Did you know that perhaps 40,000 Canadian men and women fought on both sides of the American Civil War, an estimated 4,500 dying from disease and 3,500 from combat? Here’s the source.
Perth writer Larry Cotton recounts some of their stories in “Rich Man’s War, Poor Man’s Fight: Crimps, Skedaddlers, and Bounty Hunters — The American Civil War From A Canadian Perspective.”
Regular reader Brenda Turner, having picked up the book in Almonte, sent these comments.
“I had had no idea so many Canadians were involved. And I also had no idea how many Canadians were gotten drunk by Yanks looking for new recruits to the Northern Army, and woke up already enlisted across the border. And if they escaped to go back to Canada they were at risk of being shot for deseration.
Cobbled together but interesting stories about some Canadians who went voluntarily to the US to join in the fight, especially a few Canadian doctors. But others did it too. If times were tight, it was 3 square meals a day. That’s how the British Army got so many Scottish soldiers.”
The book may be purchased direct from the author for $30 via e-transfer to ldcotton@sympatico.ca or cheque payable to Larry Cotton and mailed to:
P.O. Box 2008,
57 Foster St,
Perth, ON
K7H 3M9.
It’s also available at “better” bookstores in Carleton Place, Almonte, Arnprior and Perth.
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