"The Spences were a wealthy family who owned land, slaves, and the main hotel in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. With their successful careers and extensive property, they were among Clark County's most prominent families when the shadow of secession fell across Arkansas. Four years later, Arkadelphia would be ravaged by war, and brothers Tom and Alex Spence would lie in soldier's graves, far from home.".

"Mark Christ has assembled the Spence brother's powerful letters from a collection in Arkansas's Old State House Museum, weaving in other letters from their extended family and friends. He provides brief but thorough introductions to each chapter as well as photographs.".

"The Spences' letters bear witness to the Civil War of the common soldiers and junior officers of the Army of Tennessee. Alex Spence saw action at Shiloh and most of the other major engagements of that army, while his brother Tom fought in Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee. They also marched literally thousands of miles, spent weeks in camp, and relied on infrequent travelers to carry precious letters to and from home.

They detailed to their family not only the many battles in which they served, but the hardships of campaigning, the pride of serving in battle-proven units, and the pain of losing comrades to bullets and disease. The story moves chronologically from the outset of war to the final letter from Alex's grieving fiancee."--BOOK JACKET.