James Reasoner Civil War Series
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The American Civil War Battle Series by author James Reasoner is a ten volume series of historical novels about the American Civil War. The series centers on the fictional Brannon family, which resides in Culpeper, Virginia, a village and county in north central Virginia north of the Rapidan River that served as a major supply depot for the Confederate army. Each novel in Reasoner's series revolves around a Civil War major battle or campaign.
The ten novels in series order:
- Manassas, published by Cumberland House in spring, 1999. ISBN 1-58182-008-9.
- Shiloh, published by Cumberland House in fall, 1999. ISBN 1-58182-248-0.
- Antietam, published by Cumberland House in spring, 2000. ISBN 1-58182-275-8.
- Chancellorsville, published by Cumberland House in fall, 2000. ISBN 1-58182-300-2.
- Vicksburg, published by Cumberland House in spring, 2001. ISBN 1-58182-372-X.
- Gettysburg, published by Cumberland House in fall, 2001. ISBN 1-58182-381-9.
- Chickamauga, published by Cumberland House in spring, 2002. ISBN 1-58182-405-X.
- Shenandoah, published by Cumberland House in fall, 2002. ISBN 1-58182-435-1.
- Savannah, published by Cumberland House in spring, 2003. ISBN 1-58182-467-X.
- Appomattox, published by Cumberland House in spring, 2003. ISBN 1-58182-513-7.
[edit] The Brannon family
The Brannon family owns a farm in Culpeper County just outside of the village of Culpeper. John Brannon has passed away as the first novel Manassas begins in January 1861. John and his widow Abigail were avid fans of William Shakespeare. Matriarch Abigail Brannon oversees the farm with her six children, who have been named after William Shakespeare and characters from his plays. The Brannon children are William (Will), Macduff (Mac), Titus, Henry, Cordelia, and Coriolanus (Corey). The family is drawn into the events of the coming war.
[edit] The War
Will, the Culpeper sheriff, enlists in the Confederate Army prior to the Battle of Manassas. Mac later enlists in the Confederate Cavalry and serves under Generals Fitzhugh Lee and J.E.B. Stuart. Hard-drinking Titus and seldom-home Henry fight both the Union Army and each other (over a woman). Cordelia's initial love interest enlists in the Union Army. Corey drifts west and finds employment on a Mississippi river boat. Corey becomes marginally involved in the Battle of Shiloh and the Vicksburg Campaign. When the Union Army moves south later in the war, the Brannon family farm becomes a battlefield.
