This book was written because it seemed that the lives of this humble family would never be heard by those who would come after. It is about love of family, heartfelt calamities that beset members of this family, national pride, and dedication of the individuals. It also describes the visual experiences that two young men encountered by supporting their country when President Abraham Lincoln, by proclamation, called 75,000 volunteers to defend the Union. The two Bates brothers willingly sacrificed their time and energy to fulfill their responsibility to their family and country. The love between them and family was evident by the letters they wrote to each other when there was a lull in between events.