"Widow of Gettysburg" by Jocelyn Green

Two words - Intense and riveting! I read Ms Green's "Wedded to War" and knew I wanted to see what she had next in her "Heroines Behind the Lines" series.

This book brought to life one of my favorite sayings, which is, "A woman is like a teabag. You never know how tough she is until you get her into hot water."

In this story, the author has us experience what it was like for the women that lived in Gettysburg to have their quiet, peaceful and restful countryside turned upside down as one of the most fiercest and deadliest battles of the Civil war rages. Multitudes of Union and Confederate soldiers alike are left dead, maimed, wounded and dying during these few days of horrific fighting. These brave women must dig deep, far beyond their own strength and abilities to aid these soldiers. They learn that regardless of what uniform the soldier wears they are someone's son, husband or sweetheart. In helping them they are somehow and in some way helping their own soldier who has perished or is on the front lines fighting somewhere in this horrible war.

The central character, Liberty Halloway, is a young war widow whose husband perished fighting for the Union. Now, through no choice of her own, her farm and home are overrun by the Confederates who turn her world upside down by transforming the farm into a Confederate hospital. She wrestles in her soul over what to do about it and God shows her that her job is to love and serve regardless. She discovers God's strength to do what must be done as she faces horrific surgeries and loss of life. Sanitation is next to impossible. Medical supplies and food are scarce but she must maintain and somehow forge on.

There are several characters in the story that we come to know and care for. Bella, who has escaped slavery and whose scars run deep within her soul. Silas, the man whose evil father perpetuated the worst of the worst in his treatments towards his slaves and family. His bitterness maims his heart and seems too much to bear.

The author challenges the reader's heart to experience with her characters what these dark days were like for the town of Gettysburg.

One of the scenes that comes to mind happens as Liberty and Bella try and assist moving wounded men from a flooded basement several stairs up to safety before they drown. These women struggle to carry the soldiers one at a time. And exhausted, Liberty says "I don't know how many more times I can do this!" Bella asks her if she can do it once more and Liberty responds that she can...Bella says "Then just think about the one more time. One more patient, one more life saved from drowning"...and they did. Again, and again and again.'

The author inserts in the pages quotes from diaries of women who wrote about their experiences, and one that stood out to me said -"What in my girlhood was a teeming and attractive landscape spread out by the Omnipotent Hand to teach us of His Goodness, has by His direction, become a field for profound thought, where, through coming ages, will be taught lessons of loyalty, patriotism and sacrifice." Matilta "Tillie" Pierce Alleman, Gettysburg schoolgirl, age 15.

The Civil war will forever be one of the darkest chapters of American history. Jocelyn Green explores vividly what it must have been like for the women who lived those few days in Gettysburg.

Well done!