North Across the River: A Civil War Trail of Tears

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Half of my ancestry fought on the North side of the Civil War, and the other half struggled for the South. I have felt like a mother whose two children were fighting to the death. Ruth Beaumont Cook portrays a refreshingly unique aspect of the suffering caused by the fighting between the States. "North Across the River" tells of the suffering of women and children who were captured and forced to leave their homes and travel on wagons and trains to the North side of the Ohio River. Their only crime: They kept the textile mills running while their men were away at war. Sherman called it "Treason," because they were making clothing for the Confederate soldiers. Readers who sympathize with either side of the War Between the States will surely agree that William Tecumseh Sherman far exceeded his military authority by driving women and children into devastating, humiliating hardship. "North Across the River" is not a Civil War book just for Southerners. It speaks to all mankind with a conscience. Ms. Cook not only did extensive research into the situation, she became acquainted with the ancestors of those characters who supplied her with pictures, facts, and nostalgia which she intricately wove into a stunning novel.

Rating:
Summary: A Book everyone (history buff or not) will enjoy
Review: I am a history buff and I thought I knew everything about the Civil War from school but I was wrong.When I read this book it changed my view of the war because she wrote down stuff that no one would have known of except the ones who lived it.It was the best book I have ever read.Even though she is my aunt its just that I never knew it was like anything like the indians trail of tears because they dont teach you things like this in school.So I recommend this book to everyone history buff or not.

Rating:
Summary: Elizabeth Wood
Review: I am glad to see this story come to the light of day. I dont remember the first time that I heard the story of the Roswell Women. It has been a part of our family history for as long as I can remember. My grear great grandmother Elizabeth Wood, her mother Margarett Sumner Wood and her mother
Mary Ann Smith Sumner were all taken North to be "desposed of". Thank you Ms. Cook for a story well told. Very good book.

Rating:
Summary: Carter Metclaf: A Story Not Taught in School
Review: I grew up in Alabama, heard thousands of Civil War stories, and thought that I knew all that had occurred. Then I read, North Across the River. The events that are discussed were never taught to me in school. The book is very detailed and well researched. Very few Civil War books that I have read have had the impact on me that this one did. The book does not stop at telling the story. As a reader I became emotional involved with the families and their own personal battles.

If you are not a history or Civil War buff you will still find this book to grab your attention and keep it from cover to cover.

Rating:
Summary: Response to Reader from Indiana
Review: I had already read Ruth Cook's excellent book about a topic that has yet to be addressed within a topic that is more common to most Americans than apple pie. Her story of the women, children and families that suffered and survived through the cruel aspects of war is one that is rarely told and even more rarely told when discussing the Civil War.

I then read a review by "A READER FROM INDIANA" who stated that the book was more of a fiction based story than it was histoircally based. So, I read the book again and using the internet as a point of research I attempted, successfully, to document many of the facts that Mrs. Cook reveals in her book.

Though there are no footnotes and only a few bibliographies, the references are certainly factually based. "Reader from Indiana" also states that there was little research done for this book. I found on the second reading, when I wasn't as emotionally invovlved with the true humans suffering, that this book's time line and depiction of events was extremely acurate. My own "mini research" backed up many of Mrs. Cook's facts.

As far as "Reader from Indidana" states that there was little first hand knowledge used in writing this book, I have to agree. The individuals involved would have to be at least 132 y/o to have been able to give it to her first hand. As I see it, first hand knowledge can be somewhat scewed by personal and emotional involvement. Where as researched information that has been documented and passed down from generation to generation is more reliable because the emotion is removed and the facts are what are presented.

As a second read, I found the book to be just as exciting and informative. This book IS well researched and factually based. This is a strong read that you will want to read again.

Rating:
Summary: A Descendant of the Roswell Mill Workers: Hopkins Family
Review: I recommend this book for everyone. I really enjoyed reading this book and would like to thank Ruth Beaumont Cook for writing this book and a beautiful job well done. I am glad Edwin M. Stanton the U.S. Secretary of War did not give "Cump" Sherman the permission he ask for: "But one thing is certain, there is a class of people, men, women, and children, who must be killed or banished before we can hope for peace and order even as far south as Tennessee." If he would have killed these people I would not be able to write this review. The book tells the story of some of my family; this is true history and my history. I truly do not know how many of members of my family were moved out of Georgia to the north but it would be interesting to know if anyone has more information about them. I have searched for my family tree information for over twenty-five years and I keep coming up against a brick wall at the Roswell Mill. My Great-Great Grandfather George W. Hopkins family worked at the Roswell Mill before and after the War Between the States. He worked in the Roswell Mill over 50 years. He had two sons in the "Roswell Guards", George T. Hopkins and Daniel D. Hopkins. He and his youngest son William "Bill" Charles Marion Hopkins fought with the Co. A. Roswell Battalion, Georgia Cavalry, which merged with the 24th Alabama Cavalry Battalion Co. B, Co. A Georgia and later merged with the 53rd Alabama Cavalry Regiment, Partisan Rangers all three cavalry units served in General Joseph Wheeler's Cavalry Corps. . I hope Ruth Beaumont Cook receives so much more information that she will have to write another book on this subject. I salute her on a job well done and I enjoyed every word.

Rating:
Summary: With this book, history is actually enjoyable!
Review: I'm normally the type to enjoy historical books, but they also normally put me to sleep. Not so with "North Across the River"! When I delved into the tale that Cook spins, I couldn't stop! It was obvious that the author did an incredible amount of research and fact-checking in the process of writing this book. Two thumbs up for an excellent historical novel that kept me interested!

Rating:
Summary: I Hate History
Review: I've always hated history books, until now. I began to read North Across The River because it took place in an area close to my home. I was pleasantly prodded to continue because it was not just dry facts, names and dates, but had successfully fleshed out REAL people, facing REAL challenges, hopes and heartaches. Ruth Cook brought to life a tiny sliver of time, in an image evoking, caring style that makes me appreciate past times...and past people who braved, in an every day way, what I'm not sure I could. No more hate of THIS history, thanks to Cook's in depth glimpse into a small sampling of life in and beyond Georgia. Black and white photography, mostly taken by Barney Cook, lends a true visual to marry well with the words. Good read about long gone people brought back to life, thanks to Ruth Cook.

Rating:
Summary: Reads like a well-plotted novel.
Review: This book is sure to please all students of American history. It's a well-written account of the plight of the Civil War refugees in Georgia...but reads like a novel. I got caught up in the lives of the people and kept turning pages...and I'm not a Civil War buff! Ruth Cook is a master at keeping the reader interested in this fascinating story. You will find yourself in awe of the people who lived these lives. You will follow their trails and cry their tears. Their important story was left largely untold until Cook unearthed the tale and gave it sparkle. Cook's research and details are also very thorough and impecable. This story is another rich tale in the tapestry of southern history.

Rating:
Summary: north across the river
Review: Well, I had to come on to Amazon.com and tell everybody about this great book that I read right before Thanksgiving. My mother suggested it to me, although I do not read many books. I tried it anyway, and was pleasently intrigued, as well as moved by this story from long ago. I could not put it down. This story brought tears to my eyes at least twice. I felt as if I was on that wagon,in that mill, on that hill- well you'll have to read the book. Ruth Cook did a wonderful job on a project that must have had many hours of research involved. Thank you for bringing this story to life.