Civil War letters from local soldiers focus of Thursday talks
By NewsPress Now
An author with local ties will discuss her new Civil War book in two presentations Thursday.
Tonya Graham McQuade will share excerpts from “A State Divided: The Civil War Letters of James Calaway Hale and Benjamin Petree of Andrew County, Missouri, 1862-65,” which includes 50 previously unpublished letters written by two of her ancestors.
The first presentation will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 3, at the St. Joseph Museums, 3406 Frederick Ave. Spots can be reserved at www.stjosephmuseum.org/event or by calling 816-232-8471. Her second talk of the day will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Andrew County Museum, 202 E. Duncan Drive in Savannah.
Both of McQuade’s ancestors fought in the Civil War. Hale was in battles in Missouri, Kentucky and Arkansas, while Petree was part of the Carolinas Campaign and the Grand Procession of the Union Army in Washington, D.C. to celebrate Union victory. Both survived the war and returned to their farms in Andrew County.
McQuade will explain why many people believe the Civil War started in Missouri as part of her presentation and also share items she will be loaning to the Andrew County Museum for an upcoming exhibit.
