John Gilbreath's great granddaughter finds a handkerchief doll in an old trunk in the basement. Tucked in the doll was Gilbreath's note to his infant daughter as he left his family to join the " 2nd Division, Co. D, 1st Confederate of Georgia of Catoosa and Walker Counties." Readers may share a wide range of personal emotions and experiences, from the pleasant kitchen odors of hot biscuits and white meat frying in the skillet, to the smell of death on the battlefield, through Gilbreath's journal and letters. The daily experiences of Gilbreath's family will take you from a peaceful farm life through gut-wrenching battles of the Civil War, and the mystery of what happened to John R.N. Gilbreath. In 1863, the Civil War entered its third year: Georgia and the Gilbreath family were in the thick of it. You will experience through Gilbreath's Journal, his thoughts and experiences. A quote from his Journal: October, 1863 The shamefulness and disgrace I felt in being captured, but a little relieved of knowing that I didn't have to hold a gun again to my fellow countrymen. To take another man's life left a nasty taste in my mouth, mainly my stomach would literally come up in my throat. But the same time, I knew if I didn't shoot, that I would be the one who would be dead or hit. Not a good choice one way or the other. Something inside made me strong enough to pull the trigger when the time came. But the feeling of lonesomeness and the thoughts of shame, I had coming into my mind. With my head hanging down on my chest, I shamefully looked at the other men around me, wondering if they were having the same thoughts. I lift up my eyes slowly. There were men in great pain, some who will not finish the walk to Chattanooga, but will be dead by morning. Ringgold Rebel is a personal and unique new story of the Civil War that incorporates fact-based characters, events, and places. It mentions many unusual details, such as the coffee grinder gun, eclipse, and drought.