Reviewed by Barbara W.
The book, written by Robert Hicks, is historical fiction, but the underlying story is true. Carrie McGovock and her freed slave, Mariah, find themselves commandeered into the role of nurses to the wounded and dying men who fall in the Battle of Franklin (near Nashville, TN). Carrie’s home, Carnton Plantation, becomes a Confederate army field hospital during this bloody 5 hour battle in which 9,200 men died. Later someone decides to plow over the field where 1,500 of these soldiers lay buried, The core of the book is the story of how Carrie managed to have all these graves dug up and then have the victims reburied in her personal cemetery in her backyard.
I recommend this link to anyone who is interested because it has a video in which the author takes the viewer to the house and out in the backyard so one can see the many markers. There is also a scrapbook to click on to see pictures of Carrie, Mariah, and the house.
http://www.widowofthesouth.com/
