Way Down Upon the Suwannee River

About the Book

When the Civil War erupted, Florida was a rough and independent frontier state recognized by few outside of its boundaries. During the war Florida gave an equal amount of men, in ratio to the state's population, than any other Confederate state. Yet Florida's Civil War involvement remains hidden in the obscure shadow of the more influential Southern states.

Are the names Bradford, Dickison, Finegan, Lang, Pearson, or Perry familiar? What was the importance of the Battle of Santa Rosa Island? Why was the Florida Brigade criticized following the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg? What was Florida's home front like? What was the Cow Cavalry? What was Florida's Civil War Governor like?

The answers to these colorful questions are found within these pages. Florida's Civil War involvement was a substantial and costly one. Those who molded history way down upon the Suwannee River tell their amazing stories.

About the Author

Gary Loderhose was born in 1956 in Kennewick, Washington. In 1979 he attended Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida where he graduated in 1982 with a bachelor?s degree in English and history. In 1988 he earned a master?s degree in history from the University of Richmond. Shortly after graduation he returned to Florida.

In 1998 he began publishing the newsletter, The Drummer?s Roll: A Journal of Florida During the Civil War. Gary is also the author of the critically acclaimed book Far, Far from Home: The Ninth Florida Regiment in the Confederate Army released in May 1999.

He and his wife Karen and their three children, Emily, Ben and Will, live in Cape Coral, Florida.