W. G.
The Opium-Addicted Pistol Toting Preacher Who Raised the First Federal African American Union Troops
Donna Burtch and William Burtch
Sunbury Press, Pennsylvania, 2022, 117 pages
Book Review published on: November 17, 2023
Sibling authors Donna and William Burtch wrote a well-versed biographical narrative, titled W. G.: The Opium-Addicted Pistol Toting Preacher Who Raised the First Federal African American Union Troops, about an aspect of the Civil War that may inspire a reexamination of a lost feature of history. The Burtches took painstaking time and effort researching William Gould (W. G.) Raymond, their great-great-great grandfather, and his claims in his late nineteenth century autobiography. The coauthors explore Raymond’s early life up to his passing in the late 1880s. What makes this story so riveting is discussion about Raymond’s faith along with subsequent doubts, his extensive family and their beset tragedies, the sacrifices he endured as a chaplain, his opium addiction, and his later recovery.
The authors break down the biographical narrative into eleven chapters beginning with a two-page preface, setting the right tone for the rest of the book. Chapter 1 goes into Raymond’s background and the tumultuous times he and his compatriots were living in. The next few chapters discuss his spiritual roots and faith as a Baptist preacher, his enlistment at age forty-three in the Union army demonstrating his abolitionist views, his appointment and harrowing incidents as a war detective, and his direct assignment by President Abraham Lincoln to recruit and train the first African American Union troops with few funds available. The authors write in such a way that leaves readers curious for more anecdotes and elaboration. That is good authorship.
Both Burtches are published writers. Donna is both a biographer and poet while William has written fiction along with essays, becoming a finalist for the American Fiction Short Story Award, appearing in the publication American Fiction Vol. 17. In 2011, Donna participated in national novel writing month and in 2021, self-published her work as a biography of her late father’s life, called In the Key of Sea: The Life & Times of William A. Burtch.
The Burtches collaborated telling Raymond’s story of how he pulled his own funds together to procure provisions and supplies for the new recruits. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton made it quite clear that no appropriations for the initial recruitment of African American Union troops would be granted until all 640 men of the regiment be raised and pass inspection. Raymond sought financial reimbursement from the government for his initial recruitment costs of $843 and was summarily denied by the House Committee on War Claims records as “bills without merit.” To add insult to injury, his initial contribution to recruitment and training, at his own expense, was erased from the archives of the War Department. Though Raymond incurred a great personal expense for the initial recruitment, he was able to recoup some if not most of his expenses through publishing and religious book sales.
What was most notable about this book was the historical evidence based off newspaper articles, editorials, and executive correspondence during the time of W. G. Raymond. This book is highly recommended for military and civilians alike. It tells a story of how temperance and tenacity can instill results at the tactical to strategic level of war.
Book Review written by: Lt. Col. Steve Harvey, U.S. Army, Retired, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas