Strange stories of the Civil War

L. E. (Lucius Eugene) Chittenden

1824–1900

A Vermont lawyer, banker, and public servant who moved through some of the most turbulent years in American history, he later turned those experiences into lively historical writing. He is especially remembered for firsthand accounts of Abraham Lincoln’s administration and for a long career that joined politics, finance, and letters.

A lively newspaperman turned storyteller, he brought late-19th-century travel, adventure, and city life to the page with an eye for vivid detail. His books range from travel writing and sea stories to fiction for young readers, shaped by years of reporting in the United States and abroad.

G. A. Forsyth

A Union cavalry officer whose firsthand Civil War writing carries the grit and urgency of lived experience. Best remembered for his military career, he also left behind vivid accounts that connect battlefield history with personal memory.

John Habberton

1842–1921

A 19th-century American humorist and journalist, he is best remembered for the hugely popular Helen's Babies, a comic look at family life that helped make him a household name. His career also stretched into newspaper criticism and fiction shaped by post–Civil War America.

William J. Henderson

A major voice in American music criticism, he helped shape how opera and classical music were understood by newspaper readers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His books brought musical history, composers, and performance to a wide audience in a lively, accessible way.

A 19th-century American writer whose books ranged from spirited fiction for girls to lively introductions to music and literature for young readers. Her work shows a talent for making culture, history, and everyday moral choices feel approachable and engaging.

A seasoned sea captain and nautical educator, he wrote practical books that opened up the language, customs, and working life of ships for a wide readership. His work ranges from compact navigation guides to detailed reference books and an etiquette manual shaped by real experience at sea.