Six Years of Hell: Harpers Ferry During the Civil War

Most written accounts of Harpers Ferry, Virginia, during the Civil War era begin and end with John Brown's raid in 1859 and his subsequent hanging. In Six Years of Hell, Chester G. Hearn recounts in colorful style the harrowing story of Harpers Ferry's tumultuous war years-during which it changed hands more often than any town but Winchester, Virginia, and was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. Relying heavily on records left by the citizens who weathered the war and the soldiers who garrisoned the town, Hearn treats the civilian experience as fully as he does military activities. He introduces the people who attempted to stay in their homes, protect their possessions, and accommodate the soldiers during the conflict. As Hearn clearly demonstrates, for those stouthearted individuals, the Civil War was truly six years of hell.

Author: Chester G. Hearn
Publisher: LSU Press
Published: 08/01/1999
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.01lbs
Size: 9.03h x 6.01w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9780807124406

About the Author
Chester G. Hearn is the author of Lincoln, the Cabinet, and the Generals; When the Devil Came Down to Dixie: Ben Butler in New Orleans; The Capture of New Orleans, 1862; and Ellet's Brigade: The Strangest Outfit of All. He lives in Erie, Pennsylvania.