Gary L. Dyson is a resident of Mount Airy, Maryland. He graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in natural resources and is a Marine Corps veteran. Despite his previous vocations in engineering and as an environmental specialist he has always been a history buff, sometimes a French and Indian War reenactor, and presently a genealogist. The study of the American Civil War has been his passion since he was a pre-teen, and living near the major battlefields of the east helped cultivate that passion. First person accounts are his favorite, and having family ancestors that "saw the elephant" enable new accounts to be told.
The subject of his book is Albert Gaius Hills, a relative of his wife, Emily. He lived from 1829-1879, not quite reaching fifty. As a correspondent for the Boston Journal from before the war until 1863 he witnessed the war in the Gulf and on the Mississippi. Knowing the dangers he might face he took out a life insurance policy before heading to war. Ever the entrepreneur he took special note of the sights along the Gulf and pondered the possibilities of economic potential. He made particular notes of ships and officers and Union efforts against Biloxi and Pensacola. As he entered the Mississippi on April 1, 1862, he was honest about the fears he had entering enemy territory. He mentions that he was under fire on multiple occasions during the assault on Forts Jackson and St. Phillip and received his reports from ships in the battle by rowing his "press gig" from ship to ship, fighting the strong current to cover the story. After the forts fell he covered the early occupation while anchored off Algiers (Slaughterhouse Point) but it is not certain if he ventured into the city. He knew both Butler and Banks very well and supported the efforts to return Louisiana to the Union. While in New Orleans he served in the 4th Louisiana Native Guards and became co-editor of The Era.
Transcribing his detailed journals and war reports was as challenging as it was rewarding. His handwriting was terrible and now the author needs reading glasses. Had he lived a few years longer Hills would likely have published these himself, but the added narrative helps tie things together and make more sense out of them. Mr. Dyson intended to make Hills' story interesting for a large audience, not just Civil War enthusiasts. Regrettably, no images of Mr. Hills that can be copied in the proper resolution for publishing have been found. The images on this page are from copies of the lost originals. New details about Hills' life are still being found, and he deserves to have his name placed on the War Correspondents' Memorial at Gathland.
You can also purchase this book through the publisher, McFarland. Please check out my new book, "The Ambush of the Isaac P. Smith, Family Ties and the Battle on the Stono, January 30, 1863" just out on lulu.com but also available on amazon.
