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Gettysburg's Unknown Soldier: The Life, Death, and Celebrity of Amos Humiston

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So much of history focuses on the leaders, generals, and other famous persons of the era. Gettysburg's Unknown Soldier is interesting because it focuses on a common man, Amos Humiston, and his family. He is Gettysburg's unknown soldier because he was found dead holding a picture of his three children. There is nothing else to indicate his identity. The picture is used to identify Amos and locate his widow and children. Amos' attention to his children's picture during his last moments makes him and his family celebrities. While Gettysburg is Amos' defining moment in history, the author tells us the full story. Amos' years on a whaling ship were an adventure, but also a lot of hard work. If whaling was tough, it was nothing compared to the War. We follow Amos and his New York regiment as he marches and marches and marches and fights. After Amos' death at Gettysburg, the story continues with his widow and children and how his death changes their lives. If you like history and want the perspective of the common man, I recommend Gettysburg's Unknown Soldier.

It was a time in history when folks back home held romantic images of gallant heroes for "The Cause". It is no wonder this powerful human interest story snowballed into a nation wide hunt for the children who's loving and courageous father died fighting to reclaim freedom of liberty for his country.

Mark Dunkelman vividly paints a splendid picture of Amos Humiston and his family, taking us through a journey of their trails and tribulations. Mark Dunkelman's painstaking research comes togther with a marvelous, moving, and timeless human-interest story.

Amos Humiston might have been another one of the many unknown soldiers littering the battlefield at Gettysburg were it not for the love of his family. While the story of locating Humiston's family is Civil War legend, this book almost brings the man back to life. It's a well-researched look at Humiston's own life, his family and continues with their life after his death. Clasping a photo of his three children as he lay dying, Humiston showed us a father's love is timeless and transcends all generations. It's as poignant now as it was 150 years ago.