Southern Festival of Books...

Believe it or not, the 24th annual Southern Festival of Books is right around the corner, scheduled for October 12-14, 2012 at Legislative Plaza in Downtown Nashville. The Festival is a free event with no registration or tickets required.

On Saturday, October 13th at 9:00 a.m., my wife, Traci, and I have the honor of appearing on a panel with historian Brian McKnight entitled, "Rebel Soldiers and Citizens: Examining the Personal Motives of Confederates." Following the panel, we will be on hand to sign copies of our book, Onward Southern Soldiers: Religion and the Army of Tennessee in the Civil War.

In addition to our panel there are over 200 authors scheduled to attend. Here's a full schedule of events, courtesy of Humanities Tennessee. I hope you'll make plans to see us there.


ABOUT THE BOOK:

ONWARD SOUTHERN SOLDIERS: RELIGION AND THE ARMY OF TENNESSEE IN THE CIVIL WAR (The History Press, August 2011 - 128 pp. Over 45 images. $19.99 plus $5.00 shipping/handling)

The Civil War was trying, bloody and hard-fought combat for both sides. What was it, then, that sustained soldiers low on supplies and morale? For the Army of Tennessee, it was religion. Onward Southern Soldiers: Religion and the Army of Tennessee in the Civil War explores the significant impact of religion on every rank, from generals to chaplains to common soldiers. It took faith to endure overwhelming adversity. Religion unified troops, informing both why and how they fought and providing the rationale for enduring great hardship for the Confederate cause. Using primary source material such as diaries, letters, journals and sermons of the Army of Tennessee, Traci Nichols-Belt, along with Gordon T. Belt, presents the history of the vital role of the army’s religious practices.