The Distaff Civil War

About the Book

"THE DISTAFF CIVIL WAR" is an accounting of but a few of the women who lived during the period of the American Civil War and contended with the many problems, North and South. Some of these problems would seem trivial in our day, but in the mid-19th Century, they were almost unsurmountable.
The book covers the lives of a diverse number of women who coped with major problems, both physical and emotional, and survived with dignity and bravery. The book provides a chronological narrative of letters and other documents created by these heroic women during the four years of the Civil War. Many of these women were unsung in their time and are little known today. With their accounts, a background is provided of the overall aspect of the war at that period of time which shows the influences of outside forces which affect their actions, be it battle, blockade, or material shortages.
The protagonists include a South Carolinian desperate to serve the Confederacy as a nurse; a young Georgian woman who spends the war as a tutor on a southern plantation coping with shortages caused by the blockade; a Maine woman with extensive experience in teaching who becomes a hospital matron in Virginia; a woman from Illinois who devotes nearly four years of her life to serve as nurse, surrogate Mother, and organizer in a grand style for the Union army; women who are driven from their homes in Missouri; former slaves who recall their experiences during slavery; prostitutes who are exiled from Nashville; women who take on the farm work after their men are gone to war; and a myriad of other characters.
The common thread throughout their stories is DUTY. Their common goal is to SERVE. The rewards for their service and dedication is the grateful THANKS of thousands of veterans who survived because of their efforts.

About the Author

Robert E. Denney is both a Korean and Vietnam veteran, as well as having served a short time in China before the Communists took over in 1948. His interest in the Civil War goes back more than 50 years and he has been an ardent student of that conflict for all that time. He is the author of three books on the Civil War including books covering the prisons and medicine of the war. He is currently researching the aspect of the "galvanized" soldiers, North and South, and is planning a major genealogical document and book concerning this subject.

Denney's service in Korea, as an infantry Sergeant, was working with the guerrillas in North Korea to disrupt the supply lines and create diversions. For service in that war he was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star w/V device, and the Purple Heart. Following hospitalization upon return to the States, Denney was assigned as a 1st Sgt. and later Sgt. Major of units before attending helicopter flight school in 1955. While on duty in Germany, Denney became involved in the test and development of a low-level navigation system for helicopters. For his performance during the test, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal. Sent to Arizona to continue the tests, he headed a major test on an American-built navigation system. During this period he was promoted from Chief Warrant Officer to Captain. For his work on the project he was awarded an Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC) for the Commendation Medal.

Sent to Vietnam in 1965 and 1966, he was assigned as the Project Officer to acquire and install a similar navigation system for that theater of operations. During this period Denney was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, a Bronze Star (OLC), and a Purple Heart (OLC). Denney retired in 1967 as a Major after more than twenty years active service.

Denney has been married nearly 50 years, has 4 children, and three grandsons. He is the Past President of the Civil War Round Table of Washington, D.C. He is also a member of the Lincoln Group of D.C.

Denney has resided in Northern Virginia since 1967.

If autographed copies are desired, please contact the author at RDenney542@aol.com for further information. The cost of the book is the same to the customer, although some additional shipping charges may be incurred.