Strange stories of the Civil War

L. E. (Lucius Eugene) Chittenden

1824–1900

A lawyer, banker, and public servant in Civil War–era Washington, he later turned his experiences into vivid historical writing. His books helped preserve firsthand stories of Abraham Lincoln’s circle and the workings of the Treasury during a pivotal moment in U.S. history.

A Scottish journalist and novelist, he wrote brisk adventure stories for young readers and also turned his eye to local history in books about Stirling and its people. His work moves easily between sea stories, newsroom tales, and affectionate portraits of nineteenth-century Scottish life.

G. A. Forsyth

A frontier soldier turned memoirist, he wrote vivid firsthand accounts of the U.S. Army on the western plains and the Civil War era. His books are remembered for their action, detail, and close-up view of 19th-century military life.

John Habberton

1842–1921

Best remembered for the wildly popular comic novel "Helen’s Babies," this American writer and journalist had a gift for turning everyday family chaos into warm, lively humor. His career also stretched through newspaper criticism and fiction shaped by 19th-century American life.

William J. Henderson

A longtime American music critic and journalist, he helped early 20th-century readers make sense of opera, orchestral music, and the changing concert world. His writing mixed clear explanation with strong opinions, making him a lively guide to musical life in his era.

A 19th-century writer of fiction and cultural essays, she wrote for young readers and also turned her attention to art, music, and literature. Her work moved easily between girls’ stories and thoughtful pieces for magazines such as Harper’s.

A practical late-19th-century maritime writer, he is best remembered for books that explained navigation, seamanship, and yacht law in plain, useful terms for working sailors and enthusiasts alike.