To Forge a Nation

Recreating heretofore little-known-but important history is an obligation of a conscientious historical novelist. Little known but essential history is found in To Forge a Nation.

During the second half of the 19th century, driven by hope and ambition, men and women of all European nationalities came to the New Country, with some North American geological areas having newspapers, books and conversation in the native language. But the trade and legislative language of business, intelligentsia and national leadership was English, and many immigrants, much of the American melting pot, would need to learn English. Competent teachers, often in one-room church schools, would be bilingual in English and whatever the community common language was. Meanwhile, religious persecution continued in Europe, attracting many more to America, and while most American histories deal lightly with the missionary movement in the U.S., it was significant.

Most immigrants bypassed American customs when coming to America, as did main character Amos Nordquist who, initially searching for an uncle already immigrated and enlisted in the Union Army, immediately found himself in the latter part of the American Civil War where he saw the aftermath of the Shenandoah Valley burning, and the battle that placed the nails in the Confederate coffin: Sailor's Creek. The 1865 Battle of Sailor's Creek also solidified the apotheosis of Gen. George Armstrong Custer. Little Big Horn's fame is explained in one word: Custer. But, 11 years earlier, Sailor's Creek had made it so.

Following the formal surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia by Robert E. Lee, Amos witnessed the laying down of arms ceremony and silent, poignant exchange between Union General Joshua Chamberlain and Confederate General John Gordon at Appomattox Courthouse. As Gordon approached, Chamberlain gave the command for buglers to sound the Carry Arms marching salute. Seeing what was happening, General Gordon spoke to his horse, "Up Marye," and the horse reared as Gordon pulled his saber from its scabbard, raised it aloft, and as Marye came down, the trained horse bowed while Gordon touched the saber tip to his boot, saluting Chamberlain and the Union troops. He turned Marye around and gave the Carry Arms order to his own marching troops, who responded in kind, both sides honoring the other - honor for honor - along the Richmond-Lynchburg Stage Road.

Thereafter Amos Nordquist headed north, joined by an ex-slave, Abraham Cole, and as they rode, Amos gained significant insight into antebellum slavery. Going their separate ways north of West Virginia, Amos continued to Minnesota, where he was ordained and began planting churches, meeting a beautiful woman, getting married and having children while braving Minnesota winters.

The church called him west to Murray, Idaho springing up among gold strikes, where he ...