author
1844–1926
A Civil War veteran from Ohio, he turned his own service with the 149th Ohio Volunteer Infantry into a brisk firsthand narrative. His best-known book offers a young soldier’s view of marching, battle, and captivity during the summer of 1864.
George Perkins was an American writer remembered for A Summer in Maryland and Virginia; Or, Campaigning with the 149th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The book identifies him as "George Perkins, 1844-1926," and presents his account of the regiment’s service in Maryland and the Shenandoah Valley during the Civil War.
In the book’s foreword, Perkins explains that he wrote from memories that had stayed with him since youth, and that he had also kept notes soon after returning from service. He says he did not mean to write a full regimental history, but a clear sketch of the main events as he experienced them.
That gives his work much of its appeal today: it feels personal, direct, and close to the ground. Rather than a distant overview of the war, Perkins leaves behind the voice of someone who was there and wanted his comrades’ story remembered.