Civil War Letters from a Wisconsin Soldier, Book signing and presentation

Author Richard L. Hamilton will be in Rio on Wednesday, May 25^th to sign copies of his book, Shiloh to Durham Station, 18^th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment: With Captain Robert S. McMichael’s Civil War Letters.  The public is invited to attend this event, 10 am-2 p.m. in the Rio Community Library, 324 W. Lyons St.

In 1861, Robert S. McMichael enlisted in the 18^th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment from present-day Vernon County, Wisconsin.  Beginning with the Battle of Shiloh, McMichael saw action throughout the South, and eventually rose to the rank of Captain.  The book contains transcriptions of 33 letters written by McMichael to his wife between 1862 and 1865. 

“The book is a true and accurate account” of McMichael’s service in the Civil War, Hamilton comments.  It is an account that details the rigors of life in the regiment, as well as the emotional life of a man in the infantry, “who showed as much sincere concern for his family at home as he did for his own life in battle.”

The letters were preserved by McMichael’s family, and passed on to his grandson, Robert Ginn.  Ginn presented the letters to Joan and Chuck “Coach” Ross, his legal guardians at the end of his life.  Mr. and Mrs. Ross preserved the letters for more than thirty years after Ginn’s death in Janesville.  They presented the letters to Hamilton in January 2010 in the hope he would be able to “find a story in them.”

Hamilton is a retired General Motors Corporation manufacturing engineering manager who holds a BS degree in mechanical engineering.  He is a former professor of engineering technology at Western Michigan University, and Director of Technology at Ferris State University.  A descendent of Civil War veteran Sgt. George T. Patten, Hamilton appears at his book signings in a uniform modeled on Patten’s.  He will have copies of the book for purchase at the program, as well as a CD of Civil War-era music.