D.L. Rogers New Book 'Elizabeth's War: Missouri 1863'

Author D.L. Rogers Tells Heartbreaking, Little-Known Story of the Civil War and General Order No. 11 in New Book 'Elizabeth's War: Missouri 1863'

Kansas City, MO - "Elizabeth's War: Missouri 1863," recently written by Missouri author D.L. Rogers was released by Two Trails Publishing of Independence, Missouri, as well as on Amazon Kindle (http://amzn.to/1hBqKTu) and Smashwords.com (http://bit.ly/1ih12OY) on June 7, 2014 and is a historically accurate depiction of residents of Cass County, MO during the Civil War prior to and during the issuance of General Order No. 11 that gave residents, mostly women, children and the elderly, 15 days to vacate their homes—many got only 15 minutes—before those homes were destroyed, leaving them destitute with nowhere to go in blazing Missouri temperatures. This gripping novel takes readers on a heartbreaking journey of the Civil War hardships in Cass County, MO and surrounding counties as Elizabeth and her family struggle to survive amidst the destruction around her. Rogers’ research was gathered from local historians and authors, as well as history books of that era to ensure readers are not only entertained, but also learn historical facts.

Most authors and historians write about the bigger battles of the Civil War and how they affected both the North and South. Few convey the struggles suffered by those living in Middle America whose citizens’ beliefs were equally split between both sides.  Whether Yankee or Confederate, those residents wanted only to survive the bloodshed, keep their homes and their lives. The Order, issued on August 25, 1863 in response to William Clarke Quantrill’s brutal raid on Lawrence, Kansas, Missouri residents of southern Jackson, Cass, Bates, and Vernon counties, an area encompassing almost 300 square miles, were told, in essence, to vacate their homes and do one of two things: swear their loyalty to the Union—or go away.  Where they went, Union General Thomas Ewing did not care, they just had to go.

Here is a small excerpt from "Elizabeth's War: Missouri 1863" that illustrates this captivating story:

"Sadness and cruelty gripped the land with a stern hand and a hardened heart. Blackened spires of brick and stone reach toward the sky like gnarled fingers begging for mercy—or seeking death. Once symbols of warmth and security, they stand silent against the darkening horizon, the homes that once embraced them now cold, black ash—visual proof destruction is the only winner in the war that rages upon the land to leave behind scorched, burnt earth.

They called it General Order No. 11. She called it a license to burn, steal and murder. Her name was Elizabeth, a widow and mother of five young children who survived General Order No. 11 because she was too stubborn to quit. The struggle wore her to the marrow of her bones, but despite the odds, she and her children survived to tell the story. This is her story. Elizabeth’s story. One of many waiting to be told.”

To learn more about Rogers and her work, visit her website at dlrogersbooks.com and check out her other novels on Amazon and Smashwords.com. To book Rogers for a historical lecture or book signing, please contact her publicist, Stacy Brecht, at stacy.brecht@gmail.com or (816) 405-2580.