I never knew that "Copperhead" was the term given to a Northener who fought for the South in the Civil War.. This is the second in the series (Starbuck Chronicles) in which Nate Starbuck goes to battle as a Confederate Captain. Admired by some, hated by other simply because he is Northerner, he has to overcome the incompetence of his superiors, and along the way is accused of treason unjustly. Forced to ingest the oil of Croton (used on asylum patients to 'calm them down') it immediately causes vomiting and diarrhea, burning all of the time. As it touches the skin, it burns and boils form.. Simplistic but very effective, it is used on Starbuck hoping that he will 'break' and confess to being a spy. Only he isn't. When finally released, he is sought out by a De'Ath, a powerful man who requests Nate to go to the North as a spy for the Confederates. He agrees, and doesn't know that that his good friend will inform the wrong person (the real spy) what he is about to do... SO, Nate travels to the North not knowing that information Is being sent that will inform all of his true mission - which is to supply the enemy with false information as to the numbers and deployment of the Southern army. Can't give away too much.. you have to read the book. One of Mr. Cornwell's fortes is his descriptive narratives of battle scenes, and this book not disappoint, placing you amongst the terrible carnage.
These books are written so well - hard to put down, and rich with different characters, some good, some great, some cowardly and some just evil.
Thank you Mr. Cornwell!
This book was published in 1994
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