A Civil War Correspondent in New Orleans - by Albert Gaius Hills (Paperback)

About the Book

This book contains the transcribed journals and reports of a war correspondent for the Boston Journal covering the campaign that captured New Orleans in 1862. Hills' journals begin in November 1861 and describe the Union preparations for the main assault and subsequent move up the Mississippi river, the attack on forts Jackson and St. Phillip, and his impression of the captured city. His observations from Union vessels in the Gulf Squadron as he covered the war in the Gulf are also included. His articles for the Boston Journal have herein been set near timely journal entries along with other notes to help the reader understand the context of what was going on in the war at the same time. A narrative of Hills' life using available records and family documents is included.

Book Synopsis

This book contains the transcribed journals and reports of a war correspondent for the Boston Journal covering the campaign that captured New Orleans in 1862. Hills' journals begin in November 1861 and describe the Union preparations for the main assault and subsequent move up the Mississippi river, the attack on forts Jackson and St. Phillip, and his impression of the captured city. His observations from Union vessels in the Gulf Squadron as he covered the war in the Gulf are also included. His articles for the Boston Journal have herein been set near timely journal entries along with other notes to help the reader understand the context of what was going on in the war at the same time. A narrative of Hills' life using available records and family documents is included.

Review Quotes

"Valuable"-Civil War News; "valuable source"-Blue & Gray Magazine; "this is a valuable work not only because we see the war as it was seen, without knowing what was to follow, but also because Hills gives us glimpses of life as it was lived, so we see little things that reveal the cost of living, some peeks at private life, and more"-The NYMAS Review; "valuable...a useful resource for anyone seeking to get closer to the events"-Strategy Page; "offering the unique perspective a war correspondent...the text will appeal to Civil War history buffs as well as individuals interested in reading a personal history of the period"-Reference & Research Book News.

About the Author

Albert Gaius Hills (1829-1879) spent most of his life as a reporter for the Boston Journal and covered the Civil War campaigns of generals Butler and Banks in Louisiana. Gary L. Dyson graduated from Oregon State University and after a career as an environmental with the City of Gaithersburg, he started a business, Dyson Genealogy and Historical Research. He lives in Mount Airy, Maryland.