Marching Through Culpeper : A Novel of Culpeper, Virginia, Crossroads of the Civil War [Hardcover]

Virginia Beard Morton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2000

From 1861 to 1865, Culpeper County - located between Washington, D.C. and Richmond - changed hands numerous times and witnessed the movement of more troops than any locale in the nation. The book's characters, based on real soldiers and citizens, relate an authentic day-to-day feel of how it all happened, and the bloodshed and inconceivable privations that they endured. Through this unique Southern vantage point, we gain a perspective of the war rarely seen in traditional history books.

At the heart of the story are spiritied eighteen-year-old Constance Armstrong and her childhood friend, Frank Stringfellow. Constance, strong and intelligent, supports her family by running a bookstore. Two Rebels and a Yankee vie for her affection amidst the chaos of war. Frank, an irrepressible daredevil, becomes a scout and spy for J.E.B. Stuart and undertakes countless hair-raising adventures.

On and off the battlefield, Marching Through Culpeper exposes the human side of such heroes as John Pelham, J.E.B. Stuart, A.P. Hill, and George Armstrong Custer. This rich tapestry of life in a war-torn community is a story of the human spirit and the power of love.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Marching Through Culpeper" is recommended for anyone who enjoys authentic wartime history blended with a compelling romance. -- North and South magazine, May 2003

"The battle descriptions are quite good...I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It can, at times, be a page turner." -- The Civil War News, June 2002

...a haunting masterpiece that depicts the true South better than "Gone with the Wind" and provides rich movie material. -- Civil War Interactive, June 2003

A definite pageturner...this book is a love story for the women, and war novel for the men... -- The Confederate Veteran, Feb., 2006

All the characters are fully drawn, emotional and valid in their struggles to trust God during the horrors of war. -- Mohave Desert News, April 11, 2002

I commend this wonderfully researched...vastly entertaining...and beautifully written book to anyone who cares about American Civil War history. -- The Cannoneer, May 2001, reviewed by Clark B. Hall, noted Civil War historian and author.

Morton's fictional characters are people you can really care about and her story is engrossing...it's a great read. -- Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star, Feb. 17, 2001

Morton's superb literary skill makes this a book students of the war will read more than once and cherish forever. -- The United Daughters of the Confederacy magazine, Aug. 2002

From the Inside Flap

Constance Armstrong, youngest of two daughters, has been raised by her elderly father as the son he never had. Highly intellectual, she shares her father's love of politics. At a picnic, she meets West Point graduate Robert Beckham, whose quiet maturity attracts her.

Constance and her father become hotly embroiled in the events that lead to secession. Volunteers flood into Culpeper for training and her childhood friend, Frank Stringfellow, returns determined to join the cavalry. To his chagrin, he is rejected because of his sparse size. He gorges himself to gain weight, captures the pickets of one cavalry unit, and finally gets accepted because of his daring. He goes on to become a scout and is later referred to as "one of the most dangerous men in the Confederacy."

Following First Manassas, Constance serves as a nurse and becomes enthralled while watching John Pelham train recruits for J.E.B. Stuart's Horse Artillery. During a blizzard, Judge Armstrong finds Pelham's Alabamians without proper shelter and invites them to his house, thus beginning Constance's fascination with the dashing officer.

In the spring, the Rebels retreat through Culpeper towards Richmond and the Yankees are not far behind. Three Federals pilfer the Armstrong farm and kill an elderly freeman. Several days later, a company of Yankees led by Aaron Ames, a recent Harvard graduate, approach the farm. Furious, Constance brazenly marches out to confront them, then bitterly protests the pilfering. Her beauty and spirit impress Ames.

Beckham, Pelham, and Ames compete to win her while she struggles to survive the chaos of war. Through the pages of this epic novel march the heroes of both great armies. We share their triumphs, feel their pain, and sense their vulnerability. Virginia B. Morton vividly brings American's deadliest war to life for the reader, giving a you-are-there version of history.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: Edgehill Books; 2nd edition (December 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615116426
• ISBN-13: 978-0615116426
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,067,790 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marching Through Culpeper, December 5, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Marching Through Culpeper : A Novel of Culpeper, Virginia, Crossroads of the Civil War (Hardcover)

I recently moved to the east coast from California and was given a gift book called, "Marching Through Culpeper". Prior to reading this wonderful book, my exposure to Civil War history was limited to history in school and a few movies. It was always incomprehensible for me to understand the southern perspective until now. Reading Virginia Beard Morton's book opened my eyes to the thoughtless ravaging of innocent people, their homes and their land.

Yet, this book is so much more than about the horrors of war -- it's above all, a wonderful love story -- love of the south, family, and way of life. It's without question the best romance story that I've ever read. I loved the central character, Constance who was beautiful, strong, courageous and ahead of her time. And the fact that Constance is based on an actual women's life during that period, adds to the charm. My favorite character is Frank Stringfellow and his humor and ability to overcome obstacles under the most dangerous situations.

Ms. Morton illuminates a vision of honor, pride and courage of the gentle southern people who sacrificed everything. This book is a "must read" for everyone -- but especially women -- whether interested in the Civil War or not. I can't wait to see it when it gets made into a movie!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History Comes Alive, May 14, 2001

By 

Robert (Silver Spring, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marching Through Culpeper : A Novel of Culpeper, Virginia, Crossroads of the Civil War (Hardcover)

This book is more than just "a fun read." It is packed with thrills and suspense, and its characters come alive, evoking the reader's emotional reaction . What makes it excellent, however, is the careful research that enabled the author to weave important historical figures and events seamlessly into the story.

Virginia Beard Morton has given us considerable insight into the horrors of the Civil War and indeed of wars in general. We also find in this novel a clear exposition of southerners' attitude toward their lost cause, an attitude which has not yet been completely extinguished.

Anyone who wants to be entertained while learning a great deal about an important period in American history should read this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marching Through Culpeper, October 12, 2000

By 

Pete Bennett (Butler, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marching Through Culpeper : A Novel of Culpeper, Virginia, Crossroads of the Civil War (Hardcover)

I found Virginia Beard Morton's book a heart warming tour of the Culpeper area relating to the Civil War. Her ability to combine fiction and non-fiction characters has added color and amusement to a book that I think is as full of excitement and adventure as "Gone With the Wind". I highly recommend it to Civil War buffs and to all who wish to venture forth into new excitement from an old time. This book will sell and be remembered. Pete [e-mail]