Historian Amy Truesdell has traced the experiences of her great-great-grandfather as an infantryman in the 27th NY Volunteers as he transitioned from eager recruit to experienced veteran. In over 100 letters preserved by the Truesdell family over the years, Rollin vividly described his life as a Union soldier in the thick of some of the bloodiest and most iconic battles of the Civil War. Using those letters, interwoven with supporting political and military context, Amy presents a gripping account of her ancestor’s life in her new book, From Binghamton to the Battlefield: The Civil War Letters of Rollin B. Truesdell (SUNY Press, 2022). In this presentation, Amy will share Rollin’s story, answer questions, and sign copies of the book.

Amy J. Truesdell is a writer and consultant with an appreciation for family and cultural history. Formerly, Amy was a lead foreign affairs officer with the U.S. Department of State specializing in conflict resolution in Central and East Africa. In 2019, she was selected as a “Hero of U.S. Diplomacy” in the Department for her peacebuilding efforts while serving in newly independent South Sudan. Amy earned a Master of Arts in International Affairs and a Master of International Service with a focus on African Human Security from the American University.

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