New Book Portrays History of a Black Confederate Soldier

Nov. 1, 2011 - PRLog -- King George, Virginia  – Writer Robert Broome, Jr. announces the release of My Confederate Cousin, a fictional narrative based on a true account of his ancestor, a Black soldier who fought for the South during the American Civil War.  This compelling novel charts the course of a family lineage with origins of English nobility interwoven with slavery on a plantation in Poolesville, Maryland.  
 
Through a tapestry involving military battles of the eighteenth century, Broome introduces the reader to Basil Dawson, the son of a white slave owner and a Black slave mother.  Basil was a slave, but not treated like one.  He could speak Latin and French and was inducted into the Confederate Army as he fought alongside his father and half brother.  

The author hopes his work will encourage others to have a new perspective of Black soldiers who had allegiances on both sides of the war which ultimately ended slavery in the United States.  “Enlisting Black soldiers both slave and free in the militia from 1861 through 1865 played a significant role in the Civil War,” notes Broome. “It redefined our legacy and cultural history.”  Broome received inspiration to pen this depiction of events after hearing many stories from family members of his cousin’s heroic efforts.

Many of Basil Dawson’s descendants continue to live in Poolesville, Maryland.  Others have migrated to Gathersburg, Maryland; Baltimore, Maryland; Washington, D.C.; Florida; Wisconsin; and California.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robert Broome, Jr. is a published author and speaker who served in the United States Marine Corp, January 1976 through January 1980.  His historical research unveils the often misunderstood details of military battles that helped shape the social, political, and economic landscape of America today.

With a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Strayer University, Washington, D.C., Broome is employed by the federal government.  Born and raised in Washington, D.C., he resides in King George, Virginia with his wife and daughter.

Broome is available for speaking engagements, book club presentations, and interviews. He can be reached at broome50@peoplepc.com or 540.663.2232. Learn more about his book, My Confederate Cousin, or order online through the publishers’ website at http://sbpra.com/robertbroome/.  The book can also be purchased at www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnobel.com.

Publisher: Strategic Book Group   
ISBN: 978-1-60976-390-9          
Cost: $23.50 USD
Hardcover, 151 pages