Author: sandramervillehart

Within the Candle’s Glow by Karen Campbell Prough

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Ella Dessa’s Story Series, Book 2

My interest was captured on the first page.

Ella Dessa is near seventeen now and it was time Jim McKnapp realized it. She’s loved him from the age of twelve but will he—or any man—ever love her enough to see beyond her scars?

Samuel McKnapp is Ella Dessa’s best friend but longs to be more. He’s seen the way she looks at his older brother, Jim.

Jim loves Ella Dessa. He’s aware that Samuel loves her, too. The two of them are closer in age and the best of friends. Should he walk away?

But Ella Dessa has also caught the eye of a third man—this one not so innocent.

Set in 1840, this story captivated me from beginning to end. I kept reaching for the novel even when I had other things to do. The way the characters talk and think feels authentic to the time and place. I loved it.

Recommend!

-Sandra Merville Hart

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas   – Use coupon code SandraMHart for a 20% discount on Lighthouse Publishing books!

 

 

Bread Sauce Recipe from 1841

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When I saw this recipe under the “Gravies” section in an 1841 cookbook, I thought I’d give it a try.

Finely chop a small onion. This recipe calls for onion that “has been boiled in three waters.” The cook didn’t explain why this was important.

In a small saucepan, boil the onion in water. When it begins to boil, remove from heat and strain the onion through a colander. Return onion to the pan with fresh water. Repeat until the onion has boiled in three waters.

Set the strained onion aside.

In a small saucepan, add 1 cup of milk and ½ cup of bread crumbs. Heat on medium high just until boiling. Then stir in the reserved onion. Reduce heat to simmer the mixture for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

The recipe called for butter the size of a walnut. I guessed this to be about 3 tablespoons. After the mixture simmers about 20 minutes, add 3 tablespoons butter. Return to a boil and then remove from the heat.

I tried this on chicken and expected to enjoy the flavor more than I did. The onion flavor was pretty strong … not my favorite. The grainy consistency of the sauce might pair better with roast beef.

I’d love to hear if you try it.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Sources

Hale, Sarah Josepha. Early American Cookery, Dover Publications, Inc., 1996.

 

General Maury Surrenders District of the Gulf

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Confederate Major General Dabney Maury, the Commander of the Confederate District of the Gulf, was running out of options on April 11, 1865. Two of his major forts, Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, had fallen and were now under Union control.

Maury had retreated to Mobile with his depleted forces of 4,500, hoping to eventually join with General Joseph Johnston’s Army of Tennessee.

The general began evacuating Mobile on April 11th. Troops removed their supplies, burned cotton, and dismantled works. Maury led his soldiers to Meridian, Mississippi.

On April 12th, the mayor of Mobile, Robert H. Slough, surrendered his city.

When Maury learned that Johnston surrendered to Sherman, his plans of joining the Army of Tennessee collapsed.

Maury surrendered to Union General Canby at Citronelle, Alabama, on May 4th.

He and his troops were paroled on May 14th.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Sources

“Conclusion of the American Civil War,” Wikipedia.com, 2018/03/21 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conclusion_of_the_American_Civil_War.

“Conclusion of the American Civil War,” Wikiwand.com, 2018/03/22 http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Conclusion_of_the_American_Civil_War.

“Dabney Herndon Maury,” Wikisource, 2018/03/22 https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Southern_Historical_Society_Papers/Volume_27/Dabney_Herndon_Maury.

Kane, Robert. “Battle of Spanish Fort,” Encyclopedia of Alabama, 2018/03/25 http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-3730.

Long, E.B. and Long, Barbara. The Civil War Day by Day: An Almanac 1861-1865, A Da Capo Paperback, 1971.

Plante, Trevor K. “Ending the Bloodshed,” National Archives, 2018/03/21

https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2015/spring/cw-surrenders.html.

 

Home for Christmas by Ruth Reid

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An Amish Christmas Love: Four Novellas

Ellie Whetstone inherits her aunt’s home in an Amish community and plans to sell it. Her life is filled with traveling to dog shows for her poodle, Lulu. She can’t live in the rustic home with no furnace or electricity even though the widower next door captures her attention.

Ezra Mast, the widower next door to Ellie, has his hands full raising his daughter, Allison, and trying to figure out what’s causing her seizures. Ellie’s dog has formed a bond with his daughter that draws him to its owner. Yet he can’t fall for an Englischer.

I enjoyed this story. The characters’ struggles are believable. My heart was touched by the bond between Allison and Lulu.

Looking forward to reading the other novellas in this collection.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Christianbook.com

Egg Sauce Recipe from 1841

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When I saw this recipe under the “Gravies” section in an 1841 cookbook, it didn’t look very appetizing. I sometimes eat boiled eggs for breakfast and thought this was worth a try.

Hard boil two eggs. When cooled, chop them and set aside.

Cut a ¼ cup of butter into small pieces. Put these in small saucepan with a heaping teaspoon of flour and 1 tablespoon of milk.

Stir the ingredients and melt on a medium heat.

Once melted, add 6 tablespoons of water and stir.

Let the mixture cook without stirring for 1 minute. Then pick up the pan and let the melted butter roll around the butter. Set it back on the burner and leave it alone for another minute. Roll the mixture again.

Repeat this until it begins to simmer, probably two or three times. Then do nothing until the mixture boils. It will be as thick as cream when done.

Stir in the reserved eggs.

I tried this egg mixture on chicken. Yummy! The egg sauce was even delicious by itself, though I added a little salt to the finished dish.

I’d love to hear if you try it.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Sources

Hale, Sarah Josepha. Early American Cookery, Dover Publications, Inc., 1996.

 

Battle at Fort Michilimackinac

/ sandramervillehart / 3 Comments

Today’s post was written by talented editor and author, Pegg Thomas. The location of her book is a place I’ve longed to visit. Reading and loving one of her stories,  Embattled Hearts, has made me look forward to reading this newest novella.  Welcome to Historical Nibbles, Pegg!

 First, let me help you pronounce that fort, it’s mish-ee-lee-mack-in-aw. Right. Exactly how it’s spelled.

This fort sits at the top of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, at the point where the two peninsulas are the closest. It’s called the Straits of Mackinac and today is spanned by the very impressive 5-mile-long Mackinac Bridge. The fort has been rebuilt on its original foundation and is the longest ongoing archeological dig in the United States. It’s open for tourists and staffed with a good crew of reenactors to make the experience memorable.

My May release, Her Redcoat, which is part of The Backcountry Brides collection, takes place here in 1763 during the Indian uprising, Pontiac’s Rebellion. While Pontiac organized multiple tribes and led the uprising against Fort Detroit, other Indians who supported him also attacked Fort Pitt and Fort Niagara. Those major forts stood against the attacks, while eight smaller forts were overrun. Including Fort Michilimackinac.

Pontiac and his followers had been used to the level-handed relationship they’d built with the French fur traders. When the British ousted the French and moved into their forts, the Indians rebelled against the arrogant and heavy-handed methods of the British.

In the background of my story is the history of Fort Michilimackinac. The British commander with his forty-some troops was vastly outnumbered by upwards of five hundred warriors. But in his full British arrogance, the commander could not see the danger all around him. He could not believe that savages—as he thought of them—could best the mightiest military in the world.

They did.

The results were devastating. Most of the regular soldiers were slaughtered. The officers were captured and held for ransom. There was one man, a British fur trader, who escaped the attack. He wrote his first-hand account of the story which has been made into the book Attack at Michilimackinac 1763. If you’re interested in this time period and the unrest in the backcountry of Britain’s American colonies, you’ll enjoy this book.

-Pegg Thomas

Bio:

Pegg Thomas lives on a hobby farm in Northern Michigan with Michael, her husband of *mumble* years. A life-long history geek, she writes “History with a Touch of Humor.” When not working or writing, Pegg can be found in her barn, her garden, her kitchen, or sitting at her spinning wheel creating yarn to turn into her signature wool shawls.

Her Redcoat teaser:

Laurette Pettigrew grew up in the northern frontier. Henry Bedlow arrived against his will. Their chance meeting changes everything. Will a deadly clash of cultures keep them from finding happiness?

Buy her book on Amazon or Christianbook.com.

Subscribe to Pegg’s Newsletter.

Enter Pegg’s Giveaway for this beautiful shawl by subscribing to her newsletter!

Pegg gives away one of her signature handspun, handknit, wool shawls with the release of each new story. To celebrate the release of Her Redcoat, Pegg is giving away the shawl Northern Lilacs. The Straits of Mackinac are known for their abundance of lilacs each spring and this shawl showcases their varied and gorgeous colors. Everyone who subscribes to Pegg’s newsletter is automatically entered in the drawing.

 

Women of the War by Frank Moore

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Their Heroism and Self-sacrifice

True Stories of brave women in the Civil War

This nonfiction resource book shows the many different ways that women served in the Civil War effort.

There are examples of women as soldiers, such Anna Etheridge and Kady Brownell.

Women worked in the Sanitary and Christian Commissions, serving the soldiers.

The women of Philadelphia volunteered at The Cooper’s Shop Saloon, preparing food for Union soldiers passing through the city. There was also a hospital where they received medical care.

Women also traveled to Gettysburg to help with thousands of wounded.

Originally published in 1866, the book includes many examples of women going above and beyond to help soldiers.

Great book for Civil War research and history lovers.

I read this book to learn more about women who served in the Civil War as soldiers as part of my research for my upcoming November release, A Musket in My Hands.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Amazon

Melted Butter Recipe from 1841

/ sandramervillehart / 2 Comments

I thought melted butter was simply … melted butter.

It was so fun to find this recipe listed under “Gravies” in an 1841 cookbook. I had to try it.

The cook advises to always use the best quality of sweet butter.

Cut a ¼ cup of butter into small pieces. Put these in small saucepan with a heaping teaspoon of flour and 1 tablespoon of milk.

Stir the ingredients and melt on a medium heat.

Once melted, add 6 tablespoons of water and stir.

Let the mixture cook without stirring for 1 minute. Then pick up the pan and let the melted butter roll around the pan. Set it back on the burner and leave it alone for another minute. Roll the mixture again.

Repeat this until it begins to simmer, probably two or three times. Then do nothing until the mixture boils. (Mine took about 2 minutes.) It will be as thick as cream when done.

My husband and I tried this on chicken. Yummy! My husband is a picky eater and he found it delicious, too.

Yay! We found a new idea for dinners simply by adding this butter.

I’d love to hear if you try it.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Sources

Hale, Sarah Josepha. Early American Cookery, Dover Publications, Inc., 1996.

 

 

Signed my Fourth Book Contract!

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Thrilled to sign my fourth book contract with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas! This one is for my novella, Trail’s End, that will be part of “Smitten Novella Collection – The Cowboys” with Pegg Thomas as editor. This collection releases on August 1, 2019.

My other three books are Civil War romances. The third one, A Musket in My Hands, follows two sisters who disguise themselves as Confederate soldiers and join the Confederate army in the fall of 1864. I’m so excited that this novel releases on November 30th, the anniversary date of the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee—the novel’s major battle! More about that later!

I’ve finished the bulk of my research for my cowboy hero who meets my heroine in the wild cowtown of Abilene, Kansas. Now to the fun part–writing it!

-Sandra Merville Hart

Son of Former President Surrenders Confederate Command

/ sandramervillehart / 2 Comments

Confederate Lieutenant General Richard Taylor, son of President Zachary Taylor and brother-in-law of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, began the war as Colonel of the 9th Louisiana Infantry. He fought in the Battle of Bull Run and slowly rose through the ranks.

By April of 1865, he commanded the Confederate Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana. Taylor, leading about 10,000 troops, knew the Confederacy was collapsing when news of Lee’s surrender at Appomattox reached him.

Taylor was honest with his 10,000 troops. He felt that while General Joseph Johnston was still in the fight, they must support him. He also worried for the safety of President Davis and other Government authorities who might need their protection.

His men, including General Nathan Bedford Forrest, joined him in remaining vigilant.

Then Taylor learned that Johnston surrendered to Union General Sherman.

Taylor agreed to meet with Union Major General Edward Canby. The meeting took place north of Mobile, Alabama. They agreed to a 48-hour truce during their May 2nd conversation. The two generals then ate lunch together and enjoyed lively music.

Taylor agreed to the same terms as Lee and Grant. On May 4th, he surrendered at Citronelle, Alabama. Located along the railroad, Citronelle was between Canby’s Mobile headquarters and Taylor’s headquarters in Meridian, Mississippi.

A few days later, Forrest surrendered his cavalry corps.

There is a small park with markers and picnic tables at the location of Taylor’s surrender. More information can be found at the Citronelle Historical Museum.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Sources

“Conclusion of the American Civil War,” Wikipedia.com, 2018/03/21 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conclusion_of_the_American_Civil_War.

“Richard Taylor,” Civil War Trust, 2018/03/22 https://www.civilwar.org/learn/biographies/richard-taylor.

Plante, Trevor K. “Ending the Bloodshed,” National Archives, 2018/03/21

https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2015/spring/cw-surrenders.html.

“Surrender at Citronelle,” ExploreSouthernHistory.com, 2018/03/22 http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/citronelle.html.