I am in the process of converting my research on the life of my ancestor, Reuben DeLay, into a work of historical fiction. As each draft chapter is completed, I will post it here. Readers are invited to follow my blog to stay up-to-date on the book’s progress at: Blog – Outlaws, Outrages and OutrightContinue reading “Unbowed: The Saga of a Civil War Cavalryman-Index”
Tag Archives: Reuben DeLay
Chapter 4: Squatter
Chapter 4: Squatter Kablam! The man had jumped into the road from behind a bush. The first shot from his pistol was a warning, aimed over Reuben’s head. Now the gun was leveled at him. Before he could even think about grabbing the musket by his side, two more men emerged from theContinue reading “Chapter 4: Squatter”
Chapter 3: Montgomery
“Hold up there!” called someone from behind. Startled out of the monotony of the trail, Reuben looked back. A rider was approaching. He looked like a rough, crude frontiersman; shaggy beard and all. Reuben brought the wagon to a halt and waited. “Hello friend,” said the man as he approached Reuben’s perch onContinue reading “Chapter 3: Montgomery”
Damn Yankee
“Git offa mah property you damn Yankee som beech!” commanded the little man with the tobacco-stained teeth. “And stay away from mah Niggah, you heah?” Reuben’s first encounter with the residents of Linn County had rapidly gone south. He could tell the little man meant business because his hand had moved to theContinue reading “Damn Yankee”
Galvanized Rebel
After a few days of recuperating at home, Reuben rode into Centerville. He had some letters to mail and was anxious to get fresh news from the front. The post office was in the back of the Square Deal General Store. As he strode up the steps a man leaving the store hunched over asContinue reading “Galvanized Rebel”
Resolution
A fictionalized account of Reuben DeLay’s time in Confederate prisons Reuben gently pushed the blanket he shared with Dawes over the form of his softly snoring bedmate. The air was cold and his joints ached from sleeping on the hard ground. He needed to stretch and get his blood circulating. He crawled outContinue reading “Resolution”
Interrogation
“Whar’s that damn Yankee Lieutenant?” barked the Rebel Sergeant. Reuben struggled to his feet. His stomach still churned from the half-cooked Confederate cornmeal of the night before. He’d been up half the night tending to the wounded Cronin. They had finally fallen asleep about the same time. His back ached from sleeping on theContinue reading “Interrogation”
“Sherman’s March to the Sea”
The Civil War’s One Hit Wonder Song In the winter of 1864-65, my Great-Great Grandfather, Reuben DeLay, was confined to the Confederate prison called Camp Asylum in Columbia, South Carolina. One of his fellow prisoners was S. H. M. Byers who had been captured at Missionary Ridge in the Battle for Chattanooga. Byers and DeLayContinue reading ““Sherman’s March to the Sea””
Reuben DeLay Civil War Records
I have obtained our ancestor Reuben DeLay’s Civil War records. The do not provide much detail about his time in Confederate POW Camps, but some assumptions can be made from other historical records. The record is old, last recopied in 1883. I believe that the scribe was a single woman named Miss _______. She mayContinue reading “Reuben DeLay Civil War Records”
Reuben DeLay’s Civil War Records
This page is under construction. Check back later as I add more information from Reuben DeLay’s records Reuben DeLay, my Grandmother’s Grandfather served in the 3rd Iowa Calvary during the Civil War. Here is some information gleaned from His January 1, 1864 reenlistment papers: Reuben joined the Union Army along with his brother and twoContinue reading “Reuben DeLay’s Civil War Records”
Outlaws, Outrages and Outright Lies 