{"product_id":"2940013048140","title":"Long Walk Home ...a Civil War infantry soldier's love story","description":"Events spiral out of control for a young family just making ends meet on their small farm in rural Michigan.  Civil War erupts.  Reluctantly, Will Hodkins finds peer pressure and pride in country irresistible forces, causing him to volunteer as foot soldier in the Union army.  Answering an inner call to duty, he leaves wife Maria and two toddler sons behind.  Simple brown leather-covered journal, a parting gift from Maria, becomes Will’s lifeline to her.  On its pages, Will reveals innermost conflicts and emotions as events unfold, and tender exchange of letters between two lovers document their travails.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThrough brutal winter in army camp, Will and seven friends bond to become ‘surrogate family’ helping each other survive ...even as tragedy and loss strike.  Meanwhile, back home Maria relies on an older couple who are neighbors, all struggling to keep farm and children together.  Matters become more complicated when Maria informs Will she is pregnant.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTrudging on long marches through Kentucky countryside, Will’s infantry regiment is ambushed by raiders of regaled Confederate John Morgan, and Will is wounded severely, undergoing crude 1860’s surgery to survive.  Maria surprises Will bedside in a Lexington hospital, after arduous rail journey risking life and pregnancy ...a visit among hospital patients displays her deep character strength, intelligence, tenacity and resolution.  Will restates his commitment to make it back home no matter what happens.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter recovery, Will rejoins his regiment.  Marching toward Chattanooga, alongside Tennessee’s Lookout Mountain, Union and Confederate armies clash in horrific battle at Chickamauga Creek, Cherokee’s name for ‘river of blood’.  Will’s regiment is thrust into desperate final battle atop a series of hills called ‘horseshoe’ …ordered to save the backside of fleeing remnants of routed Union army, amid lengthening shadows of Missionary Ridge, with ammunition running out.  Fear, bravery and heroics, honor and fortitude collide with weakness and treachery.  Will and remainder of three regiments are surrounded and captured by Confederates.  With battle’s last gunshot, Will reacts instinctively and heroically to save his commanding officer, but is wounded once again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs Confederate prisoner, Will recovers and copes with long oppressive confinement in Richmond, before being transferred to Charleston SC.  He unites unexpectedly with a jocular past acquaintance from Michigan and fellow prisoner named Clancy Durnin ...friendship grows as they perform tedious prison hospital duties within Roper Hospital.  Within Roper’s confines, Will is confounded by a shadowy unexplained lurking presence overseeing his movement.  With Union troops threatening Charleston, prisoners are hastily evacuated via prison train heading north.  In a shocking twist of irony and test of family loyalty, Will and Clancy are offered opportunity for escape.  They flee the prison train embarking on foot across treacherous enemy countryside as fugitives, beginning a 52-day 400-mile trek leading to mountainous crossing of the Blue Ridge into North Carolina, and hopefully refuge beyond among Union troops in Tennessee.  After all, it is a promise made to Maria …to get back home.","brand":"Charleston, SC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47068638281968,"sku":"2940013048140","price":9.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013048140_p0.jpg?v=1763576083","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013048140","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}