Oh my gosh, I've never read such a realistic and interesting story. Please, update soon. I'm so glad that this is still being continued; for a while there, I was worried that it wasn't. I love how you researched so much for this. Please update soon.

I'm sorry for not reviewing sooner, this was too much of a pageturner to simply stop to review. Oh, and what does the rating mean. Is one best or is ten because I'd like to rate this as high as possible.

Crazy Female LEPrecon

Even though I am not snowed in on the East coast, I am still entertained by this chapter! Great stuff. So many chapters in the past several days! What a treat!

We will be getting a little, snow tomorrow, supposedly, and this weekend, so the weather forecasters say. I call them the weather liars here, they are usually wrong.

I hope we do get some measurable snow, we are in a drought and need the moisture so badly. It is terrible with the water levels  down so low. The mountains and ski resorts finally got dumped on this last week, but here in Denver proper, nothing much. We need it.

The Professional Nurserymen and Gardeners are telling us to actually go out and hand water our trees in the winter!!! That is bad. They usually do fine with the snow and little bit of rain. But not this year...

Pray that we get the snow and that the Northeast does not get anymore. It is either feast or famine, I guess.  Some get too much, others; not enough!

Author's Response:

Glad to hear that weather is great where you are. It's not bad here either. Rest assured, there will be one more chapter coming fairly soon. Then it will be a fortnight before the next one. Thank you for your loyal reading! I do hope you continue to enjoy it.

-Doc

Love this story! I have kept up with it from the beginning and it is a rare treat.  It just stays phenomenal. It gets better and better if that is possible! :)

The writing is so crisp and good and the story has such a great plotline. And of course, Jasper:  My favorite Cullen, by far and away! Love the history and the ambience you set in tis tale. You are a really talented writer and I, for one, thank you for sharing your talent and this story with us here at this site!

Really great story!

Disney Vampire

Author's Response:

Thank you so much! I am humbled by your kind words. I have been slack about updated here on Twilighted, but have finally caught up. Rest assured you will read more soon. I have the next two chapters written and will be published over the next fortnight. I am also well on my way completing the next two chapters after that. I hope you continue to read and enjoy this tale.

 

-Doc

I loved the kennel quote! I've heard it before from an old movie. LOL 

Wow... just I love this fic. Thanks for the update. 

Author's Response:

Ever since I envisioned Connie, I had this description in my mind. I couldn't remember where I heard it, and I know it is not an exact quotation, but the sentiment is the same. Of course, the more we learn about Connie, the more appropriate this description seems. Thanks so much for reading and especially for taking the time to review. More coming soon.

-doc

ooooooohhhh Constance the Life Ruiner is mad... I would not turn my back on her.

Love it!

Author's Response:

Somehow, I expected that from someone named Constance. Although I do have to admit that there is something unique about how Jasper talks to her. He still calls her Connie, even though they are separated. Makes me wonder...

Thanks for the review, babe. I appreciate it!

Another great chapter Doctor! I sure am enjoying this stroy of yours!

You are a great writer with a great deal of talent. I am enjoying your trip through Jasper's Civil Wr experiences, as yuo see them and write them...

Excellent writing and such a good chapter, just like all the rest...

Disney Vampire

Author's Response:

As usual, you are far too kind. Perhaps I have spent too much time reading or studying the time and era, but I genuinely appreciate your kind words and am so very happy that there are readers who are enoying this. More should be coming within the fortnight.

-Doc

Oh my... my... my. How i loves a bit of drama. It seems that Jasper is a magnet for trouble. LOL Mix him up with the danger magnet called Bella *nods head* All Out War. HAHA. I love how detailed you get during this time period. It really feels as though you could see and understand the motives of the day. :D

 

Thanks for the update. 

Author's Response:

Thank you very much. One of my motivations for writing this was to present a realistic portrayal of what this time was actually like. Jasper does seem to have an interesting bit of luck, doesn't he? I wonder what trouble he can get into next. I should have the next update completed soon.

-doc

Excellent chapter. You write so well and your story is so fascinating and readable. I love this story and look forward to each and every chapter to this tale.

Thanks for updating!

Disney Vampire

Author's Response:

Thank you very much. I am truly humbled. Watch out for the next chapter, there is quite a curveball coming! ;)

-doc

American History was never so interesting when I was in school. I am thoroughly enjoying this fic. When it is complete, I fully intend to read it again. :)

Author's Response:

Trust me, history classes are never this interesting anyway. I have been teaching it for 5 years now and have never been able to go into this much detail in class. I am glad that you are enjoying it. Chapter 9 should be a treat for you.

I guess it is  "Ask and ye shall receive."!!! THANK YOU for updateing this most wonderful tale. It is one of the TOP 5 stories on this site and I have missed it, as you know...

 

This is a chapter that makes up (alnost) for all the time between updates...hahahahaha...

You really need to update more often. We miss the excellent writing, great plotline and sense of wonder at the way you tell a story. You have a gift for storytelling and I miss it when you do not update. Besides, I am sucker  for Civil War Jasper Whitlock! I could read about him all day in your colorful and descriptive  words....I do love the stories about the War Between The States. It was a fascinatin' time in the history of the growing country.

So, please don't go away and not update for months, PLEASE stick around and give us a treat sooner. I would love to have a treat of this magnitude every week or so! hint...hint... hehehe... :o)

LOVE that you updated. THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN!

I am giving you a cup of watered down coffee and a piece of hard tack to gnaw on for being so kind and updating. Hey, that WAS a treat back then! Oh, and there is also a wormy but sweet apple when they were able to sneak up on a northern gal's tree to satisfy that sweet tooth...just cut around the wormy parts...Yummmmmmm....

Thanks!

The ever-so-grateful Disney Vampire

Author's Response:

I am glad that this chapter meets with your approval and (most importantly) that you enjoyed it! This was particularly difficult due to all the dialogue, which (to be brutally honest) I do not think is as good as it should be. However, I was glad to get back on the proverbial horse. You will be glad to know that I have already started on the next chapter, and aim to have it posted in about a month.

Many thanks for reviewing!!

-doc

I have been watching for more chapters for this wonderful story. Will you be writing more and finishing "The Home Guard"

It is one of my favorite stories here on Twilighted. I miss reading this wonderful story. And the history is so good in it. You do a great job of research and writing about the times of the Civil War, it is as if we are there with Jasper.

Please update soon. I am looking forward to more of this phenomenal well- written story.

Thanks!

DV

Author's Response:

Thank you very much for the kind words. I was almost done with the next chapter when my hard drive crashed, and have been slack since I lost all of my research. I am well on replacing what I had and hope to have the next chapter to my beta within the week. I thank you for your patience, and hope to continue to live up to your expectations!! ;)

 

-doc

Holy crow! I certainly did NOT see THAT coming! And now something you told me today seems to make more sense. Again... where are the smelling salts when a lady needs them? LOL

Author's Response:

I am glad to know that I was able to surprise you of all people. (You are the one who normally sees the twists and turns coming.) I am also truly glad that you are enjoying it. I knew from the beginning you'd like it... as long as I could write to the level of the plot. Oh, and I'll see if I can get you some smelling salts. ;)

-doc

Another phenonenal chapter! This is on my Top 3 favorite stories right now.  I love Jasper and I love American History. I said that this story had spurred me on to study more of this time period and it has! I have been reading and reading and looking up on the computer and ordering yet more books on the subject!

I bought some very thorough books on the  paricular and decosive Battles and the more well known Generals and their part in the war.

It is all so very fascinating and enlightening. I really love to study history, especially American History and this is finding me with my nose in book after book. I had not had any History courses in years. My last real History course was probably in ther late 1970's! WOW! That is a long time ago. It was not required for my degree in University. I don't know why, except that I was an advanced student and had to take no history courses iin college! Sad really, looking back. I now  want to take every course I can find on American History! :o)

Some of the information I have read doesn't have to do with the War and Battles themselves. It is rmore geared to the soldier's life. I find that social history of the soldier very interesting. It is where I also wss able to discovere a couple recipes! 

I know hard tack was a staple for both sides of the conflict. The South had another tasty food that could be prepared without much fanfare and rather quickly as well. They were called Johnny-Cakes and could be made in a fry pan over a fire. It consisted of corn meal, water or milk if it was available (not really available then), salt, a little sugar and other spices if you had them.

They probably would resemble what we today call Hush Puppies, which is one of my all time favorite foods!

I have the rercipes for both Hard Tack and Johnny-Cakes, should anyone desire them. I will send you the link or post the link here, if anyone desires the recipes. It would be interesting to try the food that kept our soldiers  alive back then.

I don't know why Jasper would have set oiff without some delicious Johnny-cakes...he should have packed some.. :o)

I am just voraciously reading anything about the civil War I can get my hands on. I just orderd another 20 books onthe subject. Some are about specific battles and others are about the war overall. I am finding my old love  for history is being stirred in my soul once more. I have always loved studying history, though these past several years I have not been able to do much. I had spine surgery and have been trying to get back to as normal as I can be now with surgery that has changed the contours of my natural spine.

Anyway, I am going to ake some courses at a local community college. It will spur me on. The only thing I have found is that, if you start studying era or part of history, it leads to other times and parts that were going on at the same time, or jsy before or after the war. So much to study...

I have been just swallowing materials on the Civil War and I found it led to studying Reconstruction and the American Indian Wars, as those were being fought in the far west, before any states were actually formed there.

It is all so connected and fascinating. I am so excited to take some clases and at least whet my appetitie for more of our history. Since we are moving in the Spring to Florida, the site of the Seminle Indian Wars, (both Battles One and Two) I am not sure if I will have time to take a course here in Denver before we move. If not, I will look up some clalsses in Orlando area.

Thank you for whetting my appetite and giving me the rush of excitement when studying something one loves truly and wholly.

I have so much to read and learn and I am excited about it. I truuly am excited about getting back into the classroom and studying the courses that I want to take. I will take not only American History, but World History and some more creative writing courses to get me out of my stupor and start to write again.

I graduated with a degree in Communications and Creative Writing many years ago and I have not written in a while. I need to, it helped me through many things and it will be a good thinig for my soul to start again. I need the kick in the pants to jump start it! :oP

Thanks for sharing your writing with us, it inspires me to learn more and to want to write again. I got so involved writing poetry on an existential level, I had to stop writing and try to live for a while. It can be very depressing to write lots of existential poetry for a long time... I know, I did it. It all but destroyed my love for writing and I have not written in many years. Time to get back to it, and NOT existential poetry... lol...

Always happy to see an update alert for your story in my inbox!!! :o)

Disney Vampire

Author's Response:

Thank you very much! I am humbled that I am able to inspire more research on a subject. I am learning a lot with thsi story as most all of my research has consisted of the Eastern Theater of the war (essentially, Virginia). I haven't studied much of the Western Theater outside of Vicksburg. So I have had to learn a lot about Shiloh and the geography in order to make this accurate and believable. It is because of my interest in the Civil War that I even explored Jasper at all; I find the era absolutely fascinating.

Hush puppies, as lore goes and as is generally accepted, are also a product of this era. It is said that the slaves would take left over batter from frying fish, drop it into the oil, and offer that to the wimpering dogs begging for food. As they gave them the little fried balls of batter, they would say, "hush puppy" hence the name. Is that 100% true? I know not, but (as I said) it is generally accepted.

I'm glad you are enjoying it. I look forward to your continued reading and comments!

-doc