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Michael Shaffer traveled to rural southwest Virginia for a church history talk; the story of a Methodist church that was built a year after the Civil War ended. Afterwards, an older lady presented a trunk full of papers and letters from Tom Colley, her relative who spent years as a member of the 1st Virginia Cavalry. She asked Michael to take the materials and create a book. Michael agreed on the spot. 

From that trunk of materials, Michael Shaffer began piecing together Tom Colley’s story into the book, “Of Memory of Self and Comrades.” This collection of letters recounts Tom Colley’s service in the including his near death experience on the battlefield as well as the demons that appeared long after the bullets stopped.

Michael and Bill also discuss ways to tell the story of the South and the recent controversy over Confederate monuments. 

Michael’s Website

http://www.civilwarhistorian.net

Amazon book link

https://www.amazon.com/Memory-Self-Comrades-Recollections-Virginia/dp/162190430X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546710057&sr=8-1&keywords=in+memory+of+self+and+comrades