write mostly about men. Men at war. Shooting guns. Riding horses. Doing brave deeds. Becoming heroes. From the male perspective, of course.
So, how does an author shift gears and write from a female perspective—and what would prompt him to do so? For me, the answer to this question can be found by exploring a scene from each perspective.
Here is a scene from my first book, HOME AGAIN, at the Battle of Shiloh:
Off to the right of their line and behind the Rebel line several hundre...
March 16, 2017
Women of the Civil War: Martha Kavandish
{Excerpted from SCARRED A Civil War Novel of Redemption wherein our protagonist, Zach, comes face-to-face with the wife and child of the man he shot.}
Near Milledgeville, Georgia, 1864
The farmhouse was nestled in a copse of cottonwoods midway between the road and the river. The river shimmered in the sunlight, flowing south. A light breeze rattled the leaves and smoke rose from the chimney into the cool, September morning air. The space between the two dusty wheel tracks that led to the ba...
March 13, 2017
The Doug Dahlgren Show Features Michael Kenneth Smith
What a terrific way to spend my Friday morning! I thoroughly enjoyed discussing HOME AGAIN, SCARRED, and the Civil War with Doug Dahlgren of The Doug Dahlgren Show. Listen in. . .
March 4, 2017
March 4, 2017: #SaturdayScene
Today’s #SaturdayScene is excerpted from HOME AGAIN A Civil War Novel.
Zach finds himself up a tree, trapped in the middle of enemy territory, having just taken a shot at General Johnston during the Battle of Shiloh, April 1862.
The Bloody Pond at Shiloh (Photo Credit: Civil War Trust)
The rush of adrenaline Zach had experienced started to wear off. The temperature dropped down well below fifty degrees and he had no way of warming himself. He was open to the elements, no rain gear, no blanke...
