Stars and Bars over Philadelphia

About the Book

This is a novel that explores “what might have been” had Lt. Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson survived the Battle of Chancellorsville. In October 1861, Jackson proposed a bold plan to his superior officer, Maj. Gen. Gustavus Smith: to cross the Potomac into Pennsylvania and “destroy industrial establishments wherever we found them…close the coal mines, seize and, if necessary, destroy the manufactories and commerce of Philadelphia…” Through his friend, Cong. Alexander Boteler, he urged the Davis Administration to adopt his plan. In February 1863, after a winter of talks with General Robert E. Lee, he ordered his Topographer, Jed Hotchkiss, to make him maps of the roads to Philadelphia, and to keep it a ”profound secret.” Together, Lee and Jackson plan a campaign to invade Pennsylvania in the summer of 1863, capture Philadelphia, overturn the Lincoln administration, secure European recognition, resolve the Slavery Question, and win independence for the Confederate States of America.

About the Author

David Walter became interested in the Civil War after reading Bruce Catton’s trilogy on the Army of the Potomac during the centennial of the War. He earned bachelors and masters degrees from Drexel University and spent a long career in accounting and finance for a variety of manufacturing and service businesses. He is an officer in the Brandywine Valley Civil War Roundtable, Chair of the Westtown Township Historical Commission, and a member of several historical societies. His other interests include travel, wine tasting, Libertarian politics and all aspects of railroad history. He and his wife, Laura, live in West Chester, Pa., a block from the site of a Union camp for paroled prisoners awaiting exchange. This is his first book. Don Ernsberger has had a lifelong interest in Civil War history and in battlefield tactics, writing five books on the war specializing in original research in seldom covered topics such as Meade’s Breakthrough at Fredericksburg & the Pettigrew-Trimble Charge at Gettysburg. He taught history and philosophy for 31 years after graduating from Penn State (BA) and Temple University (MA). He frequently speaks at Civil War and conducts tours at several Civil War battlefields. He has reenacted for 16 years with the his wife and son in the 69th Penna “Irish Volunteers” and can be found hiking across battlefields or a back pack trail, playing his guitar or riding his wave runner; working in libertarian causes, studying philosophy or traveling the world.