" Thank God He Survived Pickett’s Charge"

from

Manassas Museum

9101 Prince William Street

Manassas, VA 20110

When author Carl L. Sell, Jr. began to research his ancestors, he didn’t know that the
compelling story of his great grandfather, a Civil War soldier, would eventually result
in a book. Sell will recount that story during a Book Talk at The Manassas Museum
on Oct. 21 at 2 p.m.

Thank God he survived Pickett’s Charge, Sell’s new book, recounts the
experiences of his great-grandfather, Private James Farthing from
Pittsylvania County, Virginia, who served as a private with the 38th and
later the 53rd Virginia infantry regiments. The book describes his long
march from enlistment through Gettysburg, where he was wounded during
Pickett's Charge, and continues to Chester Station, where he was again
wounded. As a member of the 53rd, Farthing was captured at Five Forks in
1865 and spent time as a prisoner at Point Lookout, Maryland.

Although Farthing did not leave a diary or journal detailing his
experiences, Sell combined information from secondary sources about
the regiments, and added fictional dialogue between the characters. At times
he planted himself firmly in Farthing’s shoes, and told the story as he
thought his great-grandfather would.

The Oct. 21 Book Talk is free and Thank God he survived Pickett’s Charge 
is available at Echoes, The Manassas Museum Store.


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Patty Prince
Communications Coordinator
703-257-8456
703-895-6535
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