J. Keith Jones

It is always an honor to have your work reviewed by the good people at Emerging Civil War. The first sentence is a great lead-in: The Second Edition of The Boys of Diamond Hill: The Lives and Civil War Letters of the Boyd Family of Abbeville County, South Carolina serves as an excellent example of the fact that period primary sources continue to emerge from family and private collections to inform us about the lives and experiences of common soldiers and those on the home front.

Please click above to read the full review.

What a pleasant thing to wake up to. I was sent this review of The Boys of Diamond Hill from McFarland Publishers and wanted to share it with you.

Click here to read it on their site.

It is my distinct honor to continue the journey of documenting the lives and service of the Boyd brothers of Abbeville County in their service to their state. In the 1860s, this entire family answered the call, as young men of every generation do, for one simple reason: their mother state requires it of them. Men of all generations, especially past, have been trained to step up when their homes and families are threatened with invasion. This non-slave-holding family was no different.

Since the first edition’s printing, several important developments demanded further work. The largest being the revelation of around 30 additional letters, privately held and previously unpublished. The next thing being the discovery of photographs of two of the brothers, believed to be Daniel and Pressley Boyd, among the papers of James Robert Boyd, the only child of Daniel Boyd. These photographs are featured on a newly redesigned cover. Also, more information on Boyd family members was uncovered, which brings further richness to their story.

From the book description: In 1861, brothers Daniel and Pressley Boyd left their farm in Abbeville County, South Carolina to join the Confederate army. William, Thomas and Andrew soon followed, along with brother-in-law Fenton Hall. During the Civil War, they collectively fought in almost every theater of the conflict and saw firsthand every aspect of soldier life—from death and illness to friendly fire and desertion. By war’s end only Daniel survived. Based on their extensive personal correspondence, this updated edition includes 30 never before published letters, along with new research revealing additional family background and undiscovered information about the fates of the Boyd brothers and other family members, as well as the family’s origins in Ireland.

Pre-order your copy through the publisher by clicking on this link.

Legendary football coach of the University of Georgia Bulldogs, Vince Dooley, who coached them to a national championship–and the coach of the legendary Hershel Walker–is also a noted author and historian. Coach Dooley has done me the distinct honor of writing an endorsement for the soon to be released Echoes From Gettysburg: Georgia’s Memories and Images. It will be released within the next two weeks. Many thanks to Coach Dooley, one of my boyhood heroes for this.

A Congratulatory salute to J. Keith Jones for updating and revising his previous work from 2013 on the Georgians who participated in the Gettysburg campaign.  This new work entitled Echoes From Gettysburg: Georgia’s Memories and Images is a significant update to those who fought so hard for their state and its cause.  For instance, there were no images or maps in the first book but in this updated version there are forty-six photographs of individuals and locations and eight maps.  A significant improvement from the first venture the author would agree.

Georgians were in the thick of the three-day Gettysburg battle especially during the first and second days and during the retreat back to Virginia where certain regiments performed as rear guards.  The direct involvement by the soldiers of the ‘Peach State’ is evidenced by the more than 2,700 causalities including many regimental commanders of the more than 13,000 Georgians who were engaged.

There are many Georgia descendants (including the author) today who will be proud of this book that shines a light on their ancestors who gallantly fought and sacrificed for their state on the Hollowed Grounds of the most famous and well documented battle of the entire war.

Vince Dooley
Co-author of The Legion’s Fighting Bulldog: The Civil War Correspondence of William Gaston Delony, Lieutenant Colonel of Cobb’s Georgia Legion Cavalry, and Rosa Delony, 1853-1863
Former Head Football Coach And Athletic Director University of Georgia

Coming soon. Final details being worked out, but this title is expected for release before March. So, here’s the cover for the book many have been requesting Echoes From Gettysburg: Georgia’s Memories and Images by J. Keith Jones. This book is the rebirth of Georgia Remembers Gettysburg which has been out of print for several years and is a much sought after rare book. The new edition contains additional material, as well as maps and photographs. The front cover is graced by the Don Troiani painting of Gordon’s Brigade emerging from the woods at Rock Creek to charge Blocher’s Knoll on July 1, 1863.