To See the Eleplhant: The Civil War Letters of John A. McKee (1861-1865) Book

Letters written by John A. McKee, of Gettysburg, Ohio, during the Civil War form the major nucleus of this book To See the Elephant. Starting with the formation of the 44th Ohio Vol. Inf. in the early autumn of 1861 continuing through its conversion to the 8th Ohio Vol. Cavalry and its ultimate disbandment in the summer of 1865, John writes about a speech at Springfield, OH by Andrew Johnson: the occupation of Western Virginia and the battle of Lewisburg: Kentucky and John Hunt Morgan; Burnside's march into Eastern Tennessee; the siege of Knoxville; Hunter's raid to Lynchburg; the burning of Chambersburg; the battle of Moorefield; the Shenandoah campaign; the capture of most of the regiment at Beverly, West VA; the end of the war and the death of a President. He sometimes writes about his social activities. The letters are reinforced and expanded upon by the author of this book. Illustrations depicting scenes in the book are by retired Marine Colonel Darrell Combs, noted military artist.