Michael W. Nance

*** Recipient of East Tennessee Historical Society Award of Excellence 2020 ***The role of Morgan County, Tennessee in the Civil War has received marginal attention for more than 150 years, likely because there were no significant battles fought within the county. However, Morgan County was a microcosm of the broader struggles experienced in East Tennessee during the war by both citizens and the military. It was here that the Confederates established Camp Schooler to exercise harsh control of the county's pro-Union population. It was here that General Ambrose Burnside's 23rd Corps of the Army of Ohio first fully assembled as they began their Union campaign to take control of East Tennessee. Through hundreds of hours of research, Terry and Michael have compiled the most complete records that characterize the Civil War and its aftermath in Morgan County. The book includes official records of the U.S. Government, relevant extracts from diaries and books written by soldiers about their experiences in Morgan County, newspaper accounts, war-related civilian court cases, and civilian claims against the government. Lastly, records related to notorious Confederate marauder Champ Ferguson, whose men brutally murdered prominent Morgan Countian Benjamin "Tolliver" Staples, are included. Whether you are a history buff or Civil War author, you will find this compilation of records to be a real treasure.

You be the Judge Some have speculated that Erastus Booth, buried in a small-town cemetery in East Tennessee, may have been a co-conspirator in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Join Author Michael W. Nance as he explores Booth's character, his relationships, and his background as a prominent slave trader. Then, consider the evidence and draw your own conclusion