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Private John W.N. Doak was home in Paris, Illinois on medical leave from October through December of 1862. He finally arrived back in Corinth, Mississippi on January 9th, 1863 and found his way to a place called “Camp Davies.” Camp Davies was still being built when John arrived, it was a camp with several buildings including cabins the soldiers built for themselves and was surrounded by a wooden stockade. Camp Davies would be John's home, and the home for the 66th Illinois/

Union Soldier John W. N. Doak's Civil War Letters: #3, #4, and #5 Fall, 1862 After a year of hard fighting —including the Battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh, Private John W. N. Doak managed to get a medical furlough to go home to Paris, Illinois in fall of 1862. After the Battle of Fort Donelson John developed a bad cough and he had regular bouts of diarrhea. He was sent home to convalesce. In his letters John often dismisses his recurring cough “as a bad cold.” It could h

The letter below is the earliest surviving letter Private John W.N. Doak sent to his sweetheart Emily Jane Guthrie or "Emma." Why did it take him 10 months to write to her? That is a good question. Maybe there was an earlier letter that did not survive, he suggests that in the letter. Regardless, John often chides himself for not writing often enough. And in the letter below he admits he “neglected writing to (her) for too long before.” The letter also hints at some friction

John Whitfield Newton Doak was above all, a farmer and a patriot. Born in Washington County, Tennessee on December 10th, 1838, he spent his teen years in northwestern Missouri before his twice widowed mother settled down on land her first husband, Dr. John Newton Doak, had purchased decades earlier. At the start of the Civil War John, his mother Martha, and older brother Will had worked their Illinois farm, two miles southwest of the town of Paris in Edgar County, Illinois fo

Tom Brokaw aptly named the World War II generation the “Greatest Generation.” However, I propose the term Freedom Generation for another remarkable American generation—those who fought to end slavery and the millions of Black Americans who endured it. It's time, especially on the Juneteenth holiday, to honor these Civil War-era Americans as the “Freedom Generation.” Fine, Camille. 2023. "Earliest Juneteenth Celebration Photographs from 19th-Century." USA Today, June 19, 2023.

Pictured above are all of the attendees of the 143rd annual encampment for the Department of Illinois, outside of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Hall in Aurora, Illinois. The author is on the far right. On Saturday, May 2nd, 2026, I had the privilege of representing U.S. Grant Camp 1863 at the 143rd Annual Encampment of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Department of Illinois. Eleven months ago, I knew little about the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

“I’ve got my Western Sharpshooters’ hat on, my Gettysburg Address tie, my SUVCW medal, my Abraham Lincoln socks, and a full tank of gas. Department of Illinois Mid-year Encampment, here I come!” Shortly after my lovely and talented wife took the above picture, I was on my way to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Department of Illinois Mid-year Encampment in Bloomington. I was honored to represent U.S. Grant Camp 1863 (Schaumburg) at this meeting. I was not really s

"Everyone you meet becomes a part of you." I recently encountered this wisdom in my sister Mary Doak's book, "DIVINE HARMONY: LIVING...

The author poses with his sister Bridget Doak in June of 2024. Bloody Shiloh, a battle that still evokes a shudder 163 years later,...

Map by Julia E. Doak In the summer of 2024, I had the privilege of visiting the National Park Service's Fort Donelson National...

My ancestors' efforts to preserve Corporal John W.N. Doak's letters made my novel TO LIVE A PATRIOT possible. In spite of Corporal Doak's...

Last week, July 7-11, 2025, I had the privilege of attending a professional development program downtown Chicago with a diverse group of...

TRIGGER WARNING: This post discusses military history, focusing on rifles and shooting. If this isn't your interest, feel free to stop...

My Civil War Era novel, TO LIVE A PATRIOT, begins and ends in Paris, Illinois . And almost exactly a year ago–June 20th, 2024–my research trip for TO LIVE A PATRIOT began there as well. The trip to Paris was a highlight of my summer and came up in a conversation with a colleague last August. Over our lunch break during institute days full of icebreakers and meetings, he asked: “So, did you finally finish your book this summer?” “Still working on it, always revising. This sum

African American survivors of slavery and Black and white Union soldiers should be remembered as the "Freedom Generation."

A Father’s Day Post While writing my novel, TO LIVE A PATRIOT, I often paused to consider the character of John Whitfield Newton Doak...

Welcome to my blog dedicated to my novel "TO LIVE A PATRIOT." Here, I will share all things related to my novel journey, the Civil War,...