On October 19, 1862, Lieutenant Colonel Carter Van Vleck wrote to his wife and daughter:

"It takes an immense amt. of study to learn well the art of killing people, without getting killed yourself And that is the great secret of war, to kill & cripple the enemy to the greatest degree with the least possible damage to those under your command It is a fearful yet a very pleasent study I like it much better than I expected to & much better than any thing else I ever studied or practiced.

How I should like the sad realities of war, or how I should demean myself in an actual fight, of course I have as little idea as anyone else that knows me I might disgrace myself & family forever or might win honors worthy to be won."

During the next two years, the young officer would detail his Civil War experiences in intimate letters to his "whole heart's love," Patty, and their daughter Nellie. The letters reveal both the external challenges Van Vleck faced and his personal conflicts: the urge to eliminate slavery by serving his country well and the longing to return to his loved ones.

The subject of this masterful, panoramic biography is one of the most mysterious, misunderstood icons of early American history. Simon Girty was a sharp-witted, rascally, many-tongued frontiersman whose epic adventures span the French and Indian War, Dunmore's War, the American War for Independence, the Indian Wars, and finally, the War of 1812. When he defected from the Patriot cause to serve the British in March 1778, Girty achieved instant infamy - becoming one of young America's most notorious characters. To understand his motivation one must discover, as he did, that the real, underlying cause of the American Revolution was the unquenchable thirst for Indian land of many of our so-called founding fathers - including George Washington - and their unrelenting dissatisfaction with the restrictions imposed upon their land speculation ambitions by the King's Proclamation of 1763. Like a detective doggedly combing through old evidence, author Phillip Hoffman spent 17 years studying every detail of Girty's life and times, amassing more than 4,000 computer windows of research. By exploring microfilm, ledgers, military records, congressional records, newspaper and magazine articles, and dozens of early American and Canadian fiction and non-fiction works, Hoffman was able to peel away the mythic legend that has hidden Girty's real persona for two and a half centuries. Little in Simon Girty's life was conventional or predictable. One of four sons raised by an Irish Indian trader settled near Harrisburg in eastern Pennsylvania, Simon's earliest experiences quickly isolate him from the majority of the colonists in his region, most of whom were German immigrants. To these people, the Girtys areIndian lovers, and the Indians are all savages and spawn of the devil. During the French and Indian War, when he is fifteen, Simon and his family are captured by hostile Shawnee and Delaware warriors led by French officers. Given away to a war party of Senecas, Simon is carried north and adopted, emerging eight years later at age twenty-three, a gifted linguist and a trained interpreter fluent in eleven native languages. Brought by a Seneca chief to Alexander McKee of the British Indian Department at Fort Pitt, Girty begins his career as a spy-interpreter-intermediary serving both English and Native American leaders. Girty's contacts include the great Seneca sachem Guyasuta, Sir William Johnson, merchant George Morgan, businessman John Connolly, William Crawford, Matthew Elliott, John Murray (Lord Dunmore), Simon Kenton, George Rogers Clark, Mingo chief John Logan, Mohawk chief Joseph Brant, Half King of the Wyandots, Captain Pipe of the Delawares, Moravian missionaries David Zeisberger and John Heckewelder, Shawnee chiefs Blue Jacket and Tecumseh, and Miami war chief Little Turtle, Detroit Governor Henry Hamilton, U.S. general Anthony Wayne, and even Daniel Boone. Land speculators George Washington and Ben Franklin are also woven through Girty's story. Through Girty's eyes we re-live the ill-fated Squaw Campaign, his rescue of Simon Kenton whom the Shawnees were about to torture and burn, the deadly ambush of Rogers' Flotilla, the Battle of Sandusky, William Crawford's trial and death by fire, the conquest of Martin's and Ruddle's Stations, the disastrous American defeat at Blue Licks (where Daniel Boone's son Israel was killed), and the incredible victories over Harmar and St. Clairby a confederation of Western and Northern Tribes. Finally, with Girty and his companions Alex McKee and Matthew Elliott, we witness the climactic defeat of the Indians by "Mad" Anthony Wayne at Fallen Timbers. Hoffman's dedication to detail, combined with his superb talent as a storyteller, brings us an intimate view of the full sweep of early American frontier conflicts, as experienced by a devoted adventurer whose heart was as much Indian as it was white. "Simon Girty Turncoat Hero" is American history at its best.

Accounts of the men of the First Empire
Under the Eagles by A. J. Doisy De Villargennes
Voices of 1812 by Arthur Chuquet
Writings of the experiences of Napoleon's foot and horse soldiers which have been translated into English are few. There are several that have become well known and well regarded, but this book contains a delightful collection of lesser known works. With De Villargennes we experience war in the Peninsula, but the remaining episodes contain first hand accounts which all deal with the shared experience of the Emperor's disastrous advance into and retreat from Russia. Here are Oriot the Cuirassier and others telling their stories across time for today's student of the military history of the Napoleonic Age.

A Horse Gunner's view of the world's most famous battle
brCaptain Mercer has left posterity a vital and remarkable book in his Journal of the Campaign of 1815. It is, of course, written from the perspective of an officer of the Royal Horse Artillery of Wellington's army and so brings to life a host of detail about the composition, daily workings, camp life and battle field manoeuvrings of the British Horse Artillery during the Napoleonic Wars. This alone would recommend it to anyone interested in the period. It is much more. Mercer's substantial work covers a comparatively short period of time from the call to arms following Napoleon's escape from Elba through to the landing on the continent, the fearsome battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo-which all but destroyed his troop-to the pursuit of the fleeing French Army to Paris and the subsequent occupation. He recorded everything he saw, felt and personally experienced in fine detail on a day by day basis. This not only provides us with an incomparable portrait of momentous events, but also a detailed and illuminating view of Belgium, Northern France and Paris itself from it's people to the minutiae of everyday life and the culture of the capital in the early years of the 19th century.

Originally published in London 1894. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Home Farm Books are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork Contents Include: The Battle of Marathon. - Defeat of the Athenians at Syracuse. B.C. 413. - The Battle of Arbela. B.C. 331. - The Battle of Metaurus. B.C. 207. - Victory of Arminius over the Roman Legions under Varus A.D. 9. - The Battle of Chalons. A.D. 451. - The Battle of Tours. A.D. 732. - The Battle of Hastings. A.D. 1066. - Joan of Arc's Victory over the English at Orleans A.D. 1429. - The Defeat of the Spanish Armada. A.D. 1588. - The Battle of Blenheim. A.D. 1704. - The Battle of Pultowa. A.D. 1709. - Victory of the Americans over Burgoyne at Saratoga. A.D. 1777. - The Battle of Valmy. 1792. - The Battle of Waterloo. 1815. Also included is a synopsis of events occurring between each battle. Illustrated with battle maps etc.

A story of siege, massacre and survival
Mowbray Thompson was an officer -stationed at Cawnpore with Wheeler's command within the Indian North Eastern province of Oudh during 1857-the year of the outbreak of the Great Indian Mutiny. The tiny Cawnpore garrison was soon attacked-principally by elements of the Native Bengal Army-and withdrew to occupy an entirely unsuitable and ultimately impossible to defend position. After a period of bloody battle, costly in the lives of soldiers and civilians alike the situation seemed hopeless. Then an offer of honourable surrender appeared to offer the miracle of salvation. But the nightmare of the defenders of Cawnpore was about to escalate to levels of unimagined horror. A series of atrocities was about to befall them that were so terrible that they would become a rallying cry for Blood Vengeance throughout the British empire. This is story of one man-told in his own words-who lived through those terrible days.

"I am proud to know Dr. E. Bruce Heilman as a Marine, educator and friend. He is a man of great character and the embodiment of our Core Values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. Drawing "inspiration" from his rural upbringing and his Marine Corps service as a sergeant during World War II, Dr. Heilman's career in higher education and his successes as president and chancellor of a college and university are testimony to what determination and motivation can do. His leadership as a member and chairman of the boards for both the Marine Corps University and the Marine Military Academy, combined with his service on the boards of the Marine Heritage Foundation and the Marine Association have dramatically improved our Corps and speak volumes to his legacy as a leader, educator and Marine Corps visionary. He is a founder and member of the Commandant's Circle in the Museum of the Marines, and remains active in Marine Corps aff airs. In summary, I can off er Dr. Heilman no greater compliment than to say he is a great American, a tremendous family man, and an outstanding Marine Semper Fi " - Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James T. Conway "While living up to his own high values, Bruce worked his way up so many ladders that he may have lost count." - Dr. Edward J. Boling, President Emeritus, University of Tennessee

Sit back, relax, and lose yourself in the fascinating life adventures of a real human being, a person like you and me. As you do, you'll embark on a familiar, satisfying, and often exhilarating journey of love, joy, sorrow, achievement and self-discovery.
Gary H. Fowler is a Vietnam veteran. He has worked on most of the United States Navy's aircraft carriers, and for years he worked in direct service to several Presidents of the United States. At the time of this publication he works as a scientific photographer. He is a loved and dedicated father, son, brother, and friend, and perhaps most importantly, he is a dedicated Born Again Christian.
Gary's beloved mother asked him to write a book detailing his life experiences. This is such a book. He writes not only about the above mentioned events, but many others as well. In all cases he tells the truth of his life as he remembers it, even when some of it involves "the good, the bad, and the ugly" that may be more than his mother cared to know.
A Walk Through Time is a book of life stories dating back to 18 August 1942 when he was born, written in sixty-five memoirs, at the request of a mother who loves her son and wants the world to know him better. It is a gift to Gary's mother and a gift to you as well. It will make you laugh and cry, and you will recognize yourself in its pages. It is proof that there are no "ordinary" people and that we each have unique and important stories to tell.

Ken Sibanda Hannibal the Great: Hannibal Born. Series 1 of 3: Graphic Novel Hannibal Barca rises from the defeat of Carthage to reclaim his honor. Hannibal the Great: Hannibal Born The tide shifts as Hannibal Barca, the boy with a lion's heart, leaves Carthage headed to Spain. Born into the Barcid family, a young Hannibal moves to Spain to escape from the first Punic War. Here, Hannibal finds a new home, a New Carthage, from the old Carthage. In time, the young boy grows up to assume the mantle and the center of history. But first, he must be truly born. Movie teaser - Hannibal the Great: Hannibal Born http: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=asmtC4YXHKM Movie teaser - Hannibal the Great: Hannibal Born http: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=asmtC4YXHKM