“Once a Foe, Now a Friend”

About the Book

The Civil War saved the Union, but serious divisions and great animosity remained between north and south. Few Northerners had contact with soldiers who had fought against them. Not so George N. Bliss, a former captain in the first Rhode Island Cavalry. He befriended many ex-Confederates, including four he had wounded. His efforts resulted in many unvarnished first-hand accounts. These friendships lasted decades and led to the very warm and frank letters presented here.

About the Author

Retired engineer WILLIAM C. EMERSON is the great-grandson of George N. Bliss. He and Elizabeth C. Stevens edited a book of Bliss's Civil War letters, “Don't Tell Father I Have Been Shot at" (McFarland Press, 2018). He has written widely on naval history topics and lives in Rochester, New York.