North Carolina, the War, and POD publishers

One good thing about the advent of POD publishers is that more obscure works that don’t interest large publishers can get into the hands of readers. One bad thing is that nobody knows that they are there.

Today, I was looking around Amazon, and I came up with a couple – anyone ever heard of these?

North Carolina Civil War Regiments: North Carolina Union Civil War Regiments, Edenton Bell Battery, 3rd North Carolina Mounted Infantry

Ok, the title alone does not make any sense and there is no author. The description is: “Chapters: North Carolina Union Civil War Regiments, Edenton Bell Battery, 3rd North Carolina Mounted Infantry, List of North Carolina Civil War Confederate Units, 50th North Carolina Regiment, 26th North Carolina Regiment, 46th North Carolina Infantry Regiment, List of North Carolina Union Civil War Regiments. Excerpt: Edenton Bell Battery refers to an artillery unit from North Carolina that served for the Confederate States of America in the American Civil War, the four named guns the unit served throughout the war, and to an American Civil War reenactment group based in Edenton, North Carolina inspired by the original unit. The Edenton Bell Battery, 3rd Battalion North Carolina Light Artillery Company B, were originally recruited in March 1862 as the Albemarle Artillery by Edenton lawyer William Badham, Jr., as most of the men were from North Carolina's Albemarle Sound area. Drilled as artillery at Richmond, Virginia in April and May, 1862, the unit found themselves in danger of being designated an infantry company, because of the scarcity of cannon available to outfit battery companies. A captain was dispatched back to Edenton for help. Early in the war, Confederate leader P.G.T. Beauregard, recognizing the immediate need for large metal sources for artillery pieces, suggested one expedient would be for local communities to donate bells from churches, courthouses, and other institutions. A song, "Melt the Bells," widely reprinted in southern presses, inspired many in Chowan and surrounding counties to donate bells for recasting. After four bells from the Edenton, North Carolina area were offered, the Albemarle Artillery was renamed the Edenton Bell Battery….”

Ok, how about this one: The North Carolina Negro in the Civil War by Dr. Joseph Askew. The product description reads: “The Black man played an important role in the Civil War and was the main work force that brought it to an immediate end once they were allowed to enlist. Firstly, the Civil War was thought of as a war betweem [sic] White men. But the issue of slavery had not been resolved. The Union was the first to free the slaves and then allow them to participate in the Civil War. These brave Black Bad Men of Color fought in every major battle and received medals of honor. History has forgotten these courageous men and in fact has excluded them for the history books. The Black Experience Call acknowledges some of these Black Soldiers who participated in the Civil War.”

Did I read that right? “brave Black Bad Men of Color”? And these “brave “Black Bad Men of Color” fought in every major battle? Hmmm… To quote our pal Delmar from O Brother, Where art Thou?—“That don’t make no sense.”