DUKE CENTER – “The Bucktails: Perils on the Peninsula” has been
published by Infinity Co. as the third novel to be printed in the
Bucktails series.

The co-authors are William P. Robertson of Duke Center and David
Rimer of Bradford.

It was four years ago that the authors submitted two novels to
White Mane Publishing. Then they waited, and waited and waited to
see their work into print.

“Meanwhile, it was very frustrating,” said Robertson. “People
would come up to me and ask when will a new book be coming out. We
decided we really needed a book to come out in 2006, or we would
lose our audience.”

The idea was to try another publishing house and when “Perils on
the Peninsula” was finished, it was submitted to Infinity. One year
later it was published.

Coincidentally, soon after White Mane published the “Bucktails
Antietam Trials” and the “Battling Bucktails at Fredericksburg” as
the fourth and fifth books in the series.

Although “Perils on the Peninsula” is fiction, the authors note
it was based on the historical actual fact that in the spring of
1862, the Pennsylvania riflemen were divided into two brigades to
take advantage of their skirmishing and scouting abilities.

Companies C, G, H and I under Lt. Col. Thomas Kane were sent to
catch Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley. Meanwhile,
Companies A, B, D, E, F and K were placed under the command of
Major Roy Stone and sent to aid the McClellans invasion of the
Virginia pennisula.

Because the authors other novels followed Kane’s men, they felt
this book was necessary to fill the void in the Bucktails war
resume.

To make a connection to the other books in the series, some of
the same main characters re-appear. At the same time, three sons of
the Swift Family were introduced with whom the younger reader can
identify.

The book is action packed and tells of the hardship, courage and
stamina of the Bucktails as they struggled through four battles in
six days, while they fought their way from Falmouth, Va., in June
8, 1862, to Alexandria, Va., in Sept. 2, 1862, where the two
brigades were reunited.

Along with the brutality of battle, the colorful slang of the
Bucktails and the lousy food rations, the reader will see humor and
the camaraderie that is typical of men at war.

The book contains a number of realistic pictures of Civil War
re-enactors and one of them is pictured on the front, Robert
Burns.

In the beginning of the book is a picture of David Blett, an
actual Bucktail soldier. The photo was submitted by his
great-great-great grandson, Dr. Gary Groves.

“He was happy to see it published for the first time,” said
Robertson.

In the four years that Robertson has been a member of Company I,
the Bucktail Unit of McKean County, he has learned a lot.

“Those fellows know their stuff,” he said.

Robertson and Rimer have been co-authors since 1989.

“Perils of the Peninsula” is available at the Mercantile Store
on Main Street in Bradford, the University of Pittsburgh at
Bradford bookstore in Bradford, the McKean County Historical
Society in Smethport, Tina’s Hallmark Store in Bradford and the
Allegheny Crossroads at Lantz Corners.