The Starbuck Chronicles

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The Starbuck Chronicles are a series of four books following the exploits of a young Boston-born Confederate Officer Nathaniel Starbuck in the early battles of the American Civil War, written by British author Bernard Cornwell, who also wrote the Sharpe Series.

[edit] Synopsis

The books begin in Richmond, Virginia after the fall of Fort Sumter, Charleston, South Carolina when Starbuck is trying to visit his friend Adam Faulconer. Starbuck is saved from an attack by Richmond's patriotic residents (who think he is a Yankee spy) by Faulconer's rich landowner father, Washington Faulconer. Faulconer wishes to raise a regiment to fight the Yankees, Starbuck is appointed on of Faulconer's aide with the rank of second lieutenant. He is there by circumstance not for politics. Starbuck is then tasked with recruiting a tough Mexican-American War veteran, Thomas Truslow who lives in the fictional Faulconer County, to the regiment, he succeeds by only dedicating the grave of Truslow's wife and marrying his wayward daughter Sally Truslow. Many other events occur between this and the start of the hostilities and the rather pompously named Faulconer Legion marches of to the First Battle of Bull Run. It is here that Starbuck alienates himself from Faulconer. This skeleton is elaborated upon in the article on the book Rebel. The next book, "Copperhead", follows Starbuck during the period of the Union invasion of the Confederacy by the Army of the Potomac under General McLellan. The Third book, "Battle Flag", is set in the aftermath of the defeat of McLellan. The final book "The Bloody Ground", follows Starbuck as the Confederate army under Robert E. Lee invades the North, culminating in the Battle of Antietam Creek.